Child Witness Officer

Location: Melbourne | CBD

Job type: Full time / 12 months

Organisation: Department of Justice and Community Safety

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

Occupation: Community Services

Reference: VG/DJ5879DJ5881

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?

**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.

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.

**About the role**

The CWS is non-investigative and does not provide comment on the evidence of child witnesses or provide legal advice. The role of the CWS is to:

- 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.

In Melbourne, child witnesses generally give evidence from the CWS, a purpose-built facility that hosts the remote witness rooms for Melbourne courts and is child, youth and family friendly. In metropolitan and regional courts, the service is provided via outreach. Approximately 40 per cent of CWS clients are located in regional locations. As such, regular regional travel across Victoria is required, often requiring overnight stays. There may be some occasions when working from home is required.

**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
- Ability to see things from another's point of view and confirms understanding, understand motivations, needs and wants of stakeholders and their impact on service delivery and tailor communications according to audience and/or audience preference
- Ability to accept changed priorities without undue discomfort and respond quickly to changes

**Qualifications**:

- Registered as a Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) or eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is highly desirable.
- A current ‘Working with Children Check' will be required on commencement.
- A current driver's licence is essential.

**How to apply**

For more information on the accountabilities and key selection criteria for the role, please refer to the attached position description.

**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