Policy Officer

VIC Department of Justice and Community Safety; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

VIC Department of Justice and Community Safety seeks a Policy Officer within Aboriginal Justice Policy Reform to support policy advice and initiatives that advance Aboriginal justice reforms in Victoria. The role emphasises collaboration with Aboriginal communities and stakeholder groups to ensure self-determination informs policy outcomes.

The successful candidate will contribute to Marappyarr and other Aboriginal justice actions, engaging with the Aboriginal Caucus and Forum to centre

Qualifications

• Knowledge of Aboriginal communities, culture and issues.
• Ability to communicate sensitively with the Victorian Aboriginal community.
• Policy development and implementation knowledge is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Support the development of policy advice and initiatives that advance the Aboriginal Justice reform agenda.
• Prepare briefings, reports, draft advice and analysis for senior managers, board and Ministers.
• Provide secretariat support for key meetings and draft policy/issue papers.

Skills

Policy development

Aboriginal community engagement

Briefing and reports

Stakeholder liaison

Education

Tertiary qualification in law/public policy/Aboriginal affairs

Job description

VIC Department of Justice and Community Safety – Melbourne VIC

• Support the development of high-quality policy advice on justice reforms relevant to Aboriginal Victorians.
• Ongoing, full time opportunity.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety (the department) is seeking a Policy Officer within Aboriginal Justice Policy Reform.

This is a prioritised role for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, who will be given priority consideration as per the special measures provision of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010.

About the Business Unit

Aboriginal Justice Group drives systemic change in the justice system, to achieve improved outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians. We work in partnership with Victorian Aboriginal communities and are guided by principles of Aboriginal self-determination.

We lead the implementation of the Aboriginal Justice Agreement and community partnerships, support the development of policy and legislation impacting Aboriginal Victorians, deliver the Stolen Generations Reparations Package, implement the department's Aboriginal Workforce Strategy, administer funding for Aboriginal community led program delivery and lead the department's engagement with the Victorian Treaty processes.

Our purpose is to drive systemic change that eliminates Aboriginal over-representation in the criminal justice system, addresses past injustices and ensures Aboriginal communities have access to an equitable justice system that is shaped by self-determination and protects and upholds human, civil, legal and cultural rights.

The Aboriginal Justice Policy Reform Unit (AJPRU) drives structural and systemic transformation and coordinates efforts across the department to improve justice outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians through policy development, legislative reform, and genuine commitment to self-determination. The AJPRU has primary responsibility for coordinating the delivery of the Aboriginal Justice group's law and policy reform agenda.

About the role

Reporting to the Legal Policy Manager, AJPRU, you will work within a small team to support the development of policy advice, analysis and initiatives to drive the Aboriginal Justice reform agenda.

As the Policy Officer, you may work across a number of AJPRU's projects, including its work on the Spent Convictions Act 2021, and implementation of key actions of Marappyarr, the fifth phase of the Aboriginal Justice Agreement. AJPRU's work is driven by close engagement with the Aboriginal Justice Caucus and Forum ensuring community voice is at the heart of AJPRU's work.

Some of your responsibilities will include

• Support the development of policy advice and initiatives that support the Aboriginal Justice group's reform agenda including the implementation of Marappyarr, the fifth phase of the Aboriginal Justice Agreement
• Prepare briefings, reports, draft advice and analysis for Senior Managers, Board of Management and Ministers on policy and operational/program issues, options and ad hoc reports and correspondence
• Prepare policy and issues papers and provide secretariat support for key meetings.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the Aboriginal community, both society and culture, and the issues impacting it.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate sensitively and work effectively with the Victorian Aboriginal community.
• Knowledge or experience of policy development and implementation, with an understanding of the Victorian government decision making processes is desirable.

Qualifications and requirements

• A relevant tertiary qualification in law, public policy, Aboriginal affairs or similar is desired but not required.

Find out more working with the department: https://www.justice.vic.gov.au/careers/aboriginal-torres-strait-islander-employment

Aboriginal applicants are welcome to utilise support from the Aboriginal Recruitment Team throughout the recruitment process and are encouraged to contact ***************@justice.vic.gov.au if they would like cultural support and guidance through the application process.

For Aboriginal Designated and Prioritised positions, a Certificate of Aboriginality (CoA) will be required prior to an offer of employment being made.

To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.

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.

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