Aboriginal Engagement Adviser

The Department of Justice and Community Safety (the department) is seeking an Aboriginal Engagement Adviser within our Corrections and Justice Services team.

This is an Aboriginal designated position, classified under 'special measures' of section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. Only Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply.

About the Business Unit

The Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) provides a range of government programs and services which focus on improving community safety, victim services, regulatory services and crime prevention, and building strong collaboration across the justice system. Corrections Victoria's vision is for Safer Prisons, Safer People and Safer Communities. Our mission is to create a safer, smarter corrections system with a skilled and supported workforce, that enables people in our care to make better decisions.

Corrections Victoria is part of the Corrections and Justice Services (CJS) group in the Department of Justice and Community Safety and supports the Minister for Corrections.

Corrections Victoria operates Victoria's adult prison system, seeking to provide safe and secure containment for people in custody and an environment and programs and services that support rehabilitation. Corrections Victoria runs 11 public prisons, one transition centre, and oversees privately operated prisons.

About the role:

The Aboriginal Engagement Advisor (AEA) roles are regionally operational and together provide state-wide coverage to prison locations.  The AEA will conduct outward facing responsibilities which will consist of building effective relationships with Aboriginal communities and organisations.

As the AEA you will develop and strengthen relationships between the prison locations, Community Correctional Services, Aboriginal Community controlled organisations (ACCO's), post release support agencies and the Victorian Aboriginal community. You will be required to provide cultural supervision and support to prison-based AWOs and liaise with stakeholders to coordinate engagement within the prisons.

The AEA will be in consistent contact with AWO's within their allocated region and to provide advice and support to the AWO's with any issues that arise that are impacting Aboriginal people in custody.

Some of your responsibilities will include:

• Work closely with the local Aboriginal Community, ACCO's, other service providers and government departments, engagement and developing trust with the Community.
• Provide face to face, on-site assistance to AWO's and Aboriginal prisoners as required
• Develop and maintain strong effective relationships with key internal and external stakeholders including ACCO's towards the promotion and development of an integrated service response and service delivery to the rehabilitation and reintegration of Aboriginal prisoners and offenders.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the Aboriginal community, both society and culture and the issues impacting on it.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate sensitively and work effectively with the Victorian Aboriginal community.
• Experience in supervising staff that are working with Aboriginal clients with a complex trauma background.
• Demonstrated ability to manage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including Aboriginal stakeholders

Aboriginal applicants are welcome to utilise support from the Aboriginal Recruitment Team throughout the recruitment process and 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.

To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.

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 a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) 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.