VOLUNTEERING WITH A DIFFERENCE

• 40x volunteer positions available across Victoria to be involved in the Department of Justice and Community Safety's Independent Prison Visitor Scheme (IPVS).
• Honorarium payments each month when a visit is completed.
• Information Sessions available (please see below for dates and times).

Do you have life experience, sound judgement and good communication skills? Can you be objective and non-judgemental? If so, the Independent Prison Visitor Scheme is currently accepting applications for volunteers to join the scheme.

About the Independent Prison Volunteer role:

As a volunteer Independent Prison Visitor, you will visit a prison once a month to observe operations and to talk to anyone inside a prison including prisoners, staff, and visitors. Independent Prison Visitors play an important role in ensuring that the high standards of Victoria's prison system reflect community standards.

Independent Prison Visitors perform a community advisory role by reporting their objective advice and independent views to the Minister for Corrections.

The Justice Assurance and Review Office (Department of Justice and Community Safety) manages the Independent Prison Visitor Scheme on behalf of the Minister.

Independent Prison Visitor Scheme Volunteers are paid an honorarium payment of $300 dollars per month (if a visit is completed in that month).

The role includes monthly attendance at your allocated prison, where you will have access to all areas of the prison, to speak with prisoners, staff members and other providers. At the beginning of each visit, you meet with a member of the prison's management team to discuss important information about events happening that day, or recent events that may be discussed with you as you conduct your visit. At the end of your visit, you will speak to the same individual to provide an update on any matters raised with you. You are then required to provide a written report via a secure online portal summarising your visit to the Independent Prison Visitor coordinating team. It is important that you have access to a computer with internet access for this role.

Information Sessions:

The Justice Assurance and Review Office are holding online information sessions to offer additional information to our potential volunteers. Attendance at this session is strongly encouraged as part of the application process.

Session 1 details - Tuesday 30 January - 12:30-13:30

Session 2 details - Monday 5 February - 12:30-13:30

To register your interest and attendance please click Apply Now and follow the instructions. Please also confirm the session you plan on attending. These sessions will be hosted via Microsoft Teams, so please ensure that you have downloaded Microsoft Teams in preparation.

How to Apply:

Please click the Apply Now button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats. Please note there is a short questionnaire to be completed after clicking the Apply Now button.

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.

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.