Children'S Services Authorised Officer

The Children's Services Authorised Officer's main role is to conduct assessment and rating visits, compliance visits, and investigations as part of the core functions of the Regulatory Authority, performed in adherence with the Education and Care Services National Law 2010 and the Victorian Children's Services Act 1996. This includes managing relationships with internal and external stakeholders and providing regulatory advice and guidance.

Ongoing / Full-Time

VPSG4 - $97,955 - $111,142

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.

Further information about the department is available at: www.vic.gov.au/education

About the Division

The Department of Education is the Victorian Regulatory Authority for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services under delegation from the Secretary. The Quality Assessment and Regulation Division (QARD) in the department regulates and quality assesses Victorian ECEC services. It drives the delivery of high-quality services and ensures the safety, health, and wellbeing of Victorian children attending those services.

QARD regulates approximately 4,900 services including family day care, outside school hours care, long day care, and kindergarten programs, as required by the Education and Care Services National Law 2010 (National Law). QARD also regulates around 180 services operating under the Victorian Children's Services Act 1996 (Children's Services Act); these include occasional care and limited hours services.

QARD is responsible for :

• Approving providers and services as required by the National Law and Children's Services Act
• Monitoring service compliance and conducting investigations in response to notifications and complaints
• Assessment and rating of family day care, outside school hours care, long day care, and kindergarten programs against the National Quality Standard for Early Childhood Education and School Age Care
• Supporting legislative policy development.

QARD is also the integrated sector regulator of the Child Safe Standards for all early childhood services in Victoria.

Further information about QARD is available at: www.vic.gov.au/role-quality-assessment-and-regulation-division

About the Role

An exciting opportunity is available for a highly motivated individual with strong attention to detail and a passion for meaningful work to support the North Western Victoria Region (NWVR) team within QARD with the compliance and quality assessment of ECEC services.

As a Children's Services Authorised Officer, you will play an active frontline role in promoting quality improvement in ECEC services by visiting a variety of services across regional and metropolitan areas to actively monitor compliance, undertake investigations, and conduct assessment and rating visits in adherence with the National Law, Children's Services Act, and Child Safe Standards. This dynamic and rewarding role will give you the opportunity to promote quality improvement and support practice outcomes, while working in a supportive team-based environment that provides training and upskilling opportunities.

Key accountabilities will include :

• Undertaking the assessment and rating process for approved education and care services against the National Quality Standard
• Managing and reporting on approved education and care services' compliance with the National Quality Framework
• Supporting and undertaking investigations following notifications of incidents or complaints and, where necessary, preparing evidence to determine the action to be taken based on the nature of the non-compliance
• Applying a full range of regulatory tools to promote continuous improvement
• Managing systems and processes for the collection and reporting of information relating to service quality and regulatory issues
• Preparing detailed letters, briefings, and reports relating to policy and operational issues
• Communicating legislative and regulatory requirements across licensed and approved education and care services
• Implementing quality assurance frameworks, systems, and processes to give effect to legislative and regulatory requirements.

There are two full-time, ongoing VPS 4 positions available in the NWVR, based in either the Bendigo or Coburg office.

The role involves travel (usually by car) across the NWVR to northern metropolitan suburbs and regional areas such as Bendigo, Mildura, and Echuca. In this active frontline role, you will be visiting multiple ECEC services in a day and across the week. Typical work arrangements involve a balance of working offsite independently while visiting ECEC services, with time in an office environment working as part of a bigger inclusive team. The role will at times include planned overnight stays. There may also be some flexible start and finish times to accommodate service visits.

Attributes

To be successful in this role, you will :

• Be able to work independently and take accountability for achieving outcomes, including by prioritising your work and seeking assistance when required
• Have strong planning and organising skills, including the ability to meet timelines and respond flexibly to changing priorities at short notice
• Have knowledge or awareness of the ECEC sector and regulation, and be able to implement quality assurance frameworks, systems, and processes to give effect to legislative and regulatory frameworks
• Have strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, including the ability to analyse detailed information and discern what is relevant
• Be able to use sound judgement to make decisions and provide advice to ECEC services and families
• Be confident in engaging with and providing advice to stakeholders, including services and parents
• Be able to manage difficult conversations or complaints, and communicate detailed information clearly, accurately, and professionally
• Be confident and competent in producing a variety of written products using professional, concise, and accurate language
• Have a willingness to learn, including by being open to feedback and keeping up to date with current recognised guidance
• Have strong IT skills, be able to navigate a range of computer systems, and follow business rules and guidelines.

While you will ideally have experience in compliance, investigations, or working in an early learning environment with a deep understanding of the legislation and National Quality Framework, this is not essential. Candidates with suitably transferable skills will be considered and are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications and Experience

Desirable : Relevant qualifications in early childhood education, teaching, or other human welfare studies, behavioural studies, or similar.

Essential : Successful applicants will be required to hold a valid Victorian Working with Children's Check and Victorian driver's license.

Further Information

Applicants are required to submit a CV and cover letter (max 2 pages for cover letter) summarising their skills, relevant experience, and suitability to the role.

For more details regarding this position, please see the attached position description for the capabilities to address in the application.

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.

For further information pertaining to the role, please email Victoria Pickford, Area Manager, at [email address].

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 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 11:59 pm on 07/08/2025

Applications close Thursday 7 August 2025 at 11:59 pm

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