Senior Project Officer

Company description:

Department of Communities and Justice

Job description:

Senior Project Officer

Location: Parramatta - Hybrid Working Temporary, Full Time Opportunity until 30 June 2026

Grade 9/10: $129,464 - $142,665 pa plus superannuation and annual leave loading

Your role

This role is critical in supporting the ongoing development and implementation of the KEYS (Kids Early Years) project in the Western Sydney Nepean Blue Mountains District. KEYS is an initiative which has been developed by the Service Delivery Reform Group in Western Sydney. This project seeks to provide a more comprehensive and systemic approach to service provision and coordination for vulnerable families (with children under 5) in the area. It aims to remove organisational barriers and deliver care that is value based and person-centered. The primary purpose of this role will be to assist in empowering and building the capability of the existing system to deliver integrated and wrap around services to vulnerable families in Western Sydney and Nepean Blue Mountains.

The KEYS Senior Project Officer will lead a team of multiagency KEYS Navigators who provide specialised information and assistance to service providers - to identify vulnerable families and their needs, support access and co-ordination of quality services between agencies to families, and ensure there is a coordinated shared family plan for wraparound support to families.

What you'll do

The role sits within the Western Sydney Nepean Blue Mountains District.

As part of the KEYS team, you will

• Provide supervision to team members from numerous agencies and professions and help manage complex issues requiring advanced practice skills, and to operate independently with minimal direct supervision.

• Fulfill line management, workforce and team leadership responsibilities for the KEYS Network in conjunction with home agencies.

• Provide leadership in the ongoing development, review, and refinement of processes within the KEYS service and ensure it remains responsive to the needs of families referred to the service, including KPIS if applicable.

• Ensure client care is delivered within professional, organisational, program, legal and ethical boundaries and reflects evidence-based, best practice knowledge and practice.

• Develop and monitor the provision of service to ensure we are meeting the predicated outcomes as specified in the KEYS Program Logic and the KEYS Outcome Framework.

• Build strong and effective partnerships with key service providers, and work collaboratively with agencies to develop effective processes for best practice, including access to services.

You'll work as part of a dynamic team that is both multi-disciplinary and multi-agency. KEYS reports to the KEYS board which is a multi-agency board with senior representatives from WentWest, Sydney Children's Hospital Network, DCJ, Department of Education and Western Sydney LHD. You'll be working in a hybrid team that works from various agencies and locations.

What we're looking for

• Tertiary qualifications and/or equivalent experience in a relevant field with demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development
• Significant experience in understanding DCJ casework practice
• Significant experience in working with vulnerable families
• Exceptional stakeholder collaboration skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

Appointments are subject to reference checks and the following pre-employment checks:

• National Criminal History Record Check in accordance with the Disability Inclusion Act 2014
• Working with Children Check clearance in accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012

Download the role description.

We focus on hiring people who share our commitment and goals of inclusion, collaboration, adaptability, courage and integrity. If you meet the essential requirements and the role resonates with you, please apply - you do not need to meet every desired requirement for us to want to talk to you.

What We Offer

We offer a variety of benefits, including:

• A challenging and rewarding career.

• Flexible, autonomous work environment.

• Competitive pay and conditions.

• Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities.

• Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.

Want more information? Visit our website to see more information on Working for us.

We do work that really matters

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It's work that really matters.

Apply now and join Australia's top public sector employer where we will support you and provide an exciting and flexible working environment

Are you ready to join us?

Click apply, attach an up-to-date résumé (maximum 5 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) addressing the 1 targeted question below with a brief outline on how you meet the requirements of the role:

1. Describe a time you have led a multiagency team to overcome a barrier for a family in accessing services? What were the barriers, and how did you resolve this?

Applications close Wednesday, 19 November 2025 at 11:59pm AEST.

Got a question?

For more information about the role or what it's like to work for DCJ, please contact the hiring manager Kylie Hughes on or at

If you've got a question about applying or would benefit from an adjustment in the recruitment process to help you perform at your best, please contact Ashlee Roberts via email as a preference to or on

Visit Recruitment adjustments on the DCJ website to learn more.

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers and other diversity groups.

To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit our careers site.

Other Information

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

For more information visit Your recruitment journey on the DCJ website.

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

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