Senior Practitioner, Child and Youth Witness Service
- Location: Melbourne - CBD
- Job Function: Community Services
- Work Type: Ongoing - full time
About this role
- Deliver intensive specialist case management to child witnesses and their families
- 2 x ongoing, full-time opportunities working within Victim Services, Support and Reform
- VPS Grade 5: $113,022 - $136,747 plus superannuation
About the Business Unit:
The Victim Services, Support and Reform (VSSR) branch is part of the Police, Racing, Victims and Coordination group in the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS). The VSSR is responsible for coordinating a suite of services for victims of crime that provide information and support to help manage the effects of crime and guide victims through the criminal justice system across Victoria.
The Child and Youth Witness Service (CYWS) is a state wide specialist case management service for child witnesses (up to 18 years at the time charges were laid) and their families and/or carers. The model of care is child focused and incorporates principles of trauma informed care. The purpose of the CYWS is to increase participation by child witnesses in the criminal justice process and to reduce trauma associated with being involved with the criminal justice system, particularly being a child witness.
About the Role:
Reporting to the Team Manager, the Senior Practitioner, CYWS is responsible for delivering intensive specialist case management to child witnesses and their families with complex presentations, supporting and mentoring and supporting Child and Youth Witness Practitioners to develop their skills, knowledge and expertise and developing practice innovation and driving continuous practice improvement.
Some of your duties will include:
- Providing effective practice leadership, consultation and develop practice expertise within the team
- Role-model ongoing commitment to supervision and professional development
- Contributing to practice quality and service integrity through coaching and mentoring staff.
To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.
About You:
As our ideal candidate, you will possess:
- A strong ability to provide specialist professional services or advice
- Innovative thinking skills and the ability to analyse influences and developments within area of responsibility
- The initiative to make decisions in situations where there is some, but not definitive, precedent about the application of an organisational framework
- A potent ability to initiate and maintain relationships with peer and senior internal and external stakeholders
- Extensive experience in working directly with children who have experienced trauma and have complex needs.
Qualifications/Requirements:
- Tertiary qualifications in a human service related profession such as Social Work, Psychology or Allied Health is essential and registration with the appropriate body is desirable
- A current ‘Working with Children Check' is required
- A current driver's licence is required.
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 reference checks, national police checks and misconduct screening. Dependant on the role, other checks may include VicRoads checks, drivers licence checks, medical checks, Working with Children Checks, and Declaration of Private Interests (for executive and responsible officer roles).
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.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
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.
Job details
| Job Reference: | VG/D03091MAR2026 |
|---|---|
| Location: | Melbourne - CBD |
| Work Type: | Ongoing - full time |
| Job Function: | Community Services |
| Classification: | VPSG5 |
| Salary Range: | $113,022 - $136,747 |
| Job Duration: | Ongoing |
| Date posted: | 12-Mar-2026 |
| Application Close Date: | 12-Apr-2026 |
| Attachments: | Position Description - Senior Practitioner, Child and Youth Witness Service (VPS5).pdf (PDF, 214KB) |
| Contact: |
Fiona Cavanagh - 0439 536 426
Fiona.Cavangh@justice.vic.gov.au
|
