Additional Benefits:

• 17.5% Leave Loading
• 5 extra days leave on top of 20 days annual leave
• Only required to work 35 hours per week, any extra hours worked will be calculated as your Time In Lieu (TOIL) – which you may use as additional leave hours
• Access to company vehicles for any work-related trips
• Salary packaging is available via Maxxia

Office Locations: 273, High Street Preston Victoria 3072

Full-time 12-month fixed term from point of appointment.

The Aboriginal Justice Caucus is to be a conduit between the Aboriginal community and the criminal legal system. The Aboriginal Justice Caucus provides leadership, advocacy and drives continuous change to address the drivers of offending as well as system and programmatic reform within the criminal legal system.

The Aboriginal Justice Caucus has an auspice arrangement with the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS). VALS has been a member of the Aboriginal Justice Agreement, and by extension the Aboriginal Justice Caucus, since its inception.

Overview of the role

The Policy and Administrative Officer of the Aboriginal Justice Caucus Secretariat, under the leadership of the Executive Officer and guidance from the Aboriginal Justice Caucus, will support and contribute to high quality work to achieve Caucus’ strategic direction.

The Policy and Administrative Officer will contribute to high quality secretariat support of the Aboriginal Justice Caucus and the RAJACs, alongside the drafting of high-quality research, tender writing, analysis, written and oral advice and stakeholder engagement to support Caucus’ advocacy work and policy development as well as the development of internal policy and associated products.

Key Performance Indicators, Duties & Responsibility

Secretariat Role

• Support drafting of high-quality secretariat support to the Aboriginal Justice Caucus members including

• • Preparing meeting papers

  • Scheduling meetings

  • Engaging with, and coordinating attendance of members

  • Preparing speaking notes for Co-Chairs or other members as required

  • Liaising with DJCS as required

• Support the development of and adhere to workplans to support the strategic direction and priorities of Caucus.
• Support drafting of regular reporting to Caucus as required.
• Policy, Research and Advocacy
• Draft policy and advocacy papers, positions and strategies that align with the Caucus’ strategic direction and priorities.
• Undertake research to inform policy and advocacy positions.
• Support the EO in presenting policy, research and position papers to internal and external stakeholders as required.
• Draft funding submissions and tenders as required, under the guidance of the EO and Caucus.
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Support Aboriginal Justice Caucus members and the Secretariat in representing the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities living in Victoria on government and stakeholder committees as required.
• Support RAJACs in their roles and engagement with the Caucus.
• Develop a communication strategy to support implementation of Caucus’ strategic direction.
• Undertake positive, meaningful and continuous engagement from AJC members and stakeholders.

Internal VALS Obligations

• Commitment to VALS’s strategic plan where it is in alignment with the Aboriginal Justice Caucus strategic plan.
• Attend and actively contribute at team and working group meetings
• Provide mentoring and support to other members of the team as required
• Undertake other duties & responsibilities within the scope of the role as directed

Personal accountability

• Compliance with all VALS values, code of conduct, policies and procedures and relevant government legislation and standards where relevant.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the principles of social justice and aim to ensure every individual is treated with dignity and respect regardless of their background, ability, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation or religion.
• Ensure appropriate use of resources.
• Actively participate in initiatives to maintain, build upon and promote a positive and collaborative workplace.
• Take reasonable care for your own health & safety, and health and safety of others (to extent required).
• Promptly respond to and report health and safety hazards, incidents and near misses to management.
• Attend mandatory training sessions (ie. equal employment opportunity, health and safety, cultural safety) and mandatory training specific to position.

Key Selection Criteria

Mandatory

• A sound knowledge of the role of the Aboriginal Justice Agreement and related cross sector reforms.
• A sound knowledge of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and the Legal System.
• 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.
• Well-developed policy and advocacy skills.
• Demonstrated experience and achievement in providing a wide range of administrative support in a complex and demanding work environment
• Sound ability to undertake project management and secretariat skills.
• Sound relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills including in effectively engaging community members in policy and/or advocacy development.
• Ability to work autonomously and to collaborate in a small team environment.
• High level organisational and administrative skills including the ability to prioritise workload, work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Demonstrated strong computer literacy skills and proficiency using the Microsoft Office and other relevant software

Desirable

• Relevant qualifications such as Bachelor or Masters degree in Law, Politics, Communications or Journalism and/or extensive experience in policy analysis and advocacy.
• Experience working in the non-profit sector/ACCO sector.

Please send any questions about the role to jobs@vals.org.au using the subject line: Aboriginal Justice Caucus Senior Policy Officer.