Aboriginal Wellbeing Officer

At the Department of Justice and Community Safety, we’re looking for people who want to make a difference. People who take pride in their work.

People who get things done. People who are committed to making Victoria a safer place.

We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve. We’re all about recruiting the best people, regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or cultural background.

If you think you can do the job and would be a good fit for our department, we’d love to hear from you.

The department is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and recognises that children’s rights need to be respected, their views welcomed and valued, and their concerns taken seriously and acted upon.

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.

For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit

We’re proud of the important work we do across Victoria. Want to be part of it?

• Utilise your understanding of the Victorian Aboriginal Community to provide support and advice to Corrections Victoria.
• Ongoing, Full-Time Opportunities to work with a high-performing and passionate team in the Victorian Public Service
• VPS Grade 3 : $ 74,580 - $90,558 plus superannuation.

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.

The Aboriginal Wellbeing Officer (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 to ensuring that Aboriginal Victorians achieve the same justice outcomes as the broader Victorian community.

The AWO has direct prisoner contact being responsible for engaging and actively working Aboriginal people in custody. The AWO provides cultural, spiritual and wellbeing support and coordinates cultural activities and programs.

This role will participate in case management of Aboriginal Prisoners, working with the multi-disciplinary team to support successful transition back to the community.

You will have an understanding of case management and a demonstrated understanding of the Victorian Aboriginal Community, both society and culture and the issues impacting on it.

Aboriginal Wellbeing Officer positions exist at each prison location across Victoria and form a critical part of multi-disciplinary offender services teams (or equivalent).

AWOs provide the foundation for all other cultural programs that support rehabilitation and reintegration, and improve outcomes for Aboriginal prisoners by :

• Provide ongoing welfare, advocacy, and support for Aboriginal prisoners.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with members of the Victorian Aboriginal community.
• Assist prisoners with access to appropriate pre and post release programs.
• Assist Aboriginal prisoners to re-connect and / or maintain links with their families, community organisations and other support systems through advice, support and referrals.
• As the AWO, you will also lead the coordination of cultural activities including NAIDOC events and Aboriginal specific programs within the prison.

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 YOU

As our ideal candidate, you will be able to demonstrate :

• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the Victorian Aboriginal Community, both society and culture, and the issues impacting on it.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with members of the Victorian Aboriginal community.
• You will have an understanding of case management and a demonstrated understanding of the Victorian Aboriginal Community, both society and culture and the issues impacting on it.

Qualifications / Requirements

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 .

For Aboriginal designated positions, a Certificate of Aboriginality will be required prior to an offer of employment being made.

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.

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.

• For all VPS employees, due to the new Jobs Skills Exchange (JSE) policy, please apply through the JSE to be eligible to be considered for this position in the first round.
• For this particular vacancy, priority consideration applies to Victorian Public Service (VPS) and select employees of the Victorian Public Sector who apply through the Jobs Skills Exchange (JSE) jobs board platform.

Applicants are welcome to utilise support from the Aboriginal Employment Team throughout the recruitment process. Aboriginal candidates are encouraged to contactif they would like cultural support and guidance through the application process.'

ABORIGINAL DESIGNATED POSITIONS

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.

For Aboriginal designated positions, a Certificate of Aboriginality will be required prior to an offer of employment being made.

Applicants are welcome to utilise support from the Aboriginal Employment Team throughout the recruitment process. Aboriginal candidates are encouraged to contactif they would like cultural support and guidance through the application process.'

Please visit for further 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.