Child Witness Officer

Location: Melbourne | CBD

Job type: Full time

Organisation: Department of Justice and Community Safety

**Salary**: $90,067 - $102,192

Occupation: Community Services

Reference: VG/D00868D00869

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 within the Victims Services, Support and Reform branch of Department of Justice and Community Safety**:

- **VPSG 4 Classification (salary range **$90,067 - $102,192**)**:

- **Two (2) ongoing, full-time opportunities available**

**About Us**:
The Victim Services, Support and Reform (VSSR) branch is part of the Service Delivery Reform, Coordination and Workplace Safety group in the Department of Justice and Community Safety. The VSSR is responsible for coordinating a suite of services for victims of crime that provide information and support to help manage the effects of crime and guide victims through the criminal justice system across Victoria.

**About the Role**:
The CWS is a state wide specialist case management service for child witnesses (up to 18 years at the time charges were laid) and their families and/or carers. The model of care is child focused and incorporates principles of trauma informed care. The purpose of the CWS is to increase participation by child witnesses in the criminal justice process and to reduce trauma associated with being involved with the criminal justice system, particularly being a child witness.

The CWS:

- Provide specialist end-to-end case management of child witnesses' contact with the criminal justice system.
- Provide information to child witnesses and their families about the criminal justice system, how it works, their role as a witness and the roles and responsibilities of other people involved in the criminal justice system.
- Work collaboratively with external agencies providing support to child witnesses and their families, including: Intermediaries providing expert communication or developmental assessments; legal teams; police; and courts, to support child witnesses.
- Has clients located regionally and in Melbourne. As such, regional travel across Victoria is required, often requiring overnight stays.

**About You**:

- Extensive experience in the provision of direct services to children who have experienced trauma
- Demonstrated experience in working in community and/or Court based settings
- Sound knowledge of child development and the impact of trauma and abuse on child development
- A relevant tertiary qualification in social work or psychology is desirable.

**How to Apply**:
**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. Acceptable evidence includes:

- COVID-19 digital certificate (available via your myGov account)
- Your immunisation history statement (available via your myGov account) or
- A letter from the GP who vaccinated you.