Aboriginal Wellbeing Officer (multiple vacancies)

About this role

• Provide cultural and practical support for Aboriginal prisoners and provide support and advice to key stakeholders.
• Ongoing, full-time opportunity to work with high-performing and passionate teams in various locations.
• VPS Grade 3: $79,122 - $96,073 plus superannuation.

This is an Aboriginal Designated Position, classified under 'special measures' of section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. A Certificate of Aboriginality will be required prior to an offer of employment being made.

NEW SIGN-ON BONUS

New candidates who are successful in obtaining a position as an Aboriginal wellbeing officer (AWO) will be eligible for a bonus of up to $8,000. If you are successfully appointed on or after 14 January 2026, you will receive a payment of $4,000 six months after commencing your role. Then, after one year's full-time employment, you will receive an additional payment of $4,000. This incentive is designed to attract AWOs with strong cultural understanding and to encourage retention within this critical role.  Be sure to read the terms and conditions, which you can find at the bottom of this job advertisement.

About the role

The AWO role was established under the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement, as a response to the findings of the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. AWO's are part of Corrections Victoria's commitment to reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system and ensuring that Aboriginal Victorians achieve the same justice outcomes as the broader Victorian community.

Some of your duties will include:

• Provide cultural and practical support for Aboriginal prisoners by identifying their strengths, aspirations and obtainable goals for returning to a non-offending lifestyle in their community.
• Interview and complete a wellbeing checklist with Aboriginal prisoners as soon as practicable following reception, aiming to provide information regarding Indigenous-specific programs and services that are available.
• Provide cultural and wellbeing support to Aboriginal prisoners that helps their individual pre and post release needs to be met, advocating on their behalf where appropriate.
• Assist Aboriginal prisoners to access programs and entitlements, to assist with reintegration into the community.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the Victorian Aboriginal community, both society and culture, and the issues impacting it.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with members of the Victorian Aboriginal community.
• To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.

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

How to apply

Please click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.

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

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

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.

Sign-on bonus terms and conditions

To be eligible for the $8,000 sign-on bonus, you must:

• be successfully appointed to an AWO position, on or after 14 January 2026
• have completed your probationary period and had your employment confirmed in accordance with the provisions within the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024
• be employed as an ongoing Aboriginal Wellbeing Officer after 6 months of continuous service* (to receive the first bonus)
• be employed as an ongoing Aboriginal Wellbeing Officer after 12 months of continuous service (to receive the second bonus)
• not be subject to formal under-performance processes or proven misconduct.

Current Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) employees are not eligible for the sign-on bonus.

Applicants outside of DJCS, including but not limited to individuals currently working in Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, private prisons, other Victorian-based government agencies and interstate applicants from equivalent organisations are highly encouraged to apply and will be eligible for the sign-on bonus.

*Continuous service means the total time you have spent working as an Aboriginal Wellbeing Officer with the Department of Justice and Community Safety since commencing.