Director, Safeguarding

Edmund Rice Education Australia Victorian Schools Ltd; City of Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Professional development opportunities

Fixed-term 2 years

Competitive remuneration + 12% super

Job summary

Edmund Rice Education Australia Victorian Schools Ltd in North Melbourne invites applications for the role of Director, Safeguarding. You will provide strategic leadership across child safety and student wellbeing, embedding these priorities in governance, culture and everyday practice across our schools.

Working with the CEO, Board and school leaders, you will strengthen safeguarding systems, support complex child safety matters, and drive continuous improvement to ensure safe, inclusive

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in safeguarding, education, law, public policy or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated senior leadership experience working effectively with executives, boards, committees, regulatory authorities and other key stakeholders.
• Extensive expertise in safeguarding, student wellbeing and compliance with a strong understanding of the legislative and regulatory framework governing Victorian schools, including the Child Safe Standards, Ministerial Order 1359 and the Minimum Standards for School Registration.
• Demonstrated ability to build leadership capability, supporting leaders and teams to understand, embed and fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities.
• Highly developed communication, influencing and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build trust, influence organisational change and drive improvement across diverse stakeholders.
• Commitment to child safety and safeguarding, with the ability to obtain and maintain a Working with Children Check and provide a National Police Check (issued within the previous six months) or hold current Victorian Institute of Teaching registration.

Responsibilities

• Lead safeguarding and student wellbeing agenda across our schools and provide strategic leadership across child safety and wellbeing.
• Embed priorities in organisational strategy, governance, culture and everyday practice in collaboration with the CEO and Board.
• Support complex child safety matters and drive continuous improvement across schools.

Skills

Senior leadership

Safeguarding expertise

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Change leadership

Education

Tertiary qualifications in safeguarding

Job description

Edmund Rice Education Australia Victorian Schools Ltd – North Melbourne VIC

Director, Safeguarding - EREA Victorian Schools Ltd

About us

Edmund Rice Education Australia Victorian Schools Limited (EREA VSL) is responsible for the governance of six Victorian schools, and their associated campuses that enrol over 10,000 students. EREA VSL is guided by the EREA Charter for Catholic Schools in the Edmund Rice Tradition. The Charter articulates the vision, mission, and objectives for schools.

Through the Charter Touchstones, schools strive to transform the hearts and minds of children and young people to build a more just and inclusive local and global community through presence, compassion, liberation and a commitment to justice and solidarity.

In all we do, EREA VSL operates with clarity, accountability and transparency.

About The Role

As EREA VSL continues to build on its established foundations, our new CEO brings fresh perspectives and opportunities for the future. This is an exciting opportunity to join a collaborative Executive Leadership Team and help foster an environment where every child and young person feels safe, supported, and empowered to thrive.

As Director, Safeguarding, you will provide strategic leadership across child safety and student wellbeing, ensuring these priorities are embedded in organisational strategy, governance, culture, and everyday practice. Working closely with the CEO, Board, Executive team, and school leaders, you will strengthen capability, support continuous improvement, and foster a shared commitment to safeguarding across our schools.

You will provide guidance on safeguarding strategy, policy, risk management, and regulatory obligations, while supporting leaders and staff to translate these requirements into practical and meaningful outcomes. This role offers the opportunity to work alongside passionate and values-driven colleagues to strengthen systems, build capability, and help create safe, inclusive, and nurturing learning environments for all students.

Working closely with school leaders and key stakeholders, you will lead EREA VSL's safeguarding and student wellbeing agenda, support complex child safety matters, and drive continuous improvement across our schools.

About you

You are a collaborative and values-driven leader with significant experience in safeguarding, child safety, student wellbeing, and organisational risk. You build trusted relationships, provide sound and practical advice, and enjoy working with others to create positive outcomes. Most importantly, you are passionate about fostering safe, inclusive environments where children and young people can flourish, and are committed to the mission and values of Catholic education.

You will need

Tertiary qualifications in safeguarding, education, law, public policy or a related discipline.

Demonstrated senior leadership experience working effectively with executives, boards, committees, regulatory authorities and other key stakeholders.

Extensive expertise in safeguarding, student wellbeing and compliance with a strong understanding of the legislative and regulatory framework governing Victorian schools, including the Child Safe Standards, Ministerial Order 1359 and the Minimum Standards for School Registration.

Demonstrated ability to build leadership capability, supporting leaders and teams to understand, embed and fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities.

Highly developed communication, influencing and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build trust, influence organisational change and drive improvement across diverse stakeholders.

Commitment to child safety and safeguarding, with the ability to obtain and maintain a Working with Children Check and provide a National Police Check (issued within the previous six months) or hold current Victorian Institute of Teaching registration.

What We Offer

A supportive, values-driven team and inclusive workplace culture

Ongoing professional development and opportunities to influence real change

Hybrid approach to work encompassing both in-office collaboration and working from home

You will be employed on a fixed-term basis, for a period of 2 years.

The remuneration for the role is circa $180,000 - $210,000 FTE Salary + 12% superannuation, depending on skills, education and experience.

Applications Close: 4:00pm, Thursday 1 October 2026

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People are encouraged toapply;we are an Equal Opportunity Employer and value diversity.

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible for anyone who wishes to apply.

EREA VSL is a child safe and child-centred organisation, committed to the protection of children and young people from harm. EREA VSL has no tolerance of abuse. We require all applicants to undergo an extensive screening process prior to appointment in accordance with legislative and EREA VSL policies and procedures.