First Nations Senior Witness Assistance Service Officer (Regional Group)

Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions•Meriden, CT

About The Position

The Witness Assistance Service (WAS) is a specialist unit within the ODPP which works as part of the prosecution team to assist and support victims of crime and vulnerable witnesses through the criminal justice process to ensure the delivery of an effective and efficient prosecution service. The First Nations Senior Witness Assistance Officer will deliver specialist assistance to First Nations victims and witnesses of crime and/or their families who are involved in serious matters prosecuted by the ODPP. The role aims to minimise stress and potential re-traumatisation for victims and witnesses related to involvement in the criminal justice system; assist the prosecution by ensuring witnesses have the opportunity to give their evidence to the best of their ability; and assist the Office in meeting its obligations under the NSW Charter of Victims’ Rights. This role also works to enhance access to WAS services and engage with local First Nations communities and service providers The Regional Group is a group with a regional focus. It encompasses circuit solicitors, locum solicitors, WAS Officers (a generalist WAS Officer and a First Nations WAS Officer), and a legal support team. The Regional Group services four regional circuits in Bathurst, Orange, Moree and Broken Hill and the Local Courts that commit to them. These WAS Officers will have a practice and will have a base office but will travel to and from these regional locations with travel allowances provided. The position holder will be entitled to Travel Allowance (TA) when they are not at their 'base office'. The base office location can be discussed with applicants and will depend on things such as access to travel/transport and office space. Our office locations are Sydney, Parramatta, Lismore, Campbelltown, Dubbo, Gosford, Newcastle, Penrith, Wagga Wagga, Wollongong, and Newcastle. This is a recruitment to fill a current vacancy and a talent pool will also be created to fill current and future ongoing and temporary vacancies across all offices.

Requirements

This is a child-related position. Applicants must provide a valid Working With Children Check number or an Application number. A current Working with Children Check (WWCC) Clearance is required as a condition of employment. Please visit the Children Guardian's website for more information: Working with Children Check | Office of the Children's Guardian (nsw.gov.au)
Degree qualifications in Social Work; or if relevant qualifications are not held, the successful candidate will be required to enroll in and satisfactorily complete the ECAV Aboriginal Pathway Program Certificate IV in Aboriginal Family Wellbeing and Violence Prevention Work and the Advanced Diploma of Aboriginal Specialist Trauma Counselling upon commencement with WAS. If this is required of the candidate, the qualification will be funded by the ODPP.
You are an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person
Positions in regional office locations may require the successful applicant to have a current driver's license and willingness to travel to regional areas.

Nice To Haves

Competitive candidates will have experience in counselling or case management in trauma related areas such as child sexual assault, adult sexual assault, domestic violence and/or grief and loss.

Benefits

As a First Nations staff member, you will also have access: to one-on-one cultural supervision provided by a First Nations counselling service.
The choice to join five affinity groups: First Nations, Disability and Neurodiversity, People of Diverse Genders and Sexualities, Women, and Cultural and Linguistic Diversity. These groups foster inclusion by providing a network for social connection, support, advocacy, and a platform to share lived experiences and stories.
First Nations networks and other development and support opportunities.

Stand Out From the Crowd

Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.

Upload and Match Resume