Complex Investigations Branch Regulatory Officer

Victorian Government; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

VECRA’s Complex Investigations Branch in Melbourne invites applicants for Investigations Branch Regulatory Officers to support evidence gathering, triage, and complaint management across high-profile child safeguarding cases.

You will work in a fast-paced environment, interfacing with complainants, education providers, and service operators, applying trauma-informed practices, and ensuring records and reporting meet VECRA standards.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Collect and analyze evidence for investigations and triage.
• Manage complaints and provide investigations support.
• Maintain thorough records using multiple systems and programs.

Skills

Regulation knowledge

Investigations

Regulatory analysis

Communication

Education

Relevant degree in regulation/law/child safety

Tools

Investigation systems

Regulatory case management software

Job description

Occupation: Governance and risk management

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: VG/VG/DE/VECRA/1953079

Join VECRA’s Complex Investigations Branch to support investigations, complaint triage and evidence analysis. Apply your judgement and communication skills to strengthen regulatory practice, manage risk and help protect children in education and care.

About the Branch

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 .

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

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 [phone] or at [e-mail] .

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to VECRA will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g. large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close 11:59pm on 30 October 2026.