Senior Policy and Projects Officer, Aboriginal Health

About this role

• Ongoing, Full time opportunity to work with a high-performing and passionate team in the Victorian Public Service 

• VPS 5: $113,022 - $136,747 plus superannuation 

• Step into a role where your work drives meaningful change in the lives of Aboriginal people in custody.  

A unique opportunity to engage with Aboriginal people within a justice facility and use your policy and project skills to implement and evaluate improvements in Aboriginal healthcare in our system 

About Justice Health 

The Aboriginal Health Unit Justice Health is responsible for the design, implementation and evaluation of initiatives to strengthen Aboriginal health care within both adult and youth custodial settings. This includes initiatives to:

• enhance the cultural safety of health care services
• ensure that health care services meet the needs of Aboriginal prisoners and young people, including through prioritising culture, cultural strengthening, addressing trauma and supporting healing
• increase Aboriginal engagement with health care services.

The Aboriginal Health Unit achieves this through working in partnership with key stakeholders including Aboriginal people in adult and youth custody, community, Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisations, contracted health service providers, custodial staff and other services provided in custodial settings.

About the Role 

As a Senior Policy and Projects Officer, Aboriginal Health, you'll champion culturally safe, evidence based health services across Victoria's prisons and youth justice centres—shaping improvements that support healing, strengthen cultural connection, and enhance wellbeing.

You'll be required to travel onsite to Correctional and Youth Justice facilities as part of your role. You will be working in partnership with Aboriginal communities, ACCOs, custodial staff and health providers, help design innovative services, guide successful transitions back to community, and contribute to a safer, more resilient justice system.  

Whilst you will have the ability to work autonomously you'll work with a team of resilient and hard working colleagues, passionate about improving health outcomes and building strong, culturally informed programs.  

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

About you  

To be successful in this role, you will have: 

• An understanding of the cultural issues and sensitivities impacting the health care of Aboriginal people in custody. 

• Well-developed analytical and conceptual skills, together with an ability to identify policy and program needs, investigate issues and undertake research within a complex human services environment. 

• Experience in delivering projects within specified time frames. 

• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, and an ability to manage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including Aboriginal stakeholders. 

• Well-developed writing skills, including experience in preparing quality and timely briefs, reports and correspondence using clear and concise language, and content appropriate to its purpose and audience. 

Qualifications 

• A relevant qualification in health care, public policy or a justice related field is highly desirable, as is previous experience within government and knowledge of the Aboriginal community. 

This is a prioritised role for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, who will be given priority consideration as per the special measures provision of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 

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.au if they would like cultural support and guidance through the application process. 

For more information regarding Aboriginal employment and our Aboriginal Workforce Unit, please visit: Aboriginal employment | Department of Justice and Community Safety Victoria 

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

How to Apply 

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

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.