Project & Policy Officer, Aboriginal Health (Vpsg4)

Location: Melbourne | CBD

Job type: Full time

Organisation: Department of Justice and Community Safety

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

Occupation: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services

Reference: VG/D00047_NOV

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 young people and recognises that young peoples’ 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?
- **Provide project and governance advice on matters concerning the health needs of Aboriginal prisoners and young offenders.**:

- **Ongoing opportunity to work with a high-performing and passionate team.**:

- **VPS Grade 4: $90,067 - $102,192 plus superannuation.**

The Department of Justice and Community Safety (the department) is seeking a Policy and Project Officer - Aboriginal Health to provide a critical role within Justice Health.

**This is an Aboriginal Identified Position, classified under 'special measures' of section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. Only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply**.**

**About the business unit**

The Aboriginal Health Unit is responsible for the design, development, implementation and motoring of initiatives to strengthen Aboriginal health care within both adult and youth custodial settings. this includes initiatives to:

- Enhance cultural safety of health care services
- ensure that health care services meet the needs of Aboriginal Prisoners and young people, including prioritising culture, cultural strengthening, addressing trauma and supporting healing,
- increase aboriginal engagement with healthcare services

The Aboriginal health unit will achieve this through working in partnership with key stakeholders including Aboriginal adults and youth in custody, community, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs), contracted health service providers, custodial staff and other services provided in custody.

**About the role**

Reporting to the Aboriginal Health and Governance Team Leader you will provide project and clinical governance support to Justice Health to advance priority work to strengthen the health needs of Aboriginal people in custodial settings.

Some of your duties will include:

- In partnership with the Aboriginal community drive work to further self-determination approaches to the development of key projects including the new models to enhance the cultural safety of service provision within custodial health setting.
- Develop and review projects and provide authoritative advice, recommendations and innovative options to management and stakeholders in relation to the health and rehabilitation needs of Aboriginal Community in the prison system.
- Prepare high quality submissions, briefing papers, correspondence and research documents and support government processes as required, including supporting the Aboriginal Justice Forum.

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

**About you**

To be successful in this role, you will have:

- Experience with working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community is essential.
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the Aboriginal community, society and culture and the issues impacting on these.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with the Victorian Aboriginal community.
- Ability to develop high quality and timely policy advice within a highly sensitive and complex environment.

A tertiary qualification in a suitably related discipline would be desirable.

**How to apply**

**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 are vaccinated against COVID-19.

Upon commencement of employment with the department you will be