About the Department

The role of the Department of Education is to support Victorians to build prosperous, socially engaged, happy and healthy lives. It does this by supporting lifelong learning and healthy development, strengthening families and helping to equip people with the skills and knowledge for a 21st century economy and society.  The department supports a culture of leadership, learning and renewal in all workplaces with opportunities for career development and advancement.

About the Division

The School Compliance Branch sits within the department's Operational Policy, School Engagement and Compliance (OPSEC) Division - a supportive, respectful, positive, and collaborative team with a culture of high integrity, responsiveness and accountability. OPSEC Division is responsible for a number of other functions, with a collective overarching focus on supporting schools with operational policy and compliance activities, reducing administrative and compliance burden for schools, and streamlining the volume and timing of communications to schools.

About the Role

The School Compliance team makes a significant contribution to school education in Victoria through supporting government schools to meet the Minimum Standards for School Registration (including the Child Safe Standards) and support schools to implement policies and practices to support child safety.

Senior Advisors use their high-level stakeholder engagement skills to work directly with Victorian government school leaders as well as regional and central Department staff. With expertise in compliance and school support, the team of Senior Advisors provides exemplary support to school leaders to help them understand and achieve compliance with the Minimum Standards.

The team draws on their expertise in assurance, regulation, compliance, legal and other related fields and their strong attention to detail to assess compliance with the Minimum Standards for School Registration against a clear and consistent set of criteria. They use their high-level oral and written communication skills to provide considered, clear and actionable advice to schools and prepare formal reports to a high standard.

This position will involve working closely with individual Victorian government schools across the state. Whilst many meetings will occur via video technology, school visits will also be required (sometimes requiring overnight stays). A willingness to travel to schools in both metropolitan and regional areas as well as a current driver's licence, and a valid Working With Children Clearance or Victorian Institute of Teaching registration are therefore required.

With a high-volume work program of cyclical assessments as well as more complex non-cyclical assessments, the Senior Advisors work collaboratively and plan effectively to ensure work is undertaken in a timely way, to a high-standard, and with a supportive approach.

Applicants should also be aware that their work will include supporting schools to conduct post-incident reviews following significant child safety incidents which can involve challenging subject matter, including sexual harm matters. Wellbeing support is available to staff conducting these reviews.

Consistent with the Division's focus on improving policy and compliance support for schools, the Senior Advisors contribute to the delivery of training for schools and regional staff, and the development and continual improvement of high-quality guidance and reference material.

The School Compliance branch is seeking to fill a number of senior advisor positions, both ongoing and fixed term, to support the important work of this team. The senior advisors will work flexibly across the unit, based on capacity and demand and will also take on other duties across the broader OPSEC division on request.

Capabilities

The Senior Advisors must demonstrate:

• excellent communication skills (written, listening and verbal), attention to detail, empathy, and resilience
• exceptional interpersonal and stakeholder management skills
• cognitive flexibility to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment and advanced problem-solving skills
• knowledge of government schools' operating environments and the regulatory requirements that apply to them
• ability to work effectively as a team player, with a commitment to contributing to and maintaining a healthy and positive workplace culture
• advanced organisational and record-keeping skills
• a passion for and commitment to child safety in schools.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

Experience or qualifications in school wellbeing or leadership roles, implementing policy (especially around child safety), and/or experience in compliance or legal fields supporting schools is desirable, but not essential.

A willingness to travel to schools in both metropolitan and regional areas (sometimes requiring overnight stays) as well as a current driver's licence, and a valid Working With Children Clearance or Victorian Institute of Teaching registration are required.

How to apply

To apply for this role, click ‘Apply Now' and include your resume and short document (no more than 2 pages) responding to the key selection criteria, to outlineyour suitability for the role. For more information on responding to Key Selection Criteria, see: https://careers.vic.gov.au/how-to-apply/how-to-reply-to-selection-criteria

A position description outlining the general role, capabilities and key selection requirements for this VPS grade is attached.

For further information specific to the role please contact Grant Godino, Lead Advisor and Project Manager via (03) 8688-7798 or grant.godino@education.vic.gov.au.

Further Information

The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au.

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close 11:59pm on 28-APR-2025.