Guardianship Support

Utilise your community services expertise to provide support and advice to the Office of the Public Advocate branch
- A Fixed-Term, 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.

This is a prioritised role for Aboriginal people, who will be given priority consideration as per the special measures provision of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010

**About the Business Unit**:
The Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) is an independent statutory office accountable to the Victorian Parliament which has been established to protect the rights of, and enhance the position of, people with disabilities in Victoria. OPA is a human rights organisation that promotes the diversity and inclusion of all people. OPA's vision is of a just and inclusive society that values and respects people from all walks of life and ages. OPA promotes a workplace culture where disability, and diversity of gender identities, sexualities, faiths, ethnicities, and abilities are respected. OPA values a range of experience in its employees, including professional, volunteer and lived experience.

**About the Role**:
The Guardianship Support / First Peoples Engagement Officer position has two aspects to the position, with equal time to be spent on each. Half of the Guardianship Support / First Peoples Engagement Officer involves helping to establish a new approach at OPA to improve the accessibility of our services for First Peoples. The other half of the role will be spent in assisting OPA's Guardians in Hospital program.
The position will be part of the Hospital Program OPA Advocate Guardian team. The position will also be part of a new small First Peoples' network at OPA.

**Some of your duties will include**:
First People's Engagement
- Assisting in establishing a new approach at OPA to improve the accessibility and cultural safety of OPA's services for First Peoples, and in the continued development and implementation of this approach
- Assisting in establishing a small First Peoples network at OPA that will comprise two to three staff members and that will operate as a support network for First Peoples staff at OPA, including by encouraging involvement in broader networks and supports, such as the Department.

Guardianship Support
- Assisting with the management of guardianship files, under direction from the team leader, and in consultation with other team members
- Assisting in gathering information for guardianship decisions
- Responding to calls and enquiries from represented persons, families, and professionals.

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

**About You**:

- Sector Knowledge & experience
- Strong knowledge of the Victorian human services sector, NDIS, mental illness, and aged care service systems
- A strong ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with members of the Victorian Aboriginal Community.
- Content knowledge
- Understands the issues relating to disability, including mental illness and age -related disability
- Strong knowledge and understanding of the Victorian Aboriginal community, both society and culture and the issues impacting on it.

The ability to seek opportunities for continuous improvement and innovate while offering suggestions and ideas and encouraging others to do the same while leveraging on existing systems and procedures to improve outcomes, quality, and efficiency of work.

**How to Apply**:
**IMPORTANT INFORMATION**:
This is a prioritised role for Aboriginal people, who will be given priority consideration as per the special measures provision of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010

**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.