This is an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander designated position, classified under Section 12 Special Measures of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010.

This employment opportunity is only available to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

At Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS), we are committed to providing culturally appropriate legal services, advocacy, and support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Victoria. Our mission is to ensure that Aboriginal communities have access to the justice system, are treated with dignity and respect, and have their rights upheld.

What We Do:

• Provide free legal services to Aboriginal people across criminal, family, and civil matters
• Offer culturally sensitive advice, support, and representation
• Advocate for social justice, equality, and the protection of Aboriginal rights
• Work to reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system
• Engage in policy development and systemic advocacy for positive change

When you work at VALS, you can access range of our benefits such as:

• Only 35 hours work week – any extra hours worked will be calculated as Time In Lieu (TOIL) and can be used as additional leave hours

• Get paid more when you take your annual leave with our 17.5% Annual Leave Loading

• Access additional 5 days leave on top of the standard 20 days annual leave allowance

• Access to company vehicles for any work-related trips

• Salary packaging of up to $15,900+ per FBT available via Maxxia

To learn more about us, head to vals.org.au/about-vals.

For more details about our other roles, check our careers website: vals.org.au/careers.

About the Aboriginal Community Justice Panels (ACJP):

The ACJP operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with a largely volunteer workforce that provides timely access to cultural, legal and practical support for Aboriginal people in police custody. The core service is to maximise the safety and welfare of Aboriginal people in custody by

• Being the first point of contact by Victoria Police when an Aboriginal person is taken into custody
• Visits while in custody
• Liaising with legal and welfare agencies to support them while in custody
• Pick-up and drop offs to a safe location upon release
• Working with Victoria Police and other agencies on appropriate diversionary programs

The key goals of the service include reducing recidivism, enhancing community safety and fostering stronger relationships between Aboriginal communities and the state-wide justice system.

Role Overview:

This is an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander designated position, classified under Section 12 Special Measures of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010.

This employment opportunity is only available to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

As the Aboriginal Community Justice Panels Project Officer (Project Officer), you will support the Aboriginal Community Justice Panels in designing and implementing a professional service model across three pilot sites: Shepparton, Mildura and Bendigo.

You will work under the direction of the Statewide Chairperson, and will play a key role in supporting and driving significant operational transformation within the Aboriginal Community Justice Panels.

This role is critical in ensuring effective governance, risk management, and consultant oversight while enabling strategic decision-making through high-quality reporting and presentations to senior government stakeholders.

This position is ideal for a proactive and strategic thinker who is experienced in supporting complex change initiatives across diverse stakeholder environments

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the planning and delivery of high-impact transformation projects, ensuring alignment with Aboriginal Community Justice Panels objectives and funder expectations.
• Lead and coordinate project governance activities, including preparation of agendas, minutes, action logs, and decision registers for steering committees and working groups.
• Manage relationships with external consultants and service providers, ensuring clear deliverables, accountability, and value-for-money outcomes.
• Oversee project risk identification, assessment, monitoring and mitigation strategies to support informed decision-making and ensure project success.
• Prepare comprehensive reporting to funders, including status updates, briefing notes, performance dashboards, and formal progress submissions.
• Develop and deliver high-quality presentations and written materials tailored for senior stakeholders and executive leadership.
• Work collaboratively to ensure a unified approach to change, communication, and delivery.
• Monitor project timelines, budgets, and deliverables using appropriate project management methodologies and tools.
• Contribute to the evaluation of change initiatives and support the embedding of continuous improvement practices across the Aboriginal Community Justice Panels
• Undertake other duties & responsibilities within the scope of the role as directed

Key Selection Criteria

Essential

• Demonstrated understanding of the role of the Aboriginal Community Justice Panels
• Ability to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in a culturally safe manner and acknowledge their diverse backgrounds, personalities and varying needs and the unique cultural ways in which they may be expressed.
• Tertiary qualifications in business, project management, public administration, or a related field; or equivalent demonstrated experience.
• Demonstrated business acumen and strategic thinking in the context of organisational change and transformation.
• Proven experience in managing governance processes and ensuring robust oversight of project initiatives.
• Experience in managing external consultants and contract deliverables within large or complex projects.
• Strong capability in risk management, including identification, analysis, reporting, and mitigation planning.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to develop reports and present complex information clearly and persuasively to senior government audiences.
• High-level interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills, with experience working across diverse internal and external stakeholder groups.
• Strong organisational and project coordination skills

Desirable

• Formal project management qualifications or demonstrated experience applying structured methodologies.
• Experience working in or with government agencies or departments.
• Understanding of public sector governance, policy environments, and reporting protocols
• Ability to work autonomously and to collaborate in a small team environment.
• Experience working in the non-profit sector/ACCO sector.