Policy Advisor

Policy Advisor - Fixed Term/Full Time

About the Department

The department provides a wide range of learning and development support and services.

The department provides policy leadership, plans for the future of education in Victoria and leads key cross-sector collaboration. The department plays an important system steward role by providing support, guidance, oversight and assurance across early childhood and school education systems, as well as directly providing school education and 50 new early learning centres.

About the Division

An exciting opportunity exists to join new Strategy and Secondary School Reform Group in a key role supporting the School Support Team in the Senior Secondary Pathways Reform Taskforce.

The Strategy and Secondary School Reform Group focuses on senior secondary reforms (including the early years of secondary school), intergovernmental relations, performance and evidence, and the Education State Strategy.

Within this group, the Senior Secondary Pathways Reform Taskforce (SSPRT) was established in 2021 to lead a generational reform agenda in response to the 2020 Review into Vocational and Applied Learning Pathways in Senior Secondary Schooling. These reforms collectively support all Victorian secondary students to pursue high-quality and valued vocational pathways aligned to their strengths and interests and to finish schooling with the skills and capabilities they need for success in further education, training, work, and life.

The SSPRT includes 14 high performing and highly interdependent teams within four branches led by an Assistant Deputy Secretary.

About the Role

The Policy Advisor role, within the School Support Team, supports the implementation of key reform projects. This involves supporting strategic policy projects at every stage of the policy cycle, including research, analysis, development of policy options and the preparation of reports, through to the implementation of policy responses in partnership with region and area workforces.

The School Support Team has several high-priority projects within its remit, including strategic leadership of the Senior Secondary Pathways Reform Regional Pathways Workforce; pre-senior secondary initiatives, including the Vocational Taster Experiences pilot; place-based initiatives, including Skilling the Bay; and school performance and improvement initiatives, including data provision for schools.

The role involves facilitating collaboration and governance as Secretariat of key SSPRT Regional Pathways Workforce (RPW) meetings. The RPW are a highly valuable group which drives the department's reform agenda. The Policy Advisor plays a pivotal role in supporting evidence-based decision-making and shaping strategic policy outcomes in line with the department's objectives.

Attributes

The role requires excellent prioritisation and time management skills, and the capacity to work independently. The ability to work collaboratively with other teams in the department and regional staff will also be highly valued.

The role may also entail the drafting of urgent ministerial briefings, coordinate cabinet submissions and assisting to resolve stakeholder operational issues.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

Desirable: Tertiary qualification and/or experience in education contexts (either school or policy).

Experience in the education and training sectors, particularly in senior secondary vocational and applied learning, is also desirable.

Further Information

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.

The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Ebony Hughesvia email at

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

How to apply

Click Apply Now to submit your CV and a cover letter outlining the skills, capabilities and experiences that you would bring to this role.

Applications close 11:59pm on 1 December 2025