Community Engagement Officer

Location: Melbourne | Western Metropolitan

Job type: Full time / Until 30 June 2025

Organisation: Department of Justice and Community Safety

**Salary**: $115,357 - $132,764

Occupation: Community Services

Reference: DJCS/5545_SEP24

At the Department of Justice and Community Safety, we’re looking for people who want to make a difference. People who take pride in their work. People who get things done. People who are committed to making Victoria a safer place.

We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve. We’re all about recruiting the best people, regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or cultural background. If you think you can do the job and would be a good fit for our department, we’d love to hear from you.

The department is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and recognises that children’s rights need to be respected, their views welcomed and valued, and their concerns taken seriously and acted upon.

For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit justice.vic.gov.au/careers

We’re proud of the important work we do across Victoria. Want to be part of it?
- ** Fixed Term, full time opportunity until 30 June 2025**:

- **CYF 5 Salary range $115,357 - $132,764 per annum plus superannuation**:

- **Key role as a community liaison between African communities and Youth Justice Community Services**

**About us**

The Department's Youth Justice Service provides programs and resources to assist young people to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to manage their lives effectively without further offending. Through supervision, offending related programs and linkages to appropriate support services, the youth justice service promotes opportunities for rehabilitation and contributes to the reduction of crime in the community.

**About the role**

The primary focus of the Community Engagement Officer is to act as the interface between Youth Justice Community Services and African communities; working with case managers to strengthen cultural practice in case management and assist them with the cultural challenges associated with young offenders from an African background.

The Community Engagement Officer is responsible for the development and maintenance of supportive linkages between justice agencies and community organisations, providing policy advice, as well as promotion of relevant initiatives within the region.

In this pivotal role, you'll spearhead the establishment and maintenance of strong partnerships between justice agencies and community organisations. Your responsibilities will extend to providing strategic policy advice and championing relevant initiatives across the region.

Your primary focus will be in Melbourne's western suburbs and your support will be instrumental in locations including Werribee and Sunshine.

**About you**
- A demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the African community, both society and culture and the issues impacting on it, particularly in relation to young people.
- Experience or an understanding of working with young people with complex needs at high risk of offending in the community.
- Demonstrated interest in and an appreciation of a range of different cultures and actively sought to understand and effectively address the issues and views of others.
- Well-developed interpersonal skills, including the ability to build strong relationships, and an understanding of how to motivate others and address conflict.
- Sound written and verbal communication skills.

**Qualifications**
- A Bachelor of Social Work or Diploma in Community Services Work is highly desirable.
- A full driver's licence is required due to the need to respond to emergencies across the state at short notice and outside business hours as required.
- A current employee Working with Children Check (WWCC) card is required and will need to be provided prior to commencement of employment by the applicant. Currency will need to be maintained by the employee for the period of employment.

For more details regarding this position, please contact:

- **Piera Calandro - Youth Justice General Manager on 0407 599 057**

**Why work with us?**

At the Department of Justice and Community Safety, we provide every person with the means to achieve their potential through ongoing learning and development opportunities in a diverse, equitable and supportive environment.

We look for people who are prepared to do their very best in line with our values and behaviours. Our values shape and influence how we recruit, train and develop our staff and build relationships with stakeholders.

We will also provide you with professional development opportunities, an employee assistance program, access to job opportunities across the Victorian Government, salary packaging and much more.

For further information on our benefits please follow the link **Why work for Vic (careers.vic.gov.au)*