Aps 5 Veteran Support Officer

Salary Range: $88,923 - $92,670 + Attractive Superannuation

The Transition Branch incorporates Transition Policy, Employment Programs and the Veteran Support Office. The Branch focus is supporting veterans and their families with contemporary transition supports from DVA. The Veteran Support Office works to a nationally consistent service delivery mode educating and assisting veterans with access to transition supports.

The Veteran Support Office is seeking a Veteran Support Officer - Operations, who will work as part of a national Veteran Support Officer (VSO) team. All positions carry with them the responsibility for ensuring that the reputation of DVA within the wider community remains of good standing, as it is likely to be the first direct contact that a member and their family have with the Department. VSOs will work with Team Leaders, often in an autonomous manner, to complete directed tasks and ensure that DVA’s business targets are met. In this they work closely with other external support elements to assist with progressing a member’s DVA business, as well as processing areas within DVA. All VSOs must have the ability and commit to working from various outreach sites to achieve operational service delivery requirements.

**Duties**
- Provide high-quality, personalised service to current and former veterans of the ADF in line with the DVA Cultural Vision and national VSO Policies, Procedures and Key Performance Indicators as implemented.
- Provide advice and interpretation, including in writing, on complex aspects of legislation to clients and colleagues.
- Develop strong partnerships with key stakeholders including Command elements, ADF Rehabilitation Program (ADFRP), Veteran Employment Industry and ESOs to enhance service delivery to the veteran community.
- Work closely with relevant areas of Defence, including the Joint Transition Authority, to support the delivery of services and activities which may be accessed/considered during the relevant stages of transition.
- Perform representational and outreach activities, including presentations to ADF seminars, veteran advocate training sessions, etc., as required.
- Assist with the development and maintenance of a VSO national training continuum for all new and incumbent VSO staff, ensuring that service delivery to veterans and their families remains consistent and contemporary.
- Assist with the review and update of internal operating instructions and procedures used by VSOs in day-to-day business.
- Design and review presentations to support ADF members, including internal content to maintain and upskill VSOs to provide a contemporary service to ADF members. It also includes designing and reviewing external content that is visible to veterans and their families.
- Provide support to the continuous improvement/quality assurance process through training and feedback to staff.
- Manage Defence Notifications functions provided to DVA by Defence, identifying vulnerable clients and assisting with next steps of support by way of expediting initial liability claims and/or onward referral to VSOs for face-to-face support.
- Demonstrate an understanding of matters relevant to DVA services and entitlements in line with the government’s focus on transitioning members, particularly those transitioning from the ADF involuntarily.
- Work closely with the national VSO team and relevant areas of DVA and the Defence community, to support the delivery of services for veterans.
- Provide early identification of persons at risk or with high needs for referral support to DVA’s Client Support Program.

**Eligibility**
- Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS).
- All applicants external to DVA offered employment will be required to successfully undergo a pre-engagement screening check, even if they have a security clearance. The screening check is conducted in accordance with the Australian Government Protective Security Policy Framework requirements.

**Mandatory Requirements**
- Capacity to travel and ability to undertake overnight travel and work after hours and on weekends (if required).
- Applicants must be willing to work on Defence bases and/or Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs.
- A current Australian driver’s licence.

**Notes**

Where a non-ongoing position is offered, the role will be filled for an initial specified term of up to 23 months.

A merit pool of suitable applicants may be created which may be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies should they become available over the next 18 months.

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