Aboriginal Wellbeing Officer

Location: Melbourne | Western Metropolitan

Job type: Full time

Organisation: Department of Justice and Community Safety

**Salary**: $72,751 - $88,336

Occupation: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services

Reference: VG/8397SEP22

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?
- ** An exciting opportunity to provide ongoing welfare, advocacy and support for Aboriginal prisoners**:

- **VPS 3 classification (salary range $72,751 - $88,336)**:

- **Ongoing, full-time role**

**About us**

Dame Phyllis Frost Centre is a 568-bed medium to maximum-security facility for female offenders located within the West Metropolitan Region, Department of Justice and Community Safety.

The Aboriginal Wellbeing Officer (AWO) role was established under the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement, as a response to the findings of the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

AWOs are part of Corrections Victoria's commitment to reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system and to ensuring that Aboriginal Victorians achieve the same justice outcomes as the broader Victorian community.

**About the role**

The AWO has direct prisoner contact being responsible for engaging and actively working Aboriginal people in custody. The AWO provides cultural, spiritual and wellbeing support and coordinates cultural activities and programs. This role will participate in case management of Aboriginal Prisoners, working with the multi-disciplinary team to support successful transition back to the community.

You will have an understanding of case management and a demonstrated understanding of the Victorian Aboriginal Community, both society and culture and the issues impacting on it.

As the AWO, you will also lead the coordination of cultural activities including NAIDOC events and Aboriginal specific programs within the prison.

**About you**
- 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
- excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to identify and partner with stakeholders to ensure active collaboration in the design process to understand their needs, obtain ideas, insights and input.

Please submit your resume and cover letter outlining your suitability for the role as outlined in the attached position description.

**How to apply**

**_ FOR INTERNAL VPS EMPLOYEES:_**

**IMPORTANT INFORMATION**:
The department is committed to providing and maintaining a working environment which is safe and without risk to the health of its employees consistent with the department's obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic). Therefore, there is a requirement that all DJCS employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to undertake duties outside of their homes.

Prior to commencement of employment with the department you will need to provide evidence that you are vaccinated against COVID-19.

Upon commencement of employment with the department you will be required to provide evidence that you have an up-to-date vaccination status within the timelines specified by the department into the DJCS Service Portal. This includes evidence of all doses of a COVID-19 vaccine required by the department (from time to time).

Acceptable evidence includes:

- **COVID-19 digital certificate or ATAGI exemption certificate (available via your **myGov** account)**
- **Your immunisation history statement (available via your **myGov** account)**

Other documentation outside the above will not be accepted as evidence of having received your COVID-19 vaccine doses.