Policy Officer

Great opportunity to join Youth Justice on an ongoing basis in Melbourne
- Make a positive difference in the lives of Aboriginal young people in the criminal justice system
- Attractive salary between $91,418 - $103,725 + superannuation

About us
The Aboriginal Youth Justice unit at the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) is responsible for the design and development of policy, strategy and program responses for young Aboriginal people in contact with or at risk of contact with the Youth Justice system. The Aboriginal Youth Justice team has worked in partnership with the Aboriginal Justice Caucus to develop Wirkara Kulpa, the first Aboriginal Youth Justice Strategy as a key initiative under the Aboriginal Justice Agreement, Burra Lotjpa Dunguludja. The unit is also responsible for the delivery of the Aboriginal Youth Justice Program which is focused on providing culturally responsive service delivery for Aboriginal young people in the community to assist them to remain connected to family, culture and community.
What does Aboriginal Youth Justice Policy and Strategy team do?
A key focus of the Aboriginal Youth Justice Policy and Strategy team is to drive the implementation of Wirkara Kulpa in partnership with the Aboriginal Justice Caucus and under the governance of the Youth Collaborative Working Group of the Aboriginal Justice Forum. Wirkara Kulpa is a 10 year strategy with 75 actions designed to further Aboriginal self-determination and close the gap in justice outcomes by 2031. Wirkara Kulpa also directly responds to 56 of the 75 recommendations of the Our Youth Our Way Inquiry. The Aboriginal Youth Justice team is also responsible for coordinating the monitoring and reporting on the government response to Our Youth Our Way through the Youth Collaborative Working Group.
What does the Policy Officer do?
As the Policy Officer, you will work as a member of the Aboriginal Youth Justice Policy and strategy team to provide policy and secretariat support, as well as assist with supporting the data analysis and reporting functions.
You will work in conjunction with several stakeholders including the Aboriginal Justice Caucus and the Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCO), as well as providing specialist advice and support to Youth Justice and DJCS more broadly on Aboriginal youth justice issues.
What skills should a Policy Officer have?
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the Victorian Aboriginal Community, both society and culture and the issues impacting on it
- Demonstrated ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with members of the Victorian Aboriginal community
- Experience providing support on policy, data analysis and reporting.

A qualification in community programs, youth justice, community engagement and partnerships, program support, youth work, community services or health is also desirable.
To learn more about the type of skills you will need to thrive in this role, please read the position description.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.
What's in it for you?
You will be working for the Department of Justice and Community Safety, which is one arm of the Victorian State Government, a recognised top employer of choice nationally. All our staff work to the vision of a safe, just, innovative and thriving Victoria.
There are many advantages in working for the department, including:

- Job stability - position as a member of the Victorian Public Service (VPS).
- A fair salary
- enjoy great work conditions and salary sacrificing options.
- Transparent performance framework
- approach your work with confidence in how you're tracking, working to professional development plans agreed on by you and your manager.
- Generous leave entitlements
- provisions for many forms of leave; including personal, parental, carers, study, cultural, compassionate, and sick leave.
- Employee Assistance Program support - you are encouraged to use this short-term, confidential counselling service if you're experiencing emotional stress, relationship problems, conflict with others or personal issues. It is also available for financial counselling and retirement planning.

We want to make sure all Victorians feel represented by the department's work. One of the ways we do this is by recruiting a diverse workforce - we welcome people of any gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability and cultural background. We are also committed to the Victorian Government's promise to increase the number of veterans working in the public sector.
We're proud of our individual differences. We're proud of the many languages we speak and the stories we can share with each other. We hope you will share your story too.
If this sounds like a compelling job that you believe your skills would be a great match for, please APPLY NOW. Applications close 11.59pm Sunday 9 July.
How to apply

**FOR INTERNAL VPS EMPLOYEES**:
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