Manager, Policy and Strategy

Key leadership role aimed at reducing Aboriginal over-representation in the youth justice system
- Fixed-term fulltime role until 30 June 2026.
- VPS Grade 6 : $138,631 to $185,518 plus superannuation.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety (the department) is seeking a **Manager, Policy and Strategy**to fill a vital role within the Aboriginal Youth Justice Unit.

**About the Business Unit**

The Aboriginal Youth Justice (AYJ) 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 team has worked in partnership with the Aboriginal Justice Caucus to develop Wirkara Kulpa, the first AYJ Strategy as a key initiative under the Aboriginal Justice Agreement, Burra Lotjpa Dunguludja. It is also responsible for the delivery of the AYJ Program which is focused on providing culturally responsive service delivery for young Aboriginal people in to assist them to remain connected to family, culture and community. A key focus of the AYJ 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.

**About the role**:
As Manager, Policy and Strategy, you will work in partnership with the Aboriginal Justice Caucus to drive the implementation, monitoring and evaluation phases of Wirkara Kulpa to ensure that innovative and human centred responses are underpinned by the Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing approach. You will work in conjunction with several stakeholders, including the Aboriginal Justice Caucus and the Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and provide specialist advice and support to Youth Justice and DJCS more broadly on Aboriginal youth justice issues. You will manage a small team of policy staff and represent the work area to external stakeholders. Further, you will also manage feedback to maintain positive relationships, while proactively developing and maintaining effective working relationships with the Aboriginal Community and key internal and external stakeholders.

**You will also**:

- Provide high level, authoritative, strategic and innovative policy and technical advice to departmental executives and Ministers on complex and potentially sensitive matters, and prepare high quality briefings, reports and presentations.
- Work collaboratively within a broader team of multidisciplinary project managers, providing project management leadership and expert advice and guidance to project team members, particularly on Aboriginal cultural issues and in relation to the impact of justice

Effectively and professionally represent Youth Justice and DJCS at relevant forums both within and outside government, maintaining the professional reputation of Youth Justice. involvement on Aboriginal people.

**_ This is a prioritised role for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, who will be given priority consideration as per the special measures provision of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. _**

For Aboriginal Designated and Prioritised positions, a Certificate of Aboriginality (CoA) will be required prior to an offer of employment being made.

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

**About you**

To be successful in this role, you will have:

- Excellent knowledge of Aboriginal culture and society and understanding of historical and contemporary issues relating to Aboriginal Victorians.
- Strong knowledge of, and demonstrated experience, working with Aboriginal communities and advisory groups, including sophisticated and culturally aware stakeholder engagement.
- Experience and strong understanding of Victorian Government administrative processes.
- Understanding of the impact of justice involvement on Aboriginal children and young people and Aboriginal programs and services in the youth and/or criminal justice system is highly desirable.

**Qualifications/requirements**
- A tertiary qualification in criminology, social sciences or related field is desirable.

**How to Apply**

**IMPORTANT INFORMATION**:
**CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT**:
The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their conce