Faith and Culture Coordinator

**Be apart of an innovative correctional facility, **focused** on **reducing recidivism and supporting community integration.**:
**Be apart of a progressive and **passionate** team, **dedicated** to making a difference.**:
**Full-Time Salary, approximately $100,000 plus superannuation.**:
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**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 the Opportunity**:
The Faith and Culture Coordinator leads the development and implementation of a range of programs and services that accommodate the cultural needs and spiritual beliefs of prisoners pre
- and post-release. Their role is to ensure prisoners can maintain their connection with their faith and/or culture while in custody, leading to more positive reconnections post-release. The Coordinator organises religious and cultural festivals and services, facilitates programs that promote cross-faith and cross-cultural awareness between prisoners, liaises with visiting Chaplains, and works with service partners and external agencies to promote access to faith and cultural services.

The Faith and Culture Coordinator will:

- Effectively lead and manage the faith and culture services for Ravenhall including direct line management of a Cultural Advisor and contract management of visiting chaplains.
- Coordinate and where appropriate assist, in the provision of spiritual, religious and cultural services to prisoners including programs that promote awareness and acceptance of multi-cultural and religious differences.
- Organise, coordinate and schedule religious and cultural celebrations in collaboration with visiting chaplains in line with (but not limited to) Corrections Victoria’s Multi-faith Calendar of events.
- Ensure all prisoners receive equitable access and opportunity to practice their religion while in custody.
- Liaise with and provide operational support to, visiting chaplains, clergy, and other faith representatives.
- Organise and liaise with community religious support services for prisoner access post-release including Melbourne City Mission’s post-release pastoral care program.
- Ensure the Cultural Advisor makes contact with all prisoners from Culturally And Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds to ensure a responsive service delivery approach.
- Chair the Chaplaincy Advisory Committee (CAC) and liaise with custodial, programs, the Cultural Advisor, Alliance Partners and Forensicare to review the program of services on offer at the Centre.
- Provide consultation, advice and training on issues related to faith and culture

**Your Skills & Experience**:
To be successful in the role of Faith and Culture Coordinator you will have:

- Demonstrated in-depth knowledge and respect for cultural issues and religious beliefs.
- Previous experience coordinating or managing a pastoral, faith-based or cultural program or service.
- Proven capacity to manage, lead, plan and coordinate programs, activities and cultural celebrations for groups of people, ideally within an institutional setting.
- Capability to weave cultural and faith-based experiences into the daily life of prisoners identifying with such faiths and cultures.
- Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills with an ability to form positive working relationships with stakeholders and contracted agencies.

**About the Benefits**:
Joining GEO is your chance to make a real and lasting difference in the lives of prisoners, their families and the community. Benefits of working for GEO, include but are not limited to:

- Role diversity and internal career progression opportunities
- Ongoing professional development opportunities (including further education sponsorship)
- Flexible working arrangements
- Competitive salary and rewards scheme
- Salary sacrifice options
- Free parking
- Employee Assistance Program
- Staff gym
- Subsidised meals

We are always looking for people to join our company who share the values that we stand for:
**INTEGRITY - RESPECT - ACCOUNTABLE - AGILE - INNOVATIVE