Manager, Community Programs

The department is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and recognises that children’s rights need to be respected, their views welcomed and valued, and their concerns taken seriously and acted upon.

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.

For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit justice.vic.gov.au/careers

We’re proud of the important work we do across Victoria. Want to be part of it?

• Lead a team responsible for managing Victoria's Aboriginal youth justice program
• Fixed-term fulltime role until 30 June 2027.
• VPS Grade 6 : $138,631 to $185,518 plus superannuation.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety (the department) is seeking a Manager, Community Programs to fill a vital role within the Aboriginal Youth Justice Unit.

About the Business Unit

The Aboriginal Youth Justice unit is responsible for the design and development of policy, strategy and program responses for young Aboriginal people in contact with or at risk of contact with the Youth Justice system. Aboriginal Youth Justice contributes to the Aboriginal Justice Agreement, Burra Lotjpa Dunguludja, also known as AJA4. The unit is also responsible for the delivery of the Aboriginal Youth Justice Program which is focused on providing culturally responsive service delivery for Aboriginal young people in the community to assist them to remain linked to family, culture and community. The following programs are provided:

• Community Based Aboriginal Youth Justice Program
• Aboriginal Early School Leavers Program
• Aboriginal Youth Support Service

About the role:

As Manager, Community Programs, you will lead the development and implementation of Aboriginal youth justice commitments outlined in AJA4 and shape new responses in line with the principles of self-determination and in partnership with the Aboriginal community, developed in response to the Koori Youth Justice Taskforce and the Aboriginal Youth Justice strategy - Wirkara Kulpa. This involves program development and support as well as monitoring and evaluating program outcomes and report policy issues and outline progress, achievements and analysis through technical reports at an authoritative level and to develop highly complex briefs, providing authoritative expert advice to internal and external stakeholders. The role is also required to represent its own working area with external stakeholders and effectively manage feedback to maintain positive relationships. You will require the ability to proactively develop and maintain effective working relationships with the Aboriginal Community and key internal and external stakeholders, with the capacity to sensitively liaise and communicate across key stakeholders, by cultivating partnerships and providing positive leadership and guidance.

You will also:

• Lead the Community Programs team with accountability for all aspects of the management of staff, budget, allocation of resourcing and work planning
• Oversee contract management and compliance for the Aboriginal Youth Justice Program, including performance monitoring and analysis for contract activities across a range of funded agencies
• Provide authoritative expert advice and reasoned recommendations to internal and external stakeholders on highly complex and sensitive issues
• Manage and oversee discrete projects, or contribute to larger projects and be accountable for the successful delivery and completion of the projects within quality, resourcing and timeline parameters.

This is a prioritised role for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, who will be given priority consideration as per the special measures provision of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010.

Applicants are welcome to utilise support from the Aboriginal Recruitment Team throughout the recruitment process. Aboriginal candidates are encouraged to contact [email protected] 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.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Excellent knowledge of Aboriginal culture and society and understanding of historical and contemporary issues relating to Aboriginal Victorians.
• A strong knowledge of current policy direction, research and issues within youth justice and the criminal justice system more broadly and the needs of young people involved in the criminal justice system.
• Demonstrated experience in designing, developing and monitoring programs and services aimed at supporting Aboriginal children and young people
• Strong knowledge of, and demonstrated experience, working with Aboriginal communities and advisory groups, including sophisticated and culturally aware stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications/requirements

• A qualification, or experience in fields related to community programs, youth justice policy, community engagement and partnerships, program support, youth work, community services or health would be desirable.

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.

Applications close Monday 9 June 2025 at 11.59PM