• This is an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander designated position, classified under Section 12 Special Measures of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010.
• This opportunity is only available to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• We are always actively looking for applicants from a diverse range of gender identities, sexual orientations, cultures, language groups, abilities, and experiences.

Overview

The Client Service Officer (CSO) acts as liaison between the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people taken into custody by the police. The CSO has an educational role in crime prevention and reduction, and in conjunction with other facilities, to provide for alternative programs to Aboriginal communities.

Regional Client Service Officer Key Performance Indicators, Duties & Responsibility

• Respond to e-justice notifications, the on-call CSO, the Aboriginal Community Justice Panel (ACJP) or Victoria Police when advised that an Aboriginal person is being held in custody;
• Contact the Aboriginal person in custody, provide basic information and exercise discretion as to whether the on-call solicitor should be contacted. Reassure the client and explain legal terminology and processes used by the police and legal profession, not using legal jargon. Where appropriate, take notes of the history of the client’s case and provide them to the solicitor;
• Provide a case coordination approach to assisting our clients who are impacted by family violence including coordinating services who they are currently linked or assisting to referred to;
• Court support, transport assistance, referrals and advocating on the client’s behalf;
• Reassure the client and explain legal terminology and processes used by the courts and legal profession, not using legal jargon. Where appropriate, take notes of the history of the client’s case and provide them to the solicitor;
• As directed, lodge all necessary court documents;
• Liaise and network with other Aboriginal organisations and agencies to promote VALS and be aware of programs that will assist in the prevention or reduction of crime within the Victorian Aboriginal communities;
• Liaise with police and other persons within the justice system to ensure delivery of a culturally relevant service;
• Perform a range of administrative tasks to ensure the effective delivery of services to VALS clients, including maintaining of client file using Actionstep database;
• Represent VALS at various meetings and report back on those meetings to VALS management;
• Provide activity reports on a timely basis and attend staff meetings as required
• Participates in ongoing training and staff development and acts and remains professional at all times, upholding VALS values;
• As directed, undertake other duties as directed which are incidental and peripheral to the main tasks, provided that such duties are reasonably within the employee’s skills, competence and training.

A position description is attached.