Regional Advocate, Child Protection

About this role

• Full time maximum term position up to May 2027
• This is a parental leave coverage position
• Salary range: $113,668 - $131,153 plus super
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging, flexible hybrid work arrangement
• Flexible office location: Horsham, Geelong, Ballarat and Warrnambool

About the role
This role provides senior legal advocacy for children and parents involved in the child protection system. You will appear in the Children's Court, including in urgent and complex matters, and help achieve fair and timely outcomes for families.

You will also support and mentor other lawyers, build strong working relationships with key stakeholders, and contribute to improving how legal services are delivered across the program.

This is a regionally based role with flexibility in location across the South West catchment, including Geelong, Warrnambool, Ballarat, and Horsham. Regular travel throughout the South West region is required to support courts, colleagues and stakeholders.

This role can be based at our Horsham office on Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagalk Country, Geelong or Ballarat office on Wadawurrung Country, or Warrnambool office on Gunditjmara Country.

About you
As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• Strong experience in child protection law, including advocacy in the Children's Court.
• Strong courtroom experience, particularly in complex or urgent matters.
• Ability to build effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Experience supporting, supervising or mentoring other lawyers.
• A current unrestricted Australian practising certificate which entitles you to practise in Victoria as a government legal practitioner.
• Entitled to practise in federal courts and courts exercising federal jurisdiction (entry on the High Court's Register of Practitioners).

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
• Individual learning and professional development opportunities, tailored to your role and career goals
• Free annual flu vaccinations
• 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 outlining the skills and experience you can bring to this role.

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 Karla Randle, Regional Manager on (03) 5381 6028 or recruitment@vla.vic.gov.au.

No agency applications will be accepted.

Applications close by 11.59pm on Monday 4 May 2026. 

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.