Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS)
Location: Preston, VIC | Part-Time | Fixed Term until 30 June 2026
Salary: $78,402.32 – $84,402.32 pro rata + Super + Salary Packaging
About Us
The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) is Victoria’s only specialist legal and support service dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Established in 1973, we provide a range of services including criminal, family, civil, youth justice, advocacy, and holistic support programs. VALS is strongly committed to diversity, equality and inclusion, and actively seeks applicants from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the LGBTQI+ community, culturally diverse backgrounds, and people with disabilities or neurodiverse conditions.
About the Role
In partnership with Melbourne City Mission (MCM), VALS will deliver Disability Advice and Response Team (DART) services to the criminal division of the Children’s Court as well as Marram-Ngala Ganbu (Koori Family Hearing Days) in Broadmeadows. As part of this program, the VALS DART Worker will be working alongside and form as part of our Balit Ngulu team. The DART Worker is expected to attend all criminal division and Marram-Ngala Court sitting days in Broadmeadows Children’s Court.
The DART Worker will assist the Children’s Court in identifying when a young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person (client) has a disability and will enable the presiding judicial officer to be better informed about any forms of disability the client may have. Drawing upon their knowledge and skills in support coordination, the DART Worker will build rapport and will support the young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander client in completing required screening processes and provide further referrals of allied health services where required. The DART Worker will have links with the MCM ECIS team when additional allied health supports are requested by the courts.
Key Responsibilities:
- Processing referrals at Court, completing an assessment using the prescribed assessment tool and maintaining records of whether young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander client possess indications of a disability or not.
- Work directly with the Courts and other professionals (if any) to identify if a young Aboriginal and/Torres Strait Islander person with a disability has all the necessary supports.
- Deliver in-person DART service at Children’s Court in Broadmeadows and Shepparton.
- Receiving and processing referrals into the DART program capturing personal information required for young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander client/s.
- Connecting and identifying key people to provide information on the young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander client/s’ current abilities and functioning.
- Provide support to young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people outside of their court days; and some provision of remote service for young Aboriginal people attending other courts.
- Provide assistance and advice to young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander client and their families and networks and the Department, on the presence or absence of a disability, and whether further investigation is warranted.
- Provide support to young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander client/s to access key information and services. This includes undertaking client liaison, warm referrals to relevant support services such as with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and advocacy as appropriate.
- Represent and promote Balit Ngulu and participate in client case planning processes with partner agencies.
- Maintain accurate and timely records of contacts with and for clients and undertake other administrative tasks consistent with VALS policies and procedures.
- As directed, lodge all necessary court documents and adhere to matters of confidentiality.
- Participates in ongoing training and staff development and acts and remains professional at all times, upholding VALS values.
- As directed, undertake other duties as directed which are incidental and peripheral to the main tasks, provided that such duties are reasonably within the employee’s skills, competence and training.
- Attend all mandatory training sessions, including Equal Employment Opportunity, Occupational Health and Safety, Cultural Safety, and any other training deemed essential for the role.
Key Selection Criteria
Essential:
- Tertiary qualification and/or demonstrated experience working in the Community Services sector (Disability, Mental Health, Housing, Justice).
- Demonstrated experience working with young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
- Excellent written, verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
- The ability to work in a multi-disciplinary environment including assertively and respectfully with partners, including ACCOs and persons working within Victorian courts, police, youth justice and child protection and residential care services.
- Excellent computer skills.
Desirable:
- Knowledge of the Victorian legal system, including an understanding of the Children’s Court practices and procedures.
- Experience working within the not-for-profit sector, ideally within an ACCO.
- Experience of working as part of a whole-family and whole-community approach to supporting clients.
- Experience working with people living with a disability.
- Knowledge of the NDIS Act 2013, Disability Act 2006, and experience working in a NDIS environment.
What We Offer:
- Extra annual leave entitlements plus leave loading.
- Salary packaging to maximise take-home pay.
- Career development and mentoring opportunities.
- Be part of a passionate team creating real systemic change.
Mandatory Requirements:
- Working with Children Check (Employee)
- Victorian Driver’s Licence
- Criminal History Police Check
- Proof of work rights in Australia
- Copies of any certificates or degrees relevant to this role