Guardianship Support / First Peoples Engagement Officer

at  Department of Justice and Community Safety

• Utilise your assistant expertise to provide support and advice to the Office of the Public Advocate branch
• Fixed-Term (12 months), Full-Time opportunity to work with a high-performing and passionate team in the Victorian Public Service
• VPS Grade 4: $92,332 - $104,762 plus superannuation.
  This is an Aboriginal designated position, classified under ‘special measures’ of section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. Only Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply.

ABOUT US:

The Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) is an independent statutory office accountable to the Victorian Parliament which has been established to protect the rights of, and enhance the position of, people with disabilities in Victoria. OPA is a human rights organisation that promotes the diversity and inclusion of all people. OPA’s vision is of a just and inclusive society that values and respects people from all walks of life and ages. OPA promotes a workplace culture where disability, and diversity of gender identities, sexualities, faiths, ethnicities, and abilities are respected. OPA values a range of experience in its employees, including professional, volunteer and lived experience.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A relevant tertiary qualification is desirable but not essential.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Guardianship Support / First Peoples Engagement Officer position has two aspects to the position, with equal time to be spent on each. The position will be part of the Hospital Program OPA Advocate Guardian team. The position will also be part of a new small First Peoples’ network at OPA.
Half of the time of the Guardianship Support / First Peoples Engagement Officer will be in helping establish a new approach at OPA to improve the accessibility of OPA’s services for First Peoples, and in the continued development and implementation of this approach. This will involve working closely with another new position at OPA, the Advocate Guardian / First Peoples Engagement Lead. Depending on what this new approach looks like, the position may subsequently play a liaison role for enquires from First Peoples or Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.
And the other half of the time of the Guardianship Support / Diversity and Inclusion (First Peoples) Officer will be spent in assisting OPA’s Guardians in Hospital program. The role assists the delegated guardian gather information for the guardian to make decisions within the powers of the guardianship order, for example about where a represented person lives or what services they might need.

SOME OF YOUR DUTIES WILL INCLUDE:

• Assisting in establishing a new approach at OPA to improve the accessibility and cultural safety of OPA’s services for First Peoples, and in the continued development and implementation of this approach. Depending on what this new approach looks like, the position may subsequently play a liaison role for enquires from First Peoples or Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.
• Assisting in establishing a small First Peoples network at OPA that will comprise two to three staff members and that will operate as a support network for First Peoples staff at OPA, including by encouraging involvement in broader networks and supports.
• Under direction from the team leader, and in consultation with other team members, assisting with the management of guardianship files.
• Assisting in gathering information for guardianship decisions.
• Responding to calls and enquiries from represented persons, families and professionals.
  To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.

About You:As an ideal candidate, you will possess:

• Demonstrates knowledge of the Victorian human services sector, NDIS, mental illness and aged care service systems.
• Demonstrates ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with members of the Victorian Aboriginal Community.
• Understands the issues relating to disability, including mental illness and age -related disability.
• Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the Victorian Aboriginal community, both society and culture and the issues impacting on it.