Aboriginal Engagement Coordinator

**Overview**:
**Work type**:Full time

**Salary**:$95,102 - $107,905

**Grade**:VPSG4

**Occupation**: Administration/Secretarial

**Location**: Geelong

**Reference**: DJCS/9286

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?

**_ This is an Aboriginal designated position, classified under 'special measures' of section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. Only Aboriginal people are eligible to apply._**
- **Contribute to the co-ordination of Aboriginal programs and services at Western Plains Correctional Centre.**:

- **Develop and maintain relationships with relevant key internal and external stakeholders including Aboriginal community organisations to provide an integrated service response for Aboriginal people.**:

- **Lead and manage a team of Aboriginal Wellbeing Officers, providing cultural and operational support in day-to-day operations.**:

- **VPS Grade 4: $97,955 - $111,142 plus superannuation**

**About the Business Unit**

Western Plains Correctional Centre (Western Plains) is Victoria's newest maximum-security correctional facility, designed to house up to 1,248 people in custody.

Western Plains is a multi-purpose facility that adapts to the evolving needs of Corrections Victoria. It features purpose-built modern amenities including medical wards, a cultural centre and vocational training facilities. It utilises cutting-edge technology to keep the facility secure, allowing staff to focus on supporting the rehabilitation of people in custody.

Western Plains will open mid-2025 and Corrections Victoria are now recruiting key roles to help shape the future operations of the facility.

Western Plains will work closely with the Naalamba Ganbu Nerrlinggu Yilam (the Yilam) responsible for leading the design, development, implementation and monitoring of Corrections Victoria (CV) policies, programs and services aimed at reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal people within the Victorian correctional system. The Yilam seeks to do this by working in partnership with the Victorian Aboriginal community, related agencies and CV staff to understand the needs of Aboriginal people in the justice system to ensure effective policies, programs and services are in place.

**About the Role**

The Aboriginal Engagement Coordinator is a designated position and will be based at Western Plains Correctional Centre. The Aboriginal Engagement Advisor will conduct outward facing responsibilities which will consist of building effective relationships with Aboriginal communities and organisations.

The Aboriginal Engagement Coordinator will create and strengthen linkages between the prison locations, Community Correctional Services, Aboriginal Community organisations, post release support agencies and the Victorian Aboriginal community and work closely with the Naalamba Ganbu Nerrlinggu Yilam (the Yilam) who are responsible for leading the design, development, implementation and monitoring of Corrections Victoria (CV) policies, programs and services aimed at reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal people within the Victorian correctional system.

In this role you will be required to provide cultural supervision and support to prison-based Aboriginal Wellbeing Officers and liaise with stakeholders to coordinate engagement within the prisons. Additionally, you will be in frequent contact with Aboriginal Wellbeing Officers within their region and to provide advice and support Aboriginal Wellbeing Officers with any issues that arise that are impacting Aboriginal people in Correction Victoria's care.

Some of your duties will include:

- Work closely with the Yilam, the local Aboriginal Community, Aboriginal Community Organisations, other service providers and government departments, engagement and developing trust with the Community.
- Provide face to face, on-site assistance to Aboriginal Wellbeing Officers and Aboriginal people in Correction Victoria's care as required.

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

**About you**

To be successful in this role