Senior Project Officer

Seeking a skilled professional with experience in education, community services or Out-of-Home Care, who brings strong communication skills, a thoughtful and empathetic approach, and a passion for equity in education.

About The Centre
As the leader and peak body in child and family services in Tasmania and Victoria, The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare Tas/Vic proudly represents over 150 organisations, spanning the entire sector from proactive prevention and early intervention to the critical provision of out-of-home care.

We support organisations and individuals dedicated to advancing child wellbeing, implementing early intervention strategies, and delivering quality out-of-home care services for children and families across Tasmania and Victoria.

Every team member at the Centre is part of the leading force in Tasmania and Victoria's child and family services sector. We engage in meaningful work that directly impacts communities across both states.

With a proud and rich history, our work extends beyond advocacy. Whether you're passionate about driving policy change, shaping professional standards, or directly supporting frontline services, there's a place for you to grow and thrive with us.

The Centre cultivates a diverse and inclusive workplace committed to our team member's health, wellbeing and cultural safety. We believe diversity strengthens our teams, services, and organisations.

We encourage applicants of any background, culture, gender identity, and experience to join us.

About The Role
As Senior Project Officer, you will play a key role in expanding the reach and impact of the Raising Expectations program through strategic stakeholder engagement, network facilitation, training delivery, resource development, and supporting young people to connect to the Game Changers Peer Mentoring Program.

This role involves supporting the strategic growth of the program through the development and coordination of key stakeholder networks, as well as contributing to the delivery of training, workshops, tailored resources, events, and supporting the success of the Game Changers Peer Mentoring Program. You will bring a strengths-based, empathetic approach to your work and demonstrate a deep respect for lived experience as a foundation for meaningful change.

Portfolio
: Raising Expectations Program/Social Policy & Research

Time Fraction
: Full Time (1.0FTE)

Term
: to 31 Dec 2028 (continuation pending funding)

Location
: Hybrid work plan - home & Melbourne CBD office

Salary package
: $95,000-$105,000 range p.a. (salary commensurate with experience) + regulated superannuation (12%) + tax reducing salary packaging

Benefits Of Working At The Centre

• Up to three days additional leave (pro rata) over Christmas/New Year period
• Family friendly flexible working arrangements
• A flexible hybrid work-from-home arrangement
• Paid parental/carer/study leave
• Individual annual budget for training and professional development
• A supportive and positive work environment
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Leave loading of 17.5%
• Attractive not-for-profit salary packaging (this boosts your income by reducing the amount of tax you pay), with additional Meal/Holiday accommodation benefit

Background - Raising Expectations
The Raising Expectations program supports young people in care and care leavers to access, participate and succeed at TAFE and university. Currently, few care-experienced people go onto study at TAFE and university compared with their peers who have not been in care. Raising Expectations is changing this. The program is a cross-sectoral collaboration between the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare and TAFE and university partners, Federation University Australia, La Trobe University, Swinburne University of Technology, Victoria University, Monash University, Deakin University, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and Melbourne Polytechnic. The program was established in 2015 and has since seen a significant increase in care-experienced students entering and succeeding at TAFE and university.

Working collaboratively with our partner TAFE and universities, the Centre raises awareness about care-experienced student needs in the community and education sectors. The Centre collaborates with the multiple sectors and services that work with young people with a care experience to increase the knowledge and skills of professionals and carers about the support and opportunities available to care leavers. The aim is to keep children and young people who are in care connected to learning and to be able to make informed choices about post-secondary educational and employment pathways.

A key feature of Raising Expectations is the Peer Mentoring programs, which aim to connect care experienced young people with mentors who have also experienced care. Currently, we have two peer mentoring programs: Game Changers supports care experienced TAFE and university students and Level Up supports young people aged 15-18 with a care experience navigate the transition into TAFE and university.

To learn more about Raising Expectations, see the Raising Expectations website here:

Key Accountabilities

• Lead the development of key resources aimed at engaging students currently in care or those with a care experience, supporting their transition into post-secondary education and/or vocational training.
• Support the development of project strategies that strengthen and expand complex cross-sectoral collaborations, ensuring alignment of stakeholder interests and advancement of shared objectives.
• Support the development and delivery of a suite of targeted professional development initiatives, such as training workshops and e-learn modules, for TAFE and university staff, as well as other relevant services and programs, to enhance awareness and understanding of care-experienced students.
• Coordinate and facilitate stakeholder and sector networks - including quarterly network meetings for TAFE providers and bi-monthly meetings for stakeholders across the Out-of-Home Care, community services and education sectors.
• Provide high-level project support to the Program Manager and the Raising Expectations team, including representing the program on external committees and working groups.
• Prepare timely, high-quality reports for government stakeholders detailing project progress and deliverables.
• Deliver presentations on the Raising Expectations initiative to key stakeholders, partners, and funders.
• Contribute to regular updates for the project governance group and government agencies as required.
• Assist in the planning and delivery of key events for care-experienced young people and the professionals who support their educational journeys.
• Support the implementation of the 'Game Changers' mentoring program for care-experienced students enrolled in TAFE and university, including supporting the promotion, participant recruitment, and facilitation of mentoring sessions.
• Contribute to policy submissions and advocacy efforts to inform government, Centre members, and broader policy work related to education for children and young people in care, youth justice, and other groups experiencing significant educational disadvantage.

Key Selection Criteria
The Successful Applicant Will Have

• Demonstrated ability to contribute to and lead the development of strategies that support the growth and sustainability of complex cross-sectoral collaborations. This includes the capacity to identify shared goals, align diverse stakeholder interests, and build strong partnerships across sectors.
• Proven ability to engage and build effective relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including TAFE and university staff, government representatives, community service organisations, senior leaders, young people with lived experience, and school staff.
• Strong knowledge of post-secondary education pathways, including TAFE and university processes, or the demonstrated capacity to acquire this knowledge rapidly.
• Sound understanding of the Victorian care system, including the common experiences of people who have spent time in care and the systemic barriers they may encounter in accessing post-secondary education.
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, with experience in preparing project documentation such as detailed project plans, program strategies, progress reports, and public speaking – including network facilitation, training and delivering presentations tailored to varied audiences.
• Demonstrated experience in supporting and developing initiatives that centre and elevate lived experience.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities effectively.
• Proficient in the use of a range of digital tools and software applications, including the Microsoft Office suite.

Qualifications

• Relevant qualifications (e.g. social work, youth work, education, social policy) or equivalent lived experience of the care and/or community services system.
• Experience working within government, community services, education, or child and family services sectors

To Apply
If you feel this role is right for you, we welcome your application. Please provide the following:

• Your resume/CV
• A brief cover letter (no longer than 2 pages) outlining your interest in the role, relevant experience, and how you meet the Key Selection Criteria (including short examples where appropriate)

Please collate these into one (1) document for upload.

If you would like to learn more about the role, please reach out to Pearl Goodwin-Burns – Senior Manager, Education at

This position is being recruited through an expedited process. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and the role may be filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible. Applications will close once a suitable candidate is appointed.