Senior Project & Policy Officer, Aboriginal Health

About this role

• Design, implement and evaluate improvements in Aboriginal healthcare and cultural safety.
• Ongoing, full-time opportunity to work with a high-performing and passionate team in the Victorian Public Service 
• VPS Grade 5: $113,022 - $136,747plus superannuation. 

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is seeking a Senior Project & Policy Officer, Aboriginal Health to provide a critical role within Justice Health.

This is an Aboriginal Designated Position, classified under ‘special measures' of Section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. Only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply.

About the Business Unit 

Justice Health is part of the Corrections and Justice Services (CJS) group in the Department of Justice and Community Safety and supports the Minister for Corrections. CJS also comprises Corrections Victoria; Policy, Strategy and Service Design; Group Services and Coordination; and Justice Services (which includes Community Correctional Services and other justice programs). CJS plays an integral role in developing safer and more resilient communities and in delivering a trusted justice and community safety system.

The Aboriginal Health Unit 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.

About the Role 

Some of your duties will include: 

• Design, implement and evaluate improvements in Aboriginal healthcare and cultural safety.
• Engage with Aboriginal people in prison and youth justice facilities to understand their healthcare needs and experiences and ensure their experiences inform ongoing improvements in healthcare in custodial settings.
• Work collaboratively with key service partners, including Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisations and other teams in Justice Health, Corrections Victoria and Youth Justice to identify and respond to issues and risks that affect the delivery of culturally safe and culturally appropriate healthcare services.

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.

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.

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. 

Applicants are welcome to utilise support from the Aboriginal Recruitment Team throughout the recruitment process.  Aboriginal candidates are encouraged to contact aboriginalworkforce@justice.vic.gov.au  if 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.

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.