Child Witness Officer

Utilise your Child Witness expertise to provide support and advice to the Victim Services, Support and Reform Branch
- 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 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.

**About the Role**:
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.
This role will be providing specialist end-to-end case management of child witnesses' contact with the criminal justice system.

**Some of your duties will include**:

- Providing specialist case management to child witnesses and their families, when children are witnesses in criminal matters. The service is provided for matters heard in the Magistrates, County and Supreme Courts and the criminal division of the Children's Court.
- Assessing child witnesses' specific needs that may affect their participation in the criminal justice process and tailor court preparation to the child's individual needs accordingly, e.g., working with child witnesses to identify stress management techniques that will work for them. This may include working collaboratively with other professionals such as Intermediaries who conduct specialist assessments of children to assist children to give their best evidence in Court.

**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.

**How to Apply**:
**FOR INTERNAL VPS EMPLOYEES**:
**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.
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.