Policy Support Officer

State Government of Victoria, Australia; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 81,000 - 99,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Justice and Community Safety in Melbourne seeks a Policy Support Officer to assist the liquor and tobacco policy team. You will research issues, prepare advice and help meet deadlines for Cabinet submissions, briefings and letters.

You will build cooperative relationships with colleagues, industry and community groups while providing reliable administrative support and contributing to policy development on gambling, liquor and tobacco in Victoria.

Qualifications

• No formal qualifications required; you can bring qualifications or experience in law, public policy, economics, public health or a related field.
• Strong planning and organisational skills to manage tasks and meet deadlines.
• Clear written and spoken communication to explain ideas to different audiences.
• Knowledge of gambling, liquor and tobacco industries, or the ability to learn with support.
• Research, problem-solving and Excel skills with advanced formulas, pivot tables and charts.
• Flexible, inclusive approach to teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Research gambling, liquor and tobacco issues to help develop informed policy advice.
• Help prepare clear Cabinet submissions, briefings and letters for senior decision makers and others.
• Support projects, manage competing tasks and meet agreed deadlines.
• Build cooperative working relationships with colleagues, industry representatives and community groups.
• Provide reliable administrative support and help your team identify and resolve issues.

Skills

Policy research

Policy writing

Excel

Project coordination

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical thinking

Tools

Excel

Job description

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: VG/DJ8749OCTOBER2026

At the Department of Justice and Community Safety, we’re looking for people who want to make a difference. People who take pride in their work. People who get things done. People who are committed to making Victoria a safer place.
We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve. We’re all about recruiting the best people, regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or cultural background. If you think you can do the job and would be a good fit for our department, we’d love to hear from you.
The department is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and recognises that children’s rights need to be respected, their views welcomed and valued, and their concerns taken seriously and acted upon.
If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.
For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit justice.vic.gov.au/careers
We’re proud of the important work we do across Victoria. Want to be part of it?

• Help shape policies that reduce harm from liquor and tobacco.
• Contribute to advice that informs Victorian Government decisions.
• Build your policy skills with support and guidance.
• Put your research and writing skills to work for Victorians.
• Ongoing, full-time role, earning 81,496 - $98,955 per year, plus super.

About us

The Gambling, Liquor & Tobacco business unit supports the regulation of gambling, liquor and tobacco in Victoria, to minimise the harms these products can cause and contribute positively to the Victorian economy. It is responsible for:

• delivering and further developing the Victorian Government's strategic response to gambling, liquor, gambling and tobacco issues
• developing and implementing the government's policy on major gambling licensing processes
• delivering a research and evaluation program to inform responses to gambling harm in Victoria.

What you will do

As policy support officer, you will help develop policy and support projects in the liquor and tobacco policy team. You will research issues, prepare advice and help your team meet deadlines.

You will:

• research gambling, liquor and tobacco issues to help develop informed policy advice
• help prepare clear Cabinet submissions, briefings and letters for senior decision makers and others
• support projects, manage competing tasks and meet agreed deadlines
• build cooperative working relationships with colleagues, industry representatives and community groups
• provide reliable administrative support and help your team identify and resolve issues.

About you

You do not need formal qualifications. You can bring qualifications or experience in law, public policy, economics, public health or a related field.

You should also have:

• planning and organisational skills to manage tasks and meet deadlines
• clear written and spoken communication to explain ideas to different audiences
• knowledge of gambling, liquor and tobacco industries, or the ability to learn with support
• research, problem-solving and Excel skills, including advanced formulas, pivot tables and charts, alongside a flexible, inclusive approach to teamwork.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (Aboriginal) people are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about our Aboriginal workforce strategy.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include national police checks and misconduct screening.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

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.

Applications close Tuesday 20 October 2026 at 11.59pm