Aboriginal Community Member, Ministerial Community Advisory Committee for the Custodial Community Permit Program

This is an Aboriginal Designated Position, classified under ‘special measures' of section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. Only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety seek to appoint an Aboriginal Community Member to the Ministerial Community Advisory Committee (MCAC) for the Custodial Community Permit Program (CCPP).

The purpose of the Custodial Community Permit Program (CCPP) is to provide opportunity for a prisoner's rehabilitation and to better prepare a prisoner for release by enabling him or her to develop the necessary skills, networks and confidence to be able to effectively reintegrate back into the community.

MCAC is responsible for making recommendations regarding the participation of special category, high profile, major offender, and release assistance prisoners, in the CCPP. In addition to these categories, MCAC will also make recommendations in relation to serious violent offenders and prisoners convicted of culpable driving or dangerous driving causing death who apply to participate in community team sports permits.

MCAC Community Members review CCPP applications from prisoners and make recommendations to the Commissioner in accordance with the CCPP Guidelines.

Key functions for the role include:

• Adequately prepare for scheduled MCAC meetings, having considered all relevant material including documents, reports, information requests, and other meeting papers.
• Contribute to recommendations impartially and transparently – declaring any conflicts of interest or personal knowledge of the factors coming before MCAC.
• Provide independent and objective input on issues raised at MCAC meetings.
• Participate in out-of-session consideration of material and matters when necessary.
• Contribute to MCAC in a manner that creates effective and collaborative decision-making.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with the MCAC Chairperson, other MCAC members and stakeholders.

MCAC meetings are usually held at 121 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, 3000. Some meetings occur at regional prison locations, and MCAC members would be required to travel. Wherever possible, a hybrid in-person/video conference meeting will be conducted, however, it is noted that community members would benefit from attending regional prison locations.  

Appointments are fixed term for 2 years.

As our ideal candidate you will have:

• Excellent knowledge of Aboriginal culture and society and understanding of historical and contemporary issues relating to Aboriginal Victorians. 
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system and a commitment to prisoner rehabilitation.

Sound judgement is vital to this role, as is the ability to balance the need for public confidence in the rehabilitation process with any potential risk posed to the community and build and sustain strong relationships with the MCAC Chairperson, MCAC members, and relevant stakeholders.

Specialist expertise

Experience in Aboriginal societies and knowledge systems.

The Victorian Government is committed to ensuring that government boards and committees reflect the diversity of the Victorian community. We encourage applications from women, people of all ages, Aboriginal people, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds LGBTIQA+ people and people living in rural and regional Victoria. We will provide adjustments to the recruitment process upon request.

You do not have to disclose any personal information if you do not want to, but it can help us understand how we can support you through the recruitment process and beyond. We invite you to tell us if you identify as Aboriginal, a person with disability, from a culturally or linguistically diverse background, LGBTIQA+ or a young person, aged 25 years old or less. If you identify as any of the aforementioned, we would welcome the opportunity to contact you and discuss how we can support you through the recruitment process. Sharing this information will help you access support should you need it and will also help us to better understand the impact of our work.

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.

All appointments are subject to reference checks, pre-employment misconduct screening and criminal record checks. Some positions may also be subject to a medical check and/or ‘Working with Children Check’.

Applicants with further enquiries may contact Megan Bridgett on 8363 0697 or at Megan.Bridgett@justice.vic.gov.au

Applications close at 11:59pm on Sunday 28 April 2024.