Aboriginal Wellbeing Officer

At the Department of Justice and Community Safety, we’re looking for people who want to make a difference. People who take pride in their work. People who get things done. People who are committed to making Victoria a safer place.

We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve. We’re all about recruiting the best people, regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or cultural background. If you think you can do the job and would be a good fit for our department, we’d love to hear from you.

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?

• Utilise your understanding of the Victorian Aboriginal Community to provide support and advice to Corrections Victoria.
• Ongoing, Full-Time Opportunities to work with a high-performing and passionate team in the Victorian Public Service
• VPS Grade 3: $ 74,580 - $90,558 plus superannuation.

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

The Aboriginal Wellbeing Officer (AWO) role was established under the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement, as a response to the findings of the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

AWO's are part of Corrections Victoria's commitment to reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system and to ensuring that Aboriginal Victorians achieve the same justice outcomes as the broader Victorian community.

The AWO has direct prisoner contact being responsible for engaging and actively working Aboriginal people in custody. The AWO provides cultural, spiritual and wellbeing support and coordinates cultural activities and programs. This role will participate in case management of Aboriginal Prisoners, working with the multi-disciplinary team to support successful transition back to the community.

You will have an understanding of case management and a demonstrated understanding of the Victorian Aboriginal Community, both society and culture and the issues impacting on it.

Aboriginal Wellbeing Officer positions exist at each prison location across Victoria and form a critical part of multi-disciplinary offender services teams (or equivalent). AWOs provide the foundation for all other cultural programs that support rehabilitation and reintegration, and improve outcomes for Aboriginal prisoners by:

• Provide ongoing welfare, advocacy, and support for Aboriginal prisoners.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with members of the Victorian Aboriginal community.
• Assist prisoners with access to appropriate pre and post release programs.
• Assist Aboriginal prisoners to re-connect and/or maintain links with their families, community organisations and other support systems through advice, support and referrals.
• As the AWO, you will also lead the coordination of cultural activities including NAID