Complex Investigations Branch Regulatory Officer

Department of Education Victoria; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Education Victoria is seeking an Investigations Branch Regulatory Officer to lead and support complex regulatory activities within VECRA. The role involves evidence collection, triage, complaints management, and detailed record keeping across diverse systems, while maintaining professional standards in high-volume, trauma-informed environments.

Successful applicants will handle interactions with complainants and education care service operators, applying strong judgment and

Qualifications

• Essential: Relevant qualifications and/or experience in regulation, child safety, investigations, law or similar.
• Essential: Valid Victorian Working with Children's Check and Victorian driver's licence.

Responsibilities

• Evidence collection and analysis, triage and complaint management.
• Investigations and investigation support, detailed record keeping in multiple systems.
• Work in high-volume environments with trauma-informed regulatory activities.
• Engage with complainants, parents and service operators with professional judgment.

Skills

Regulation

Child safety

Investigations

Law

Education

Working with Children Check (Victoria)

Driver's licence (Victoria)

Job description

Complex Investigations Branch Regulatory Officer

Department of Education Victoria – Melbourne VIC

The Complex Investigations Branch is responsible for leading and supporting complex investigative activities across VECRA. The Branch currently comprises three business units that work collaboratively with regional and central teams to ensure consistent, high-quality investigative, triage and complaint handling practices.

• Central Investigations Unit

The Central Investigations Unit undertakes complex and high-risk investigations and provides expert advice and guidance on investigative matters. The Unit also supports regional teams' investigation activity and leads VECRA's investigations approach to ensure effective, thorough, timely and procedurally fair investigations.

• Complex Child Safeguarding Investigations Unit

The Complex Child Safeguarding Investigations Unit is responsible for delivering high-quality, rigorous investigations into complex, sensitive, and often high-profile child safeguarding matters.

• Triage Unit (new)

The Units also manage important projects for VECRA related to areas of expertise and lead, oversee or triage investigations involving allegations of child sexual abuse, serious misconduct, or significant risk to children. Work in this branch requires a high level of professionalism, discretion, and trauma-informed practice.

About the Roles

Help shape safer, higher-quality outcomes for children through meaningful regulatory work.

Multiple opportunities are available for highly motivated individuals with strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills and a passion for meaningful work to join VECRA as an Investigations Branch Regulatory Officer.

The roles sit in the Complex Investigations Branch and report to the relevant Unit Manager (see ‘About the Branch' section above for Unit details). Investigations Branch Regulatory Officers undertake activities such as evidence collection and analysis, triage and complaint management, investigations and investigation support, and detailed record keeping utilising a variety of systems and programs. The incumbents will be working in high volume, busy environments and undertaking timely, risk and trauma-informed regulatory activities.

The roles involve working directly with complainants, parents, those working in education and care services as well as operators of those services. Excellent written and verbal communication, strong judgement and thorough understanding of VECRA's role, policies and legal requirements will be essential.

Investigations Branch Regulatory Officers contribute to delivery of programs and initiatives in the Complex Investigations Branch by undertaking and supporting thorough investigations, complaints management, triage, evidence gathering and analysis as well as detailed record keeping and reporting. The roles will support enforcement and prevention strategies, build stakeholder relationships, advise senior decision-makers, and drive continuous improvement.

Attributes

For more details regarding the required attributes please see attached position description.

Qualifications and Experience

• Essential: Relevant qualifications and/or experience in regulation, child safety, investigations, law or similar.
• Essential: Successful applicants will be required to hold a valid Victorian Working with Children's Check and Victorian driver's licence.

Further Information

VECRA values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for VECRA, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the VECRA website and our Diversity and Inclusion page.

Information about VECRA's operations and employment conditions can be located on the VECRA website.

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Jim Pearson, Manager Child Safety Investigations on (03) 7022 2*** or at ***********@education.vic.gov.au.

Applications close 11:59pm on 30 October 2026.