Senior Program Manager- Justice & Cultural Programs

Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 144,000 - 149,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging

Access to agency vehicles

Paid parental leave

Professional development

Athletic/Fitness program

Job summary

VACCA (The Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency) is seeking a Senior Program Manager – Justice & Cultural Programs to lead a portfolio of services, ensure funding targets and compliance, and drive program enhancements. Based in Preston, the role supervises staff delivering ACSASS, cultural planning, and family-led decisions with a strong Aboriginal community focus.

Applicants should have demonstrated leadership, strong communication, and knowledge of youth justice and child protection

Qualifications

• Requires tertiary qualifications in social work, psychology or community services, or equivalent experience.
• Experience supervising staff, delivering programs and reporting/evaluation.
• Demonstrated understanding of youth justice and child protection systems in Victoria.

Responsibilities

• Oversee key initiatives within Justice & Cultural Programs.
• Manage funding targets, compliance and program enhancements.
• Lead staff delivering Lakidjeka ACSASS, Cultural Camps, and related services.

Skills

Staff supervision

Program implementation

Reporting & evaluation

Communication skills

Risk assessment

Education

Social work degree

Psychology degree

Community services degree

Job description

• Position: Permanent, Full Time
• Location: Preston
• Salary: $144,202 - $148,561 + SUPER + NFP Salary Packaging

The Organisation

The Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) is an Aboriginal Community-Controlled organisation that supports and advocates for the Aboriginal Community and is the largest organisation of its kind in Australia. The VACCA team is committed to the organisation’s visions and values, passionately providing support, service and advocacy for our children and other vulnerable members of the community.

Our strength lies with our people.

About the role

The Senior Program Manager – Justice & Cultural Programs is responsible for overseeing a range of key initiatives to ensure effective, high-quality services. This role focuses on achieving funding targets, meeting compliance requirements, implementing new programs and service enhancements, and overseeing the management of staff delivering these programs. The programs currently sitting in this portfolio include Lakidjeka Aboriginal Child Specialist Advice and Support Service (ACSASS), Cultural Support Planning (including cultural camps), Aboriginal Family Led Decision Making, Koorie Cultural Placement and Support, and Aboriginal Led Case Conferencing.

About You

• Demonstrates strong alignment with VACCA’s values and purpose, with the capacity to lead and advocate for these both internally and externally.
• Awareness and appreciation of Aboriginal societies and cultures and an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal people in contemporary Australia and the diversity of circumstances of Aboriginal people.
• Demonstrated knowledge of theyouthjustice and child protection systems in Victoria.
• Knowledge andexperience in supervising staff, programimplementation, reporting and evaluation.
• Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to effectively engage with Aboriginal children, families, carers, staff, and other service providers.
• Ability to work under pressure, to demonstrate professional judgement in decision making and high-level risk assessments

Desirable

• Ability to work flexible hours and participate in the afterhours/ on call roster.
• Tertiary qualifications in the field of social work, psychology or community services (or other relevant discipline) and extensive relevant experience or a combination of experience, expertise and competence sufficient to perform the duties required

Requirements

• You must have and continue to hold a full Victorian Driver’s Licence, a current employment Working with Children Check card and a clear National Police Check
• Current COVID-19 vaccination (strongly recommended)

What we can offer you

• A supportive environment that includes comprehensive induction
• The support of regular internal supervision
• Professional development and training opportunities
• Attractive salary packaging to increase your take-home pay
• 17.5% loading on annual leave
• Access to agency vehicles for all work-related travel
• Access to Employee support and wellbeing programs
• Paid parental leave after 12 months of ongoing employment
• Opportunity to work and build connection with the Aboriginal Community and culture
• Fitness Passport - allowing you (and your family) access to any of the facilities available on this program

This is an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander designated position, classified under Section 12 Special Measures of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. This employment opportunity is only available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Application closes by 13th October 2026

We are committed to Aboriginal self-determination and supporting strong, safe, thriving Aboriginal communities and aim to ensure every individual is treated with dignity, honouring all cultural backgrounds, abilities, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities and spiritual beliefs.

VACCA is a child-safe organisation and is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and young people with zero tolerance for child abuse. All successful applicants will be required to undertake a National Police Record Check and Working with Children Check prior to commencement of employment and periodically following commencement.

VACCA is an equal opportunity employer and has a smoke-free workplace policy