• 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.
• Salary Offering: $79,997.92 - $ 82,514.43 (VALS RB 1.1 – 1.3 ) per annum., depending on experience plus 11.5% Superannuation
• Office Locations: High Street, Preston
• This position may require regional and very occasional interstate travel.

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

Overview

The Project and Community Engagement Officer will support the development and implementation of VALS’ Justice Treaty Project. The Project and Community Engagement Officer will have a focus on secretariat and project support alongside community engagement.

This position is part of a newly created team that will be responsible for leading, coordinating and delivering VALS’ Justice Treaty project. VALS has called for the Victorian government to negotiate a Justice Treaty with Aboriginal Communities and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs). VALS sees that a Justice Treaty would set a new foundation to transform the legal system, including through progressive transfer of power, resources, data and control to allow for Aboriginal justice models.

The Justice Treaty Team sits within the Policy, Communications and Strategy Team and will work across VALS to strengthen our policy and advocacy that supports Aboriginal communities’ priorities.

Key Performance Indicators, Duties & Responsibility

• Support the implementation of the Justice Treaty project plan.
• Provide secretariat support for Justice Treaty governance and working groups, including drafting agendas, minutes, and the collation and circulation of relevant papers to members.
• Monitor and respond to incoming communications, as well as conducting general admin duties
• Support the research and writing of policy papers, briefs, reports and submissions as relevant, relating to Justice Treaty.
• Support in the organisation and facilitation of community engagement events to raise awareness and engagement of the Justice Treaty project.
• Engage with people with lived experience of the legal system, to ensure their views and experiences inform the development of a Justice Treaty model.

Internal Obligations

• Commitment to VALS’s strategic plan
• Attend and actively contribute at team and working group meetings
• Work in collaboration with other members of the Policy, Communications and Strategy team as needed
• 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:

• Understanding of the legal system and its impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• Ability to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and acknowledge their diverse backgrounds, personalities and varying needs and the unique cultural ways in which they may be expressed.
• Demonstrated experience in providing secretariat/administrative support
• Demonstrated experience in community and stakeholder engagement
• Demonstrated computer literacy skills and proficiency using the Microsoft Office and other relevant software

Desirable:

• Relevant qualifications in higher education such as Bachelor degree in Law, Politics, Social Policy, Communications or Journalism and/or experience in policy, and project support.
• Training or experience in the legal sector, particularly in areas of social justice and human rights
• Understanding of the role of Aboriginal legal services and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations
• Experience working in the non-profit sector

Mandatory Requirement:

On offer of this position, you must provide:

• A copy of your current Employee Working with Children Check card
• A copy of your current Victorian Driver’s License
• You will be required to complete a current Criminal History Police Check
• Proof of rights to work in Australia, i.e. a copy of an Australian Passport, Birth Certificate or Immigration VISA documentation
• COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination Certificate or current and valid medical exemption certificate
• Copies of any certificates or degrees relevant to this role