Senior Investigations Officer

Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA) in Melbourne seeks a Senior Investigations Officer to join the Complex Investigations Branch. You will conduct thorough research, compile reports, and cultivate relationships with stakeholders to offer expert advice to decision makers.

The role requires evidence collection commensurate with serious allegations, enabling enforcement or prosecution, and clear communication of findings.

Qualifications

• Must have relevant qualifications/experience in regulation, child safety, investigations or law.
• Must hold Victorian Working with Children Check and driver's licence.
• Experience in liaising with stakeholders and reporting to decision makers is essential.

Responsibilities

• Conduct thorough research, compile comprehensive reports, and cultivate stakeholder relationships for expert advice to decision makers.
• Undertake evidence collection commensurate with seriousness of allegations to enable enforcement or prosecution.
• Communicate findings and recommendations clearly in writing and verbally to target audiences.
• Ensure work aligns with VECRA's objectives, policies and legal requirements.

Skills

Regulatory investigations

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Regulation/Law qualifications

Victorian Working with Children Check

Driver's licence

Job description

Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority – Melbourne VIC

The Complex Investigations Branch is responsible for leading and supporting complex investigative activities across VECRA. The Branch currently comprises three business units that work collaboratively with regional and central teams to ensure consistent, high-quality investigative, triage and complaint handling practices.

• Central Investigations Unit
  The Central Investigations Unit undertakes complex and high-risk investigations and provides expert advice and guidance on investigative matters. The Unit also supports regional teams' investigation activity and leads VECRA's investigations approach to ensure effective, thorough, timely and procedurally fair investigations.
• Complex Child Safeguarding Investigations Unit
  The Complex Child Safeguarding Investigations Unit is responsible for delivering high-quality, rigorous investigations into complex, sensitive, and often high-profile child safeguarding matters.
• Triage Unit (new)

The Triage Unit will implement a new system of triaging and complaints management. VECRA receives a high-volume of notifications and complaints and the team will work closely with central and regional operations teams to expertly triage to ensure responsiveness, transparency and adherence to governance.

The Units also manage important projects for VECRA related to areas of expertise and lead, oversee or triage investigations involving allegations of child sexual abuse, serious misconduct, or significant risk to children. Work in this branch requires a high level of professionalism, discretion, and trauma-informed practice.

About the Role

Help shape safer, higher-quality outcomes for children through meaningful regulatory work.

An opportunity is available for a highly motivated individual with strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills and a passion for meaningful work to join VECRA as a Senior Investigations Officer.

The role sits in the Complex Investigations Branch and reports to the relevant Unit Manager and may be required to work across the Complex Investigations Branch (see ‘About the Branch' section above for Unit details).

The successful applicant will:

• conduct thorough research, compile comprehensive reports and cultivate relationships with stakeholders, to offer expert advice and support to decision makers
• undertake evidence collection commensurate with the seriousness of allegations, ensuring enforcement action or prosecution can be pursued on the basis of the investigation findings
• communicate findings and recommendations clearly and tailored to the audience and purpose, both in writing and verbally
• understand the role of VECRA and ensure their work contributes to the objectives and priorities of the regulator.

The role involves working directly with complainants, parents, those working in education and care services as well as operators of those services. Excellent written and verbal communication, strong judgement and thorough understanding of VECRA's role, policies and legal requirements will be essential.

Senior Investigations Officers contribute to delivery of programs and initiatives in the Complex Investigations Branch by undertaking and supporting thorough investigations, complaints management, triage, evidence gathering and analysis as well as detailed record keeping and reporting. The role will support enforcement and prevention strategies, build stakeholder relationships, advise senior decision-makers, and drive continuous improvement.

Attributes

For more details regarding the required attributes please see attached position description.

Qualifications and Experience

• Essential: Relevant qualifications and/or experience in regulation, child safety, investigations, law or similar.
• Essential: Successful applicants will be required to hold a valid Victorian Working with Children's Check and Victorian driver's licence.

Further Information

Applicants are required to submit a CV and cover letter (max 2 pages for cover letter) summarising their skills, relevant experience and suitability to the role.

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.

VECRA values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for VECRA, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the VECRA website and our Diversity and Inclusion page.

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about VECRA's operations and employment conditions can be located on the VECRA website.

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Antone Chin, Manager Central Investigations on (03) 8688 7*** or at ***********@education.vic.gov.au.

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to VECRA will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g. large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close 11:59pm on 02 November 2026.