Manager, Professional Practice (MPP)

Department of Justice and Community Safety VIC; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Justice and Community Safety VIC in Melbourne is seeking a Manager, Professional Practice to lead the implementation of the Professional Practice Model at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre. You will drive evidence-based correctional practice, coach staff, and support safer, rehabilitative outcomes for people in custody.

This senior role requires trauma-informed leadership, capability development, and strategic collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to strengthen practice and

Qualifications

• Experience applying trauma-informed and person-centred approaches to rehabilitation.
• Ability to lead and provide strategic guidance in a complex operational environment.
• Proven capability in coaching, mentoring and professional development.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret data and identify improvement opportunities.
• Stakeholder engagement and influence across diverse groups.
• Experience leading strategic projects and organisational reform activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of the Professional Practice Model.
• Provide specialist advice, coaching and practice support to custodial staff and leaders.
• Design and facilitate training and capability-building initiatives.
• Monitor and analyse practice data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to drive collaboration and objectives.
• Contribute to policy development and organisational reform activities that strengthen practice.

Skills

Trauma-informed

Staff coaching

Strategic leadership

Analytical skills

Change management

Evidence-based practice

Education

Psychology degree

Social work

Criminology

Human services

Job description

Department of Justice and Community Safety VIC – Ravenhall VIC

• Strengthen custodial professional practice, building capability, confidence, and effectiveness of custodial staff.
• Ongoing, full time opportunity.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is seeking a Manager, Professional Practice to provide a critical role at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre.

About the Business Unit

Corrections Victoria operates Victoria's adult prison, post-sentence and community corrections systems. Its vision is for Safer Prisons, Safer People, Safer Communities. Corrections Victoria's mission is to create a safer, smarter system with a skilled and supported workforce, that enables people in our care to make better decisions. We consistently strive to adopt modern approaches to correctional services, delivering best-practice interventions that reduce the risk of reoffending and contribute to safer communities.

Dame Phyllis Frost Centre is a maximum-security women's correctional facility located in the western suburbs of Melbourne, approximately 20 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, incorporating medium- and minimum-security units. The facility accommodates up to 442 women in custody, including people on remand and sentenced individuals, and plays a key role withing the Victorian women's prison system. The centre delivers gender-responsive and trauma-informed services that recognise the complex experiences and pathways of women engaged in the justice system. Staff work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams to provide safe, respectful and rehabilitative environments that support wellbeing, rehabilitation and reintegration outcomes.

About the Role

The Manager Professional Practice is a key member of the prison management team, contributing to the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the facility while leading the implementation of the Professional Practice Model. The role provides specialist practice expertise across the prison, driving continuous improvement and embedding evidence-based approaches aligned with the Correctional Practice Framework. Through coaching, professional development and practice guidance, the Manager Professional Practice strengthens staff capability, supports effective decision-making, promotes a positive prison culture, and contributes to safe environments and improved outcomes for people in custody.

Some of your duties will include:

• Leading the implementation and continuous improvement of the Professional Practice Model, ensuring contemporary, evidence-based correctional practice is embedded across the prison.
• Providing specialist advice, coaching and practice support to custodial staff and leaders to strengthen professional judgement, decision-making and rehabilitation-focused approaches.
• Designing and facilitating training, reflective learning activities and capability-building initiatives that enhance staff confidence, competence and effectiveness.
• Monitoring and analysing practice, performance and operational data to identify emerging trends, risks and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to drive collaboration, share best practice and support strategic and operational objectives.
• Contributing to policy development, reform initiatives and organisational change activities that strengthen correctional practice and service delivery outcomes.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Demonstrated experience applying evidence-based, trauma-informed and person-centred approaches to support rehabilitation and achieve positive outcomes for complex and high-risk cohorts.
• Strong ability to provide practice leadership, expert advice and strategic guidance within a complex operational environment.
• Proven experience developing capability through coaching, mentoring, training and the facilitation of professional development initiatives.
• Well-developed analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret information, identify opportunities for improvement and deliver practical solutions.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, with a demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships and achieve outcomes across diverse groups.
• Experience leading or contributing to strategic projects, service improvement initiatives and organisational reform activities.
• A sound understanding of contemporary correctional practice, the Correctional Practice Framework and broader justice system priorities would be highly regarded.

Qualifications/requirements

The following qualifications are desirable, though not mandatory:

• Tertiary qualifications in psychology, social work, criminology, human services, or related disciplines.
• Tertiary qualifications in training, assessment, teaching, or education.
• Formal training or certification in trauma-informed practice, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioural interventions, or other evidence-based correctional approaches.
• Certificate IV in Correctional Practice (CSC40120).

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) and misconduct screening.

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.