• Utilise your understanding of the Victorian Aboriginal Community to provide support and advice to Corrections Victoria.
• 10 x Ongoing, Full-Time Opportunities to work with a high-performing and passionate team in the Victorian Public Service
• VPS Grade 3: $73,842 - $89,661, plus superannuation.

This is an Aboriginal Designated Position, classified under 'special measures' of section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. Only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply.

The Aboriginal Wellbeing Officer (AWO) role was established in 2000, in response to a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC).

Aboriginal Wellbeing Officers are part of Corrections Victoria's commitment to reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system and to ensuring that Aboriginal Victorians achieve the same justice outcomes as the broader Victorian community.

Aboriginal Wellbeing Officer positions exist at each prison location across Victoria and form a critical part of multi-disciplinary offender services teams (or equivalent). AWOs provide the foundation for all other cultural programs that support rehabilitation and reintegration, and improve outcomes for Aboriginal prisoners by: 

• Providing cultural and wellbeing support to Aboriginal prisoners 
• Re-connecting Aboriginal prisoners to their family and community 
• Providing cultural advice, support and guidance to prison staff in managing Aboriginal prisoners 
• Engaging with appropriate service providers and the Aboriginal community to meet individual needs of Aboriginal prisoners
• Organising cultural activities in their location and build relationships with community organisations in the area. 

In addition to being a critical member of local prison teams, Aboriginal Wellbeing Officers are supported through a dedicated state-wide staff network as well as the Naalamba Ganbu and Nerrlinggu Yilam team (the Yilam) based in head office.

All Aboriginal Wellbeing Officers also have access to voluntary cultural debriefing sessions through the Aboriginal Workplace Cultural Wellbeing program.

Should relocation be required to fill a vacant Aboriginal Wellbeing Officer role, successful candidates may be eligible for reasonable relocation expenses as provided for under the VPS Enterprise Agreement.

This is an Aboriginal Designated Position, classified under 'special measures' of section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. Only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply.

ABOUT YOU

As our ideal candidate, you will be able to demonstrate:

• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the Victorian Aboriginal Community, both society and culture, and the issues impacting on it.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with members of the Victorian Aboriginal community

Qualifications/Requirements

• This is an Aboriginal Designated Position, classified under 'special measures' of section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. Only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply.

HOW TO APPLY

Please click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include national police checks and misconduct screening.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

• For all VPS employees, due to the new Jobs Skills Exchange (JSE) policy, please apply through the JSE to be eligible to be considered for this position in the first round.
• For this particular vacancy, priority consideration applies to Victorian Public Service (VPS) and select employees of the Victorian Public Sector who apply through the Jobs Skills Exchange (JSE) jobs board platform.

Applicants are welcome to utilise support from the Aboriginal Workforce unit throughout the recruitment process. Please visit https://www.justice.vic.gov.au/careers/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-island-employment for further information or email aboriginalworkforce@justice.vic.gov.au.

CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT 

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.