• Utilise your Community Services expertise to provide support and advice to the Victim Services Support and Reform branch
• A Fixed-Term, Full-Time opportunity to work with a high-performing and passionate team in the Victorian Public Service for 24 months
• VPS Grade 4: $92,332 - $104,762 plus superannuation

About the Business Unit

The Victim Services, Support and Reform (VSSR) branch is part of the Police, Racing, Victims and Coordination group in the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS). The VSSR is responsible for operating a suite of services for victims of crime that provide information and support to help manage the effects of crime and guide victims through the criminal justice system across Victoria.

The Child and Youth Witness Service (CYWS) is a statewide specialist case management service for child witnesses (up to 18 years at the time charges were laid) and their families and/or carers. The model of care is child focused and incorporates principles of trauma informed care. The purpose of the CYWS is to increase participation by child witnesses in the criminal justice process and to reduce trauma associated with being involved with the criminal justice system, particularly being a child witness.

About the Role

The primary purpose of the role of Program Support Officer - Court Dog Program is to provide access to Court Dog services for vulnerable witnesses who need additional support during the Criminal Justice process. The Court Dog Handler will be the primary staff member who provides care and support for the Court Dog during the working day and handling them in accordance with set procedures when the Court Dog is working.

The role requires skill in handling the Court Dog but will also require experience of interacting with children, young people, their families and other professionals involved in the Criminal Justice system.

Some of your duties will include:

• Being responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Court Dog Program during business hours, including:
  • collecting and returning the dog to the Guardian at the beginning and end of each day
  • escorting the dog to all court events, and accompanying them in the court event or remaining in the vicinity of the hearing, mediation or interview, as appropriate
  • accommodating the needs of the court dog balanced with the needs of clients
  • ensuring appropriate breaks, including welfare breaks, toilet breaks and park breaks, each day
  • minding the dog during down time, whilst other work is undertaken, until the end of the day
  • being responsible for the dog's safety and wellbeing at all times, including during breaks
  • working with the Team Manager to ensure the Court Dog's workload is manageable and breaks and leave are accommodated.
• Maintaining the booking system for the Court Dog, and, with the assistance of the Team Manager, determining which requested events are most appropriate for the dog to attend
• Liaising with the Office of Public Prosecutions regarding obtaining approval for the dog to attend hearings as per existing processes.

The Program Support Officer will be primarily office based and will be responsible for providing primary oversight of the CYWS email in-box and managing the office phone. The in-box and phone line are the main ways in which referrals to the CYWS are made.

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

About You

As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• Experience as a dog handler, either having background experience of dog handling or sound, demonstrated experience in caring for dogs or a willingness to learn the handling techniques required for this role
• Well-developed interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively and build and maintain productive working relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including child witnesses
• Demonstrated organisational skills, including excellent time-management skills, the ability to set and manage competing priorities, and apply planning and problem-solving skills

Qualifications / Requirements

• Qualification or demonstrated experience in handling a dog is required
• Experience in a court environment working with children or working with children in a social work or similar context would be highly regarded
• A current Driver's license and Working with Children Check is required.

How to Apply

Please click the "Apply Now" button. 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 reference checks, national police checks and misconduct screening. Dependant on the role, other checks may include VicRoads checks, drivers licence checks, medical checks, Working with Children Checks, and Declaration of Private Interests (for executive and responsible officer roles).

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 INTERNAL VPS EMPLOYEES

• 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.
• 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.

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.

A position description is attached.