Community Engagement Officer

State Government of Victoria, Australia; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 116,000 - 141,000; Full time

Job summary

State Government of Victoria, Australia, seeks a Community Engagement Officer for the Emergency Management Technology and Data division. Based in Melbourne, you will work with EMV and VicEmergency to plan and deliver stakeholder communications and engagement that prioritise accessibility and user needs.

You will contribute to strategic initiatives, engage with government, industry and community stakeholders, and translate research findings into practical requirements while ensuring inclusivity

Qualifications

• Experience in supporting complex, multi-layer stakeholder environments to deliver effective communications.
• Experience writing for diverse audiences and channels, including websites, presentations, and stakeholder materials.
• Understanding of user-centered design and how UX delivers on user needs.
• Experience in workshop preparation, management and delivery.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development and implementation of strategic communication and engagement for the VicEmergency and EM-COP Uplift Project.
• Support engaging with government, industry and community stakeholders to understand their needs and deliver a user-centred approach.
• Utilising community research and stakeholder findings to inform technical requirements.
• Ensure communications meet the needs of diverse audiences and improve access to emergency information.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

User-centered design

Workshop facilitation

Change management

Technical writing

Inclusive communication

Education

Communications/Engagement qualification

Job description

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: VG/EMV582

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.

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 stakeholder engagement experience and communication expertise to support Emergency Management Victoria.
• Fixed term, Full time opportunity.
• VPS grade 5: $116,413 - $140,849 plus superannuation.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is seeking a Community Engagement Officerto provide a critical role at the Emergency Management Technology and Data division.

About the Business Unit

Emergency Management Victoria

Emergency Management Victoria (EMV), within the Department of Justice and Community Safety, is responsible for the overall coordination of the emergency management system in Victoria. EMV drives the integration of policy, strategy, operational coordination, and planning across Victoria's emergency management sector, contributing to safer, more resilient communities.

EMV works closely with government and agencies across the emergency management portfolio. The organisation is led by the Deputy Secretary/ Chief Executive and Emergency Management Commissioner, Emergency Management Victoria and includes oversight of statutory entities and offices and the department's emergency management accountabilities.

Emergency Management Technology and Data Division

The Emergency Management Technology and Data (EM T&D) division is responsible for key Emergency sector common digital platforms for the emergency services sector. EM T&D is a trusted partner to emergency sector organisations, supporting the innovation and delivery of modern and effective Digital Infrastructure services tailored to the emergency sector's needs. Its main service functions include EM Strategic Planning and Business Development, EM Enterprise Architecture and Design, EM Digital Platforms and Products, EM Commercial Management and Budget, EM Portfolio, Program Delivery, Data Insights.

About the Role

The Community Engagement Officer will work with the Community Engagement Specialist across the EM Technology and Data team and closely with the EM Communications team, Emergency services agencies and the community to contribute to the delivery of communications and engagement services for the VicEmergency and EM-COP Uplift project. They will contribute to engagement with stakeholders to understand communications and functional needs and drive a user-centred approach to ensure the project delivers on sector and community needs. They will contribute to the delivery of communications that meets government guidelines and policy, including accessible communications for diverse audiences.

Some of your duties will include:

• Contribute to the development and implementation of strategic communication and engagement and change initiatives for the VicEmergency and EM-COP Uplift Project.
• Support engaging with government, industry and community stakeholders to understand their needs and deliver a user-centred approach.
• Utilising community research and stakeholder engagement findings to contribute to the development and implementation of technical requirements.
• Ensure communications and engagement meet the needs of diverse audiences and improves access to emergency information for everyone regardless of ability, location or cultural background.

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:

• Experience in supporting complex, multi layered stakeholder environments to deliver effective communications including tailoring to unique requirements is essential.
• Experience in supporting the development and delivery of communication for vulnerable, complex and diverse audiences.
• Experience writing effectively for different audiences and channels, including website, presentations and stakeholder materials.
• Understanding of user-centred design and how user experience and interface deliver on user needs.
• Experience understanding and validating user needs, including mapping user journeys, utilising focus groups, and requirements of user acceptance.
• Experience in workshop preparation, management and delivery.
• Experience in supporting the management of change.

Qualifications/requirements

• A qualification in communications, engagement, change management or related field is desirable.

The successful candidate willbe requiredto undergo pre-employment checkswhich mayincludereference checks,nationally coordinated criminal historychecks(NCCHC),andmisconduct screening. Dependan t on the role, other checks may includeVicRoadschecks,driverslicencechecks, medicalchecks, Working with ChildrenChecks, andDeclaration of Private Interests (for executive and responsible officer roles).

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 Wednesday 30 September 2026 at 11.59pm