The Victorian Public Advocate is empowered by law to promote and safeguard the rights and interests of people with disability.
The Public Advocate is supported by staff and volunteers at the Office of the Public Advocate (OPA), including guardians, policy and research officers, advice and education staff, legal officers, corporate and administrative staff, and more than 650 volunteers.
We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve. We’re all about recruiting the best people, regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or cultural background. If you think you can do the job and would be a good fit for our organisation, we’d love to hear from you.
If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.
For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit justice.vic.gov.au/careers
If you are considering taking on a challenging, rewarding role that allows you to make a noticeable difference in the lives of others, we look forward to hearing from you.
- Support volunteers who protect the rights of people across Victoria.
- Guide community visitors and help them carry out their important work.
- Work across disability, mental health and residential services.
- Work will help people with disability have their rights respected.
- Ongoing full-time role earning $116,413 - $128,631 per year, plus super.
About us
The Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) is an independent statutory agency that aims to protect the rights and enhance the position of people with disabilities in Victoria. OPA believes volunteers are an important part of civil society and essential in supporting people with a disability.
The Volunteer Safeguarding Programs area of OPA encompasses three sub programs: Community Visitors, Volunteer Coordination, and Independent Third Person.
The Community Visitors Program (CVP) comprises OPA staff and more than 350 volunteers, who are appointed under one or more streams - disability, mental health or residential services. The Community Visitor Program focuses on protecting the human rights of people who live with disability or mental illness. This is done through regular visits conducted by community visitors who are volunteers with special powers under legislation and delegated by the Public Advocate to inspect inpatient psychiatric facilities, supported residential services and residential facilities throughout metropolitan, regional and rural Victoria.
What you will do
As coordinator, community visitors program, you will support more than 350 volunteers across Victoria. You will help protect the rights of people with disability and mental illness.
You will:
- provide clear advice, coaching and support to community visitors.
- monitor important issues and raise concerns about volunteer capacity or safety.
- review detailed reports and advocate for action when rights are affected.
- prepare high-quality briefs, reports and material for meetings and Parliament.
- support accurate records, data and projects that improve the program.
About you
A relevant tertiary qualification in human services, allied health, community development or related fields is desirable. Relevant experience can also support your application.
You should also have:
- strong sector knowledge and experience in disability, health or human services.
- volunteer management skills and knowledge of the National Volunteering Standards.
- excellent writing skills for clear briefs, reports, letters and emails.
- advanced computer skills for documents, spreadsheets, presentations and databases.
To learn even more about this role, please read the position description. If you have any further questions, feel free to email Gillian Damonze at [email protected].
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (Aboriginal) people are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about our Aboriginal workforce strategy.
How to apply
Please click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.
The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include national police checks and misconduct screening.
If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Child safety statement of commitment
The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.
