Victorian Government

<h2>Overview</h2>
Work Type: Fixed-term - Full-time
Salary: $116,413 - $140,849
Grade: VPS 5
Occupation: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services
Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs
Reference: DJCS/D03280OCT
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?
<ul>
<li>Provide high level contract/grant and tendering process management relating to the delivery of the Pilot.</li>
<li>Full time, Fixed term (24 months) opportunity to work with a high-performing and passionate team</li>
<li>VPS5: $116,413 - $140,849 salary plus superannuation</li>
</ul>
The Department of Justice and Community Safety (the department) is seeking a Senior Program Officer (Aboriginal Community Justice Panel Professionalisation Pilot) within our Koori Justice Unit / Aboriginal Partnerships and Programs.
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.
About the Business Unit
The Koori Justice Unit (KJU) is a unit within the Aboriginal Justice Group of the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS), which has been established to help realise a clear vision of a fair and accessible justice system for Aboriginal people.
The KJU is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement - Burra Lotjpa Dunguludja - currently in its fourth phase (AJA4), in partnership with the Aboriginal community and Victorian government, in line with realising Aboriginal self-determination.
The ACJP was established in 1988 in response to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. The (ACJP is a statewide Aboriginal-led program supporting Aboriginal people navigating the justice system through culturally grounded advocacy, system navigation, and community-led responses.
The ACJP provides critical support to Aboriginal people in police custody across Victoria. The program operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week across 14 service areas (with the expansion of the volunteer model to 19 service areas) and has historically relied on a largely volunteer workforce to deliver timely cultural, wellbeing support, legal, and practical assistance at points of police contact.
The Senior Programs Officer is primarily responsible for supporting the implementation and coordination of the ACJP Professionalisation Pilot (the Pilot). The role will lead and support a range of strategic and operational activities to ensure effective delivery of the Pilot across sites of Bendigo, Mildura and Shepparton.
The Pilot aims to strengthen the sustainability, capability and effectiveness of the ACJPs in three sites by supporting culturally safe, community-led approaches that improve justice outcomes for Aboriginal people and communities across Victoria.
Working closely with ACJP Pty Ltd, the ACJP Pilot sites and voluntary based ACJPs, the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, government stakeholders, regional staff and justice se ctor partners, the role supports the implementation of the Pilot and broader ACJP initiatives. The position is responsible for providing high-level project and program management support, including implementation planning, monitoring and evaluation, governance coordination, stakeholder engagement, reporting and the development of implementation tools, resources and guidance materials.
About the role:
The role contributes to the successful delivery of AJA commitments by fostering collaborative partnerships, supporting evidence-informed practice and ensuring program delivery is responsive to community needs and aligned with the principles of Aboriginal self-determination. Through effective program management and stakeholder engagement, the Senior Programs Officer supports the ongoing development and strengthening of the Pilot as a community-led justice response.
Some of your responsibilities will include:
<ul>
<li>Develop a strong understanding of the ACJP volunteer service and support effective development and implementation of the ACJP Professionalisation Pilot model.</li>
<li>Support the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the ACJP Professionalisation Pilot, ensuring delivery aligns with program objectives, timelines and funding requirements.</li>
<li>Develop and maintain implementation tools, resources and guidance materials to support effective pilot delivery, identify and manage risks and issues, and contribute to continuous improvement through evidence-based evaluation and learning.</li>
</ul>
About you:
<ul>
<li>Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the Victorian Aboriginal community and the issues impacting on it.</li>
<li>Demonstrated ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with members of the Victorian Aboriginal community.</li>
<li>Demonstrated experience in project and program management, including planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of complex programs or pilot initiatives.</li>
<li>Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify risks, develop practical solutions and provide evidence-based advice to support decision-making.</li>
</ul>
To be successful in this role, you will have:
Aboriginal applicants are welcome to utilise support from the Aboriginal Recruitment Team throughout the recruitment process and are encouraged to contact <a href="mailto:aboriginalrecruitment@justice.vic.gov.au" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">aboriginalrecruitment@justice.vic.gov.au</a>**if they would like cultural support and guidance through the application process.
For more information regarding Aboriginal employ ment and our Aboriginal Workforce Unit, please visit: Aboriginal employment | Department of Justice and Community Safety Victoria
To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.
How to Apply
For Aboriginal Designated and Prioritised positions, a Certificate of Aboriginality (CoA) will be required prior to an offer of employment being made.
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.
Apply now
Applications close Tuesday 20 October 2026 at 11.59pm
Posted
6 October 2026

Senior Program Officer (Aboriginal Community Justice Panel Professionalisation Pilot)

Senior Program Officer (Aboriginal Community Justice Panel Professionalisation Pilot)

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