Project Officer

**Position summary**

This new position in the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare will assist in the development and delivery of a three-year trial of a child and family services employment-based Master of Social Work (qualifying) degree.

This flagship project will establish a new career pathway for degree qualified career changers highly suited to a career in child and family services to move into the sector. The program will see participants employed within child and family services while being supported to study a bespoke child and family services employment-based Master of Social Work (qualifying) degree that has a curriculum focused on workplace learning and the development of advanced child and family practice skills.

An adaptation of a successful UK program, the Victorian program aims to improve workforce capability, improve graduate job readiness, increase retention, and enable people from diverse communities to move into a career in the child and family services sector.

The trial is funded by the Victorian Government and the role will need to work closely with Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) colleagues.

The successful applicant will assist in the research and development of options for the programs key components: Master of Social Work curriculum, earn and learn model, recruitment and eligibility criteria for students and employers, student support and supervision framework, selection of applicants, recruitment campaigns, and development of an alumni or Fellowship of graduates program to generate further learning and reinforce practice excellence.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced project officer to join a team where the focus is on the inaugural design work followed by detailed implementation planning. If you have an interest in research and program design, have good written and verbal communication skills, an attention to detail and have knowledge of child and family welfare services or the tertiary sector this is the perfect job for you.

**Organisational Accountabilities**

The Centre is committed to the health, safety, and wellbeing of its staff. The Centre and its staff must comply with a range of statutory requirements including equal opportunity, occupational health and safety and privacy. The Centre requires staff to comply with its policies and procedures and related statutory requirements. Appointees are accountable for completing training on these matters and ensuring their knowledge is up to date.

**Key Accountabilities**
- Contribute to the co-design, testing and implementation of the Child and Family Services Employment-based Master of Social Work (Qualifying) program core components
- Contribute to development of effective relationships with academic partner, DFFH, service delivery agency partners and students accepted into the program
- Support the project management of work plan and evaluation
- Design systems for collecting project implementation data and outcomes data and preparing analytical reports
- Support preparation of regular project reports for DFFH and relevant governance groups
- Provide high level project and administrative support to the project
- Undertake other duties as required.

**Key Selection Criteria**

The successful applicant will have:
**Knowledge**
- Knowledge and understanding of the issues facing community service organisations in the delivery of services
- Knowledge and working understanding of co-design approaches

**Experience**
- Demonstrated experience in developing program guidelines and project writing e.g., analysis and reporting, project overviews and planning documentation, presentations using clear, meaningful, and tailored communication styles
- Demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement and management
- Experience in developing tools for data collection and reporting
- Experience within the community services and/or social profit sector preferred

**Skills**
- Demonstrated project support resulting in the successful delivery of key outcomes
- Demonstrated problem solving skills, well-developed time management and organisational skills
- Ability to lead and collaborate to co-design with key stakeholders
- Ability to communicate effectively and to a high standard in written and verbal formats
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team

**Qualifications**
- Certification and experience in project support, research or business or other relevant qualification

**Conditional Employment Requirements**

1. Satisfactory National Police Check

2. Satisfactory Working with Children Check

3. Proof of the right to work in Australia (if relevant)

**Benefits of working at the Centre**
- Up to three days additional/gratis leave over Christmas/New Year period
- Family friendly flexible working arrangements
- A flexible hybrid work-from-home arrangement
- Paid parental/carer/study leave
- Ongoing training and professional development opportunities
- A supportive and positive work