Aboriginal Community Engagement Worker

_**This is an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander designated position, classified under Section 12 Special Measures of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010.**_
- **This opportunity is only available to Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.**_
- **Salary Offering: $75,566.40 - $81,317.60 depending on experience plus Superannuation**_
- **Additional Benefits**:_
- 17.5% Leave Loading
- 5 extra days leave on top of 20 days annual leave
- Only required to work 35 hours per week, any extra hours worked will be calculated as your Time In Lieu (TOIL) - which you may use as additional leave hours
- Access to company vehicles for any work-related trips
- Salary packaging is available via Maxxia
- **Office Locations: High Street, Preston**_
- **This is full-time until 30 June 2025.**_
- **This position may require regional travel.**_
- **OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE**:_

The Aboriginal Community Engagement Worker works as part a multidisciplinary team with Balit Ngulu youth lawyers to support Aboriginal young people engage with the justice system and build their resilience, wellbeing and ensure they are kept safe.

**Balit Ngulu offers Aboriginal children and young people in Victoria**:

- Quality, timely and culturally safe legal assistance, including legal education, legal advice and representation at specific courts within Victoria.
- Advocacy and support for incarceration alternatives.

Person-centred and culturally relevant support plans that keep them safe and build their positive sense of self and connection to community.
- **Key Performance Indicators, Duties & Responsibility**_

The Aboriginal Community Engagement Worker works as part a multidisciplinary team with Balit Ngulu youth lawyers. The ACE Worker works alongside Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander young people (clients) to:

- Promote cultural safety.
- Develop and implement plans that keep the young person safe, support their diversion from the youth justice system and build their resilience. For instance, working alongside the young person to identify and agree appropriate solutions that will work for them including setting goals and providing practical help and advocacy to achieve these goals.
- Provide transport to and from court and other appointments with the client, including attending court and appointments with them. For instance, acting as a source of support and advice for them at court, interviews, and other formal meetings.
- Support clients to access key information and services. This includes undertaking client liaison, warm referrals to relevant support services such as with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and advocacy as appropriate.
- Represent and promote Balit Ngulu and participate in client case planning processes with partner agencies.
- Maintain accurate and timely records of contacts with and for clients and undertake other administrative tasks consistent with VALS policies and procedures.
- As directed, undertake other duties that are incidental and peripheral to main tasks, provided such duties are reasonably within the employee’s skills and competence.
- **Key Selection Criteria**_

1. Lived experience in an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community(ies) with demonstrated knowledge of issues that impact access to justice and support services for Aboriginal children and young people, ideally in Victoria.

2. A Certificate IV in Youth Work, Diploma in Youth Work and/or equivalent experience. If not at Diploma level, must be willing to undertake relevant professional qualification (which will be supported by VALS).

3. Demonstrated experience working with Aboriginal young people.

4. Excellent written, verbal communication and interpersonal skills.

5. The ability to work in a multi-disciplinary environment including assertively and respectfully with partners, including ACCOs and persons working within Victorian courts, police, youth justice and child protection and residential care services.

6. Good computer skills.

**Key Selection Criteria
- desirable**

1. Knowledge of Victorian legal system, including an understanding of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 and key amendments and associated policies and guidelines relevant to youth justice. This includes Children’s Court practices and procedures.

2. Work within the not-for-profit sector, ideally within an ACCO.

Experience of working as part of a whole-family and whole-community approach to supporting clients.

**Mandatory Requirements**

On offer of this position, you must provide:

- a copy of your current Employee Working with Children card
- a copy of your current Driver’s License that is valid in the State of Victoria.
- you will be required to complete a current Criminal History Police Check
- proof of rights to work in Australia, i.e. a copy of an Australian Passport, Birth Certificate or Immigration VISA documentation
- evidence of your COVID-19 vaccination certificate or valid medical exemption

**HOW TO APPLY**: