Manager Safeguarding, Inclusion and Volunteer Programs

**Utilise your management expertise to provide support and advice to the**Office of the Public Advocate** branch**:

- **Fixed-Term (12 months), Full-Time** opportunity to work with a high-performing and passionate team in the Victorian Public Service**:

- **VPS Grade 6: $**138,631 - $185,518** plus superannuation.**

**About Us**:
The Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) is an independent statutory agency that aims to uphold and protect the rights and interests of people with a disability in Victoria and work to eliminate violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. OPA manages key programs to support its mission; guardianship and individual advocacy, provision of community advice, communications and community education, policy research and systemic advocacy and three volunteer programs - Community Visitors, Independent Third Persons and Corrections Independent Support Officers.

**About the Role**:
This position reports to the Deputy Public Advocate and the incumbent is a member of OPA's senior management team. The position is primarily responsible for recruitment, training and support of volunteers as well as managing the Community Visitors Program (CVP), which comprises VPS staff and more than 450 volunteers. These volunteers have powers to visit and inquire into residential accommodation facilities across three streams: disability, mental health and Supported Residential Services throughout metropolitan, regional and rural Victoria. The position also manages the 24/7 Independent Third Person Program (ITP), which comprises VPS staff and approximately 200 volunteers who assist people with disabilities during police interviews across Victoria. It is also responsible for the Corrections Independent Support Officers program, which provides support for people with disability during prison disciplinary hearings.

Some of your duties will include:

- Providing high level leadership and direction to OPA staff and volunteers to ensure that OPA's volunteer programs meet their strategic priorities.
- Ensuring all volunteer programs provide appropriate and relevant advice, information, recruitment, support and training to volunteers.
- Providing sound financial oversight and management of the CVP and ITP budget.

To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.

**About You**:

- **Sector Knowledge** - Thorough knowledge of the disability (including NDIS), mental health, aged care and supported residential services systems.
- **Volunteer management** - Extensive knowledge and experience of the issues related to working with volunteers and a thorough understanding of the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement.
- Qualifications:_
- Experience in successfully managing delivery of state-wide or diverse service programs is desirable.
- A relevant appropriate tertiary qualification in social science or a related discipline is desirable.

**How to Apply**:
**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.