Senior Project Officer - Psychosocial Wellbeing

About this role

• Full time Fixed Term position (2yrs)
• Salary range: $113,668 - $131,153 plus superannuation
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging, flexible hybrid work arrangement

 

About the role

The Senior Project Officer – Psychosocial Wellbeing is responsible for leading Victoria Legal Aid's (VLA) implementation of the Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025, and refining and managing systems designed to control psychosocial hazards in line with risk assessment findings. 

A key focus of the role is ensuring equitable implementation across diverse settings – from large metropolitan offices to small regional locations, and from controlled office environments to less predictable settings outside the direct management control of VLA, such as courts and health facilities. The role operates at the intersection of regulatory compliance, organisational culture, and frontline service delivery to embed sustainable systems that support both staff wellbeing and service delivery.

This role is based at our Melbourne CBD office on Wurundjeri Country. 

About you

As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

Knowledge of psychosocial hazards and OHS compliance:

• Practical understanding of OHS (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025 and psychosocial risk management frameworks
• Experience translating regulatory requirements into practical workplace systems to achieve compliance and operational effectiveness.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practice and the psychosocial hazards in legal aid, community service, or similar environments.

Project management skills:

• Proven ability to lead complex, multi-stakeholder projects from design through to implementation and evaluation.
• Experience managing competing priorities, meeting deadlines, and delivering tangible outcomes in dynamic, time-pressured environments.
  • Strong planning, organisational and problem-solving skills with the ability to work autonomously and drive initiatives to completion within fixed timeframes.

Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including engaging and influencing organisation wide.
• Proven ability to consult meaningfully with diverse stakeholders with different perspectives (including those shaped by trauma or distress), navigate resistance to change, and facilitate collaborative solutions. 

Systems thinking and user-centred design capability:

• Proven ability to analyse complex organisational challenges, identify root causes and systemic issues, and design practical, effective, user-centred systems and resources.
• Demonstrated experience developing policies, procedures, training materials, and decision-support tools with a strong focus on creating accessible and user-friendly resources. 

Critical thinking and problem-solving skills:

• Proven application of the wider business context when considering options to manage psychosocial risks, identify recurring problems, and preventing or minimising the impact of recurrence by integrating solutions into work processes.
• Ability to deliver tangible outcomes through critical evaluation of problems.

Values alignment: A knowledge of the general business of VLA and a commitment to our vision and values. 

Don't meet every requirement? At VLA, we understand that your work and life experiences can be just as valuable. If your CV doesn't align perfectly with our job description, we strongly encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate.

About VLA
We offer legal representation, family dispute resolution and non-legal advocacy to those who need it most. With over 1400 staff employed in 16 offices across Victoria, we help people with their legal problems by providing information, advice and education with a focus on the prevention and early resolution of legal problems. 

Our clients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds and foster a work culture that's inclusive as well as diverse. Your unique ideas and perspectives are valued so that we best represent the people we serve. 

Employee benefits

• A focus on work-life balance, including flexible working arrangements
• Hybrid work from home & office model 
• Generous leave benefits, including:
  • Three days paid seasonal leave (to be taken between Boxing Day and New Year's Day public holidays)
  • Paid gender affirmation leave
  • Five days both paid reproductive and fertility leave per calendar year
  • Annual 3% salary increase each December plus performance-related salary incentives
  • Attractive salary packaging options including General Expenses up to $15,900, Meals & Entertainment up to $2,650 PLUS Novated Leasing
  • Discounted annual Myki public transport passes 
  • Individual learning and professional development opportunities, tailored to your role and career goals
  • Free annual flu vaccinations
  • Access to gym and end-of-trip facilities at our CBD office
  • Access to our Employee Assistance Program, including confidential counselling and access to a range of mental health and wellbeing resources.

How to apply
To be considered for this role, please submit your current resume and a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria. 

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process or need an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our team. 

For further information, please review the attached position description or contact Michael Stewart, Health Safety & Wellbeing Manager on 03 9269 0554 or for general queries recruitment@vla.vic.gov.au.

No agency applications will be accepted. 

Applications close by 11.59pm on Monday 2 March. 

Other relevant information

It is a requirement that staff attend for office-based days at their primary work location. In line with this requirement, interstate applications will be considered only where the candidate is able and willing to relocate to Victoria, unless part of a border community. 

VLA is committed to putting the safety and wellbeing of children first.