Aboriginal Assessor (Designated)

About this role

• Make decisions on eligibility for financial assistance as per legislation, established policy, guidelines, and procedures.
• Ongoing, Full-Time Opportunity to work with a high-performing and passionate team in the Victorian Public Service
• VPS Grade 4: $97,955 - $111,142 plus superannuation.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety (the department) is seeking anAboriginal Assessorwithin our Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme.

This is an Aboriginal designated position, classified under 'special measures' of section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. Only Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply.

About the Business Unit

This is an exciting opportunity to deliver a major new initiative for victims of crime. The FAS is a landmark reform that will replace the judicially based Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal with an administrative scheme that prioritises the needs of victims and supports their recovery from violent crime.

The FAS is highly anticipated by victims and stakeholders and represents a major leap forward in the Victorian Government's response to victims of crime. Established under the Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance Scheme) Act 2022 (the Act) the FAS will provide financial assistance through a simple and easy to navigate process that is fair, sensitive, and responsive to victims' needs. It will acknowledge harm done and be trauma informed, inclusive and culturally safe.

About the role:

Reporting to the FAS Senior Assessor you will be responsible for the review and approval of Aboriginal and other applications for financial assistance as per all policy and procedures as part of a dedicated Aboriginal team (Aboriginal victims of crime) within the broader FAS unit.

Some of your responsibilities will include:

• Analyse and approve Aboriginal and other applications and requests for payments as per policy and procedures.
• Escalate complex and high-risk Aboriginal and other applications and decisions as appropriate.
• Identify, analyse, and provide advice on documentary evidence requirements for applicants or their appointed representative to enable assessment of their application.
• Formulate notices of decision for simple applications, including all consideration and the reasons for the decision.
• Provide leadership and guidance to Victim Recognition Officers developing trauma informed victim recognition statements acknowledging and affirming the experience of the victim.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the Aboriginal community, both society and culture, and the issues impacting it
• Demonstrated ability to communicate sensitively and work effectively with the Victorian Aboriginal community.
• Ability to read, interpret and apply legislation and policy, exercise judgement autonomously within the scope of the role, and escalate issues as necessary.
• Commitment to trauma-informed practice, including an understanding of the victim services system and the ability to build relationships to improve victim outcomes, apply an intersectional lens in service delivery, engage in reflective practice, support and inform victims of crime, and consider lived experience in service delivery.

Aboriginal applicants are welcome to utilise support from the Aboriginal Recruitment Team throughout the recruitment process and are encouraged to contact aboriginalrecruitment@justice.vic.gov.auif they would like cultural support and guidance through the application process.

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

To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.

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 a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) 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.