Program Support Officer, Multicultural Practice

• Drive culturally responsive support for young people in Youth Justice through hands-on program design and delivery.
• Partner with stakeholders, power up Cultural Support Plans, and improve care continuity through advice and coordination.
• Contribute to improving the outcomes of young people's futures.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is responsible for the supervision of children and young people in the criminal justice system and for providing strategic advice and delivering strategic outcomes to address youth crime and reduce offending.

The Youth Justice Strategic Plan includes a reform direction to deliver culturally appropriate interventions and supports to address the overrepresentation of multicultural groups in Youth Justice.

The Opportunity

• Fixed term, full-time position until 30 June 2027 based in Melbourne.
• VPS Grade 4 role: $97,955 - $111,142 per year plus superannuation.
• Support the reform agenda to address the overrepresentation of African, Pasifika and other multicultural young people in the justice system.
• Contribute to the delivery and oversight of practice improvements aimed at supporting multicultural and multifaith young people, including culturally responsive practice that is designed to reduce offending behaviour.
• Monitor and report on the status of the priority projects, participate in and facilitate project meetings, and prepare a range of program documents and correspondence.
• Support multicultural policy development and implementation in Youth Justice operating environments.

To be successful in this role you will have:

• Experience in case management or working with multicultural and multifaith people and communities.
• Experience in, or knowledge of, Victorian Government administrative processes.
• Knowledge of current policy direction, research and issues within Youth Justice or the criminal justice system more broadly, or the ability to understand these issues quickly.
• Strong writing skills including drafting briefs and reports, with a dedication to clear and concise communication.

You will be required to obtain a Working with Children Check, which you will need to maintain for the period of employment.

A current full driver's license is required as travel to the Youth Justice Precincts and community offices is required.

A tertiary qualification in public policy, criminology, social sciences fields or related field is desirable.

To learn more about the type of skills you will need to thrive in this role, please read the position description.

What's in it for you?

You will be working for the Department of Justice and Community Safety, which is one arm of the Victorian State Government, a recognised top employer of choice nationally. All our staff work to the vision of a safe, just, innovative and thriving Victoria.

There are many advantages in working for the department, including:

• Job stability - position as a member of the Victorian Public Service (VPS).
• A fair salary- enjoy great work conditions and salary sacrificing options.
• Transparent performance framework- approach your work with confidence in how you're tracking, working to professional development plans agreed on by you and your manager.
• Generous leave entitlements- provisions for many forms of leave; including personal, parental, carers, study, cultural, compassionate, and sick leave.
• Employee Assistance Program support - you are encouraged to use this short-term, confidential counselling service if you're experiencing emotional stress, relationship problems, conflict with others or personal issues. It is also available for financial counselling and retirement planning.

If you have any queries, please contact Chris Varghese Mathew on or

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applicants are welcome to utilise support from the Aboriginal Recruitment Team throughout the recruitment process. Aboriginal candidates are encouraged to contact if they would like cultural support and guidance through the application process.

For Aboriginal Designated and Prioritised positions, a Certificate of Aboriginality (CoA) will be required prior to an offer of employment being made

We want to make sure all Victorians feel represented by the department's work. One of the ways we do this is by recruiting a diverse workforce - we welcome people of any gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability and cultural background. We are also committed to the Victorian Government's promise to increase the number of veterans working in the public sector.

We're proud of our individual differences. We're proud of the many languages we speak and the stories we can share with each other. We hope you will share your story too.

If this sounds like a compelling job that you believe your skills would be a great match for, please APPLY NOW. Applications close 11.59pm, Sunday 14 September 2025.

How to apply

Please click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include national police checks and misconduct screening.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

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.