Senior Assessor

Department of Justice and Community Safety, Victoria; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 116,000 - 129,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Justice and Community Safety, Victoria is seeking a Financial Assistance Scheme senior assessor to lead a team of assessors, make complex decisions and help victims receive fair, timely support. This ongoing, full-time role requires trauma-informed practice, strong collaboration across government and Aboriginal cultural safety, as part of a major reform to Victoria's justice system.

You will develop procedures, review decisions, and provide expert guidance to staff to enhance

Qualifications

• A relevant tertiary qualification in community or social services, social policy, social work, law or public administration is desirable.
• Experience in government or public sector settings is preferred.
• Knowledge of family violence risk assessment and management frameworks is advantageous.
• Commitment to trauma-informed and culturally safe practice, including Aboriginal self-determination, is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support a team of assessors to make fair, accurate and timely decisions using a trauma-informed approach.
• Assess and decide complex applications for financial assistance, including cases outside standard rules.
• Review decisions and prepare clear notices explaining the reasons for complex decisions.
• Develop and improve assessment procedures to support consistent and informed decisions.
• Provide expert advice to staff to improve Aboriginal cultural safety and victim-centred services.

Skills

Team leadership

Trauma-informed approach

Aboriginal cultural safety

Victims of crime experience

Education

Relevant tertiary qualification in community or social services, social policy, social work, law or public administration

Job description

• Help victims of crime access financial support as they recover from harm.
• Lead a team making fair and informed decisions on complex applications.
• Play a key role in a major change to Victoria's justice system.
• Build a service that puts victims first and recognises their needs.
• Ongoing, full-time role earning $116,413 - $128,631 per year, plus super.

About This Role

• Help victims of crime access financial support as they recover from harm.
• Lead a team making fair and informed decisions on complex applications.
• Play a key role in a major change to Victoria's justice system.
• Build a service that puts victims first and recognises their needs.
• Ongoing, full-time role earning $116,413 - $128,631 per year, plus super.

What You Will Do

As Financial Assistance Scheme senior assessor, you will lead a team that assesses applications for financial assistance. You will make complex decisions and help victims receive fair, timely and sensitive support.

You Will

• lead and support a team of assessors to make fair, accurate and timely decisions using a trauma-informed approach
• assess and decide complex applications for financial assistance, including cases that fall outside standard rules
• review decisions and prepare clear notices that explain the reasons for complex decisions
• develop and improve assessment procedures to support consistent and informed decisions
• provide expert advice to staff and help improve Aboriginal cultural safety and victim-centred services.

About You

A relevant tertiary qualification in community or social services, social policy, social work, law or public administration is desirable. You may also show equivalent experience in a related field.

You Should Also Have

• team leadership experience and the ability to guide staff through complex decisions, preferably in government
• strong knowledge of family violence risk, including the Family Violence Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management Framework
• experience supporting victims of crime, including people affected by family violence or sexual assault, and an understanding of barriers faced by marginalised communities
• a strong commitment to trauma-informed and culturally safe practice, including Aboriginal self-determination, inclusion and the use of lived experience to improve services.

To learn even more about this role, please read the position description. If you have any further questions, feel free to email Suzanne Frawley.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (Aboriginal) people are strongly encouraged to apply.

Learn more about our Aboriginal workforce strategy.

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.