Policy Officer

**Utilise your expertise in Policy to provide support and advice to the Courts and Justice System Reform branch**:

- **An Ongoing, Full-Time opportunity to work with a high-performing and passionate team in the Victorian Public Service**:

- **VPS Grade 3: $79,122 - $96,073 plus superannuation.**

**About the Business Unit**:
The Courts, Civil and Criminal Law (CCCL) group provides policy advice and support on criminal law, civil law, and court and tribunal issues for which the Attorney-General is responsible. CCCL includes the Courts and Justice System Reform (CJSR) branch, which leads strategic court and justice system reform relevant to the Attorney-General's responsibilities. CJSR works collaboratively with key entities across the justice system and the department to ensure policy reform is strategic, relevant, holistic and people centred.

Within CJSR, Justice System Policy and Reform (JSPR) provides system-level leadership and stewardship to support the Attorney-General to improve the interconnection and operation of the justice system.

JSPR is made up of two teams:

- The Justice Strategy team:

- Identifies and delivers system-level reforms, which includes supporting the Attorney-General's oversight of the justice system to improve outcomes and access to justice.
- Works in partnership with the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department, interstate colleagues and the Victorian legal assistance sector to manage the implementation of the National Access to Justice Partnership (NAJP) 2025-20 and other Commonwealth arrangements for legal assistance services.
- Leads governance, policy and administrative support for the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and the Coronial Council of Victoria.
- The Legal Assistance team:

- Leads stakeholder engagement with all parts of the legal assistance sector including Victoria Legal Aid (VLA), the Federation of Community Legal Centres (FCLC), and the Victoria Law Foundation (VLF).
- Manages state-based grants, preparing budget submissions, and identifying the impacts of other justice initiatives on access to justice and the legal assistance sector.
- Works with the sector, and other parts of DJCS, to identify emerging and continuing legal needs and opportunities for building sector capability and developing innovative solutions.

**About the Role**:
As a member of Justice System Policy and Reform unit, the Policy Officer will be responsible for:

- Contributing to the development and implementation of policy proposals, programs and initiatives within the Attorney-General's reform program
- Researching, analysing, preparing, and presenting high-quality written materials including clear and concise reports, briefings, and presentations on operational policy and program issues, options, and other matters
- Providing support for secretariate functions and to manage the unit's entity management responsibilities including for the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and the Coronial Council.

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

**About You**:

- Strong writing and research skills with the ability to assist with the preparation of policy materials
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to support secretariate and stakeholder engagement functions
- Understanding, or ability to gain an understanding, of government grant management including reporting and stakeholder management
- Experience with and or/knowledge of the Victorian justice system and/or the legal assistance sector would be advantageous.
- Qualifications/Requirements:_
- A relevant tertiary qualification is highly 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 concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.