Cultural Advisor

**Are you experienced and passionate about collaborating with individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and do you have a desire to make a meaningful contribution to your community?**:
**Embrace this dynamic role that offers the opportunity to assist prisoners from diverse backgrounds in celebrating their beliefs, faith, and culture within a transformative organization.**:
**Full-Time salary $73,000 - $78,000 plus superannuation.**:
**About The GEO Group Australia**

Ravenhall Correctional Centre is part of The GEO Group Australia, based west of Melbourne and is Victoria's largest prison for adult sentenced and unsentenced males. It's contemporary campus-style design provides a safe and humane environment that enables and nurtures GEO's Continuum of Care operating philosophy.

Ravenhall also has a dedicated Forensic Mental Health Unit, a specialised Closed Supervision Unit for prisoners with significant challenging behaviours, and a small Mission Based Unit for prisoners who have never been in custody before. In recognition of the importance of Continuum of Care, Ravenhall extends its presence into the community by providing ex-prisoners with access to post-release support at GEO’s Community Reintegration Centre.

**About Ravenhall Correctional Centre**:
**Ravenhall** is Victoria’s largest, medium security prison for adult sentenced and unsentenced males. Its contemporary campus-style design provides a safe and humane environment that enables and nurtures GEOs Continuum of Care operating philosophy.

Ravenhall also has a dedicated Forensic Mental Health Unit, a specialised Closed Supervision Unit for prisoners with significant challenging behaviours, and a small Mission Based Unit for prisoners who have never been in custody before. In recognition of the importance of Continuum of Care, Ravenhall extends its presence into the community by providing ex-prisoners with access to post-release support at GEO’s Community Reintegration Centre.

With key focus on young adult offenders, Aboriginal and those with complex and mental health needs, prisoners at Ravenhall have significant opportunities to engage in work, education, programs and services, through an evidence based approach to reduce re-offending.

Ravenhall’s unprecedented emphasis on offender rehabilitation and reintegration is evidenced through collaborative and integrated relationships with key Alliance service partners including Forensicare, Correct Care Australia, YMCA, Honeywell and Bendigo Kangan Institute of Tafe.

**About the Opportunity**:
The Cultural Advisor reports to (and supports) the Faith and Culture Coordinator in the planning and coordination of appropriate cultural and other program activities for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) prisoners. They ensure prisoners can express their identity and beliefs in culturally sensitive ways that are consistent with the safe management and security of the Prison. They also work with CALD prisoners to strengthen their cultural identity while in custody and thereby assist with community reconnection and reintegration. The Cultural Advisor also provides advice and guidance to custodial and programs staff in relation to the cultural needs and expectations of prisoners from various cultural backgrounds.

**Your day to day responsibilities will include, but not be limited to**:

- Collaborating closely with case managers to identify the specific cultural requirements of prisoners from diverse cultural and non-English speaking backgrounds, both before and after their release.
- Actively participating in multidisciplinary case reviews for prisoners hailing from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds, contributing to heightened cultural awareness within the team.
- Assisting the Faith and Culture Coordinator in the strategic planning of culturally appropriate educational activities, celebrations, and events.
- Strengthening cultural responsiveness through the development of specialized programs, the implementation of protocols and innovative practices, staff training, and active community engagement.
- Offering consultation, guidance, and training to both prisoners and staff regarding issues related to cultural sensitivity and responsiveness.
- Promoting diversity by leading prisoners on a journey of learning, encouraging them to understand, respect, and ultimately embrace the rich tapestry of cultures and languages in Victoria.

**Key Selection Criteria**:

- Demonstrated in depth knowledge of multicultural issues and backgrounds.
- Proven capacity to plan and coordinate programs, activities and cultural celebrations for groups of people, ideally within an institutional setting.
- Demonstrated ability to facilitate positive cultural experiences and interactions with prisoners by being mature, flexible and empathetic to the needs of prisoners from culturally diverse backgrounds.
- Demonstrated ability to act as a positive role model for prisoners who o