Foi Officer

Utilise your legal expertise to provide support and advice to the Assurance/Freedom of Information Unit
- Ongoing, Full-Time opportunity to work with a high-performing and passionate team in the Victorian Public Service
- VPS Grade 4: $91,418 - $103,725 plus superannuation.

About the Organization The Department of Justice and Community Safety delivers a justice and community safety system that works to build a safer, fairer and stronger Victoria. About the Team The Assurance directorate manages corporate policies for the department and its Ministers to ensure strong governance and service delivery. It is responsible for risk management, crisis and continuity management, internal and external audit, freedom of information (FOI), information privacy and information security. The FOI Unit ensures the department is compliant with its obligations pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act 1982. About the Role The Freedom of Information Officer will be responsible for assessing FOI requests as well as providing expert advice on a broad range of matters relevant to the FOI unit. This role is critical to the FOI Unit's overall process improvement project, to streamline internal procedures and enhance responsiveness. The role requires strong stakeholder engagement and the ability to develop and maintain strategic relationships to achieve required outcomes for the department.
The key accountabilities of the role may include, but are not limited to:

- Responding to and processing FOI requests in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
- Acting as a delegate of the Secretary in making decisions under the FOI Act.
- Working within and across different FOI teams to provide guidance, authoritative and specialist advice to different business units of the department.
- Preparing executive briefings on a broad range of FOI matters, including for Corrections Victoria and Justice Services requests.
- Liaising with a diverse range of stakeholders from across the department and the community.

To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.
What we are looking for

**To be successful in this role, you will have**:

- Strong written and verbal skills, with a high level of attention to detail.
- The ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders from across the department.
- The ability to take initiative and accountability.
- A flexible and adaptable approach to work and the willingness to take on different challenges.

Qualifications/requirements
- A relevant tertiary qualification in law, public administration or a similar field is desirable.

What we offer
The FOI Unit is a friendly and collaborative team who provide high quality and targeted advice to the department and members of the public. The team is committed to helping staff balance work-life responsibilities, by providing staff with flexible work and leave arrangements. The position will report directly to the Manager, FOI Requests.
How to apply

**FOR INTERNAL VPS EMPLOYEES**:
**MANDATORY VACCINATIONS**:
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.
At interview stage and prior to commencement of employment with the department, you will need to provide evidence that you are vaccinated against COVID-19 with three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
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 three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine required by the department (from time to time).

**Acceptable evidence includes**:

- COVID-19 digital 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.

**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.