project officer

child protection specialist

client services

psychologist

correctional officer

NSW Department of Communities and Justice

I have worked with the Department for 6 years and worked in different districts in many various different roles relating to child protection, as well as acting in as manager at different times. 

My experience prior to transferring to the Hunter, was amazing with fantastic leaders and great support for caseworkers. Unfortunately it was not the case in the Hunter, the district is overwhelmed with new caseworkers - who are joining and overwhelmed with their caseloads with little support entering a fast paced crisis driven environment so in saying that I would insist you should have some experience in the field or you will find yourself lost and possibly leaving. Pays aren’t that enticing nor are there any benefits and don’t ask for over time because it is unlikely it would be approved. Management is poor and there is a mass of experienced caseworkers leaving due to lack of support from their managers and being treated poorly. I’m saying that there are some pros in the potential colleagues who you can debrief too and who you can bounce off for support. I would definitely have to say that caseworkers are underpaid for the workload and unreasonable expectations on time to complete tasks (usually juggling a thousand things at once) which I would be okay with if we were paid for our time. Expect to work longer hours then the 9-5 pm general business times. I’m 

If your looking at finding a career with DCJ, I would recommend entering into any other district as I have had an amazing experience working at different locations - Newcastle and Hunter valley offices are really not something I would encourage others to seek out given the current negative working environments that you will unfortunately witness - and this will also most likely affect your mental health and family/home life. 

The best part of my job is working and meeting the families and children I work with honestly - if only caseworkers had an adequate case load to be able to provide the family with quality casework.

What I have learned in this industry that every day is different.  As the saying goes, the calm before the storm. It will be quiet for a few hours, then chaos the next.

I've learned that control and intimidation is toxic. 

There's so much avenues that each individual can learn, if they just communicate, talk to each other and learn how to manage each situation. Managing this industry is one of the key points, communication, respect, working as a team instead of control, intimidation and not doing their job well.

The workplace is average and it takes a person/s to do this job. The culture is challenging but respect and communication is just one of the tools that I am good at.

Sometimes, we can't really get what we want due to budget cuts, but we just basically use what's available.

No communication, job satisfaction and support as a team and not as an individual.

Love some of the people that I used to work with, enjoyed my job immensely that helping others and knowingly that they will do their best to rehabilitate for their own self.

Supportive workplace, flexible working is fairly well supported. My managers have been very understanding whenever I had to take time off work due to sick kids or personal reasons. But it’s a typical government culture - bureaucratic, sometimes you do work for the sake of being busy rather than to actually add value, approaches to tasks sometimes don’t make sense, quality of management is hit & miss, and it’s pretty much impossible to fire unproductive or belligerent staff. Not great for skills development (in some ways it can feel like you’re going backwards - it is not a progressive organisation) but good if you want job stability and the flexibility to raise a family.

This role included assisting and supporting women and their children escaping domestic violence.  The refuge provided professional supportive accommodation when it was unsafe to live at home.  The role was vast as the requirements of the client.  I negotiated, networked and liaised with housing departments, police, justice systems, schools, lawyers and doctors etc; as a case plan and management required.  I facilitated House Meetings and provided counselling.  This role was usually working independently on each shift after change over however management and other team players were highly supportive and professional to work with.  One of the most rewarding aspects of this role was seeing the strengths and resilience grow of most of the women that entered the refuge and knowing that I had done all I could in their journey.

A typical day at work consists of transporting and supervising visits between children and young people in care and their families. Other days at work involve transporting children to and from school or appointments. I write reports about these contacts which are used as evidence from FaCS in the children's court. 

Management has been challenging as we have to report to so many different people within the department. My co-workers at FaCS have lots of experience which is helpful when I have any questions or concerns. 

I enjoy engaging with children, young people and families. Building rapport with a family over a period of time is very rewarding. The hardest part of the job is having to tell children then their parent isn't coming to contact when the parents do not show up or cancel.

Working in the Child Protection field requires commitment and focus. Working with families is the easy part - bureaucracy at it's finest, lots of paperwork. Opportunity to work creatively to provide good outcomes for children/ young people and families, if you have a forward thinking manager. Great comaraderie and support amongst colleagues. There is a high expectation that you will perform to the optimal of your ability - there is no where to bluff or hide!.

It is what it is.
A Correctional Officer has a high risk position working with inmates.
The service can lack a bit of leadership and a lot is left to inexperienced Officers who, if they get it right will get no praise and if they get it wrong are chastised.
Re the Stores position, it is groundhog day per week. Every week is full on and repetitive. It is outdated and cumbersome with all suggestions to improve ignored by management.

It can have a good atmosphere with the communication between staff and inmates at times and we all work together as a team to get it all done.

My role was full-time casual which allowed the tasks to be completed well within the required business working day.  I managed to add to my skill set compiling a proposal and presentation as well as learn the basic role I have never had experienced during my working career.    I worked well within the brief provided for a contractor,  My co-workers were very supportive.  The hardest part of my job was seeing right to the very end the project I was working on due to end of my contract.  The most enjoyable part of the job was reflecting at the end of the day how productive my day was.

My day can vary from moment to moment, you maybe organising a service for a client, then required to organise coverage for a user travelling overseas on the same day.  

Communication is a key part of my role being able to communicate effectively and prioritise your day also work independently.

My co-workers have similar views, and are dedicated to providing quick and efficient services and information.

Enjoyable part of the job knowing you have completed tasks and the users are appreciative of the work involved.

Challenging workplace. High level and volume of work. High expectations with heavy workloads but very little management support and inadequate recourses and tools to work with.
Intranet system a complete failure. Does not suit the work in terms of recording.  Extremely difficult to navigate.  Does not make practical sense.  Lots of doubling up with the CS system and basically it is an in effective system for casework.  Biggest issue in DCJ is the extremely poor management structure.  Frequent micro management style. No support.  Inadequate resources. Poor Human Resources 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Project officer 218 salaries reported	$122,261 per year
Child protection specialist 166 salaries reported	$104,448 per year
Client services 61 salaries reported	$89,406 per year
Psychologist 97 salaries reported	$108,480 per year
Correctional officer 43 salaries reported	$90,795 per year

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