Behaviour Support Specialist (Cherry Creek)

State Government of Victoria, Australia; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 101,000 - 114,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Induction

Professional development

Job stability

Leave entitlements

Employee assistance program

Job summary

The Department of Justice and Community Safety in Victoria is seeking a Behaviour Support Specialist to join the Rehabilitation & Outcomes team at the Cherry Creek Youth Justice Precinct, Little River. You will work with custodial staff to understand young people's needs and deliver psychosocial programs.

You will guide shifts in mindset, develop personalised strategies, and collaborate with clinicians to support rehabilitation.

Qualifications

• Experience in behaviour support for youth in custody.
• Ability to develop psychosocial programs.
• Strong team collaboration and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with young people to support behavioural change.
• Facilitate psychosocial programs for youth in custody.
• Prepare assessment reports and personalised support plans.
• Participate in regular training and development.

Job description

Occupation: Prison and corrective services

Reference: DJCS/1886970C

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?

• Support justice-involved young people turn their lives around.
• Enjoy a challenging role within a safe and supported team.
• Earn $100,894 - $114,476 per year, plus super.
• Grow your skills with ongoing training and supervision.

If you're passionate about working with young people and are looking to join a team that values your expertise, supports creativity and encourages professional growth, you'll thrive within the Rehabilitation & Outcomes team.

Across our custodial facilities at Cherry Creek, Malmsbury and Parkville, we give young people involved in the justice system the consistent and professional support they need. This role will be based at the Cherry Creek Youth Justice Precinct, Little River, Victoria.

As a Behaviour Support Specialist, you will be part of a team that will work collaboratively with custodial staff to better understand the needs behind young people's behaviour, implement interventions that will support young people's behaviour in custody and deliver psychosocial programs to help young people rebuild their lives. You will also enjoy working alongside our Statewide Rehabilitation Service clinicians and restorative practitioners.

Using evidence-informed practice, you will guide young people through life-changing shifts in mindset, behaviour and self-belief and empower them to make positive choices, learn new skills to reduce harmful behaviours and stay on track.

It's complex and challenging work, but it's work that makes a real difference both to young people's futures and to our state's safety.

You will:

• Build and maintain relationships with young people that support behavioural change.

• Facilitate individual and group-based psychosocial programs to young people in custody.
• Develop a functional understanding of challenging behaviours to compile assessment reports and formulate personalised strategies and support plans.
• Contribute to a strong team culture where peer support and collaboration with other stakeholders are central to success.
• Take part in regular training and development,

Learn more about SRS and BSS

What you will get

Our behaviour support team will tell you that the work here is its own reward. This is a unique opportunity to provide continued support to young people, working across a variety of youth justice settings.

However, there are also many other benefits of a career in youth justice, including:

• a comprehensive induction
• opportunities for further professional development
• job stability and generous leave entitlements
• employee assistance support to help with a wide range of work or personal issues.

About you

Becoming a behaviour support specialist can be a great first step toward a career in clinical or therapeutic work.

Our behaviour support team work on rostered shifts which will include some nights and weekends. For more information on the skills we look for, please read the position description document attached.

If you have any further questions , please contact our recruitment team via [e-mail]

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 Sunday 4 October 2026 at 11.59pm