Justice Navigator (Project Officer) Northern Mallee

Justice Navigator (Project Officer) Northern Mallee

Mallee Sexual Assault Unit-Mallee Domestic Violence Service – Mildura VIC

We have a very exciting new opportunity for a Justice Navigator (Project Officer) to join our dedicated Not-For-Profit organisation as part of the Justice Navigator Pilot Program.

This role is offered on a Part-time (0.8 FTE) Fixed Term basis from our Mildura Office.

About the Role

The role of the Justice Navigator (Project Officer) will be required to balance direct client-facing support with a primary focus on system coordination, establishing local networks, building streamlined referral pathways, providing secondary consultation and leading project work to support the broader implementation and evaluation of the Justice Navigator model.

Justice Navigators will work as part of specialist sexual assault support services to provide support to victim survivors of sexual violence to understand their rights and support options.

Justice Navigators provide independent specialist support to victim survivors of sexual offending to help them to:

• understand and access their rights; and
• navigate justice and recovery options.

Justice Navigators will work independently to help victim survivors navigate services and systems including but not limited to criminal justice processes including reporting to police, court processes, civil processes and claims, complaints processes, restorative justice options, and universal services.

Justice Navigators provide strengths based and trauma-informed navigation support but do not provide therapeutic care or counselling.

What we offer

• Salary Starting at $124,744.88 (FTE) + 12% Superannuation
• Part-time (0.8 FTE) Fixed Term opportunity
• Generous Salary Packaging to maximise your take home pay
• 12 weeks paid Maternity / Primary Carer’s Leave
• Discounted Private Health Insurance
• Professional development and training opportunities
• Employee Assistance and Wellbeing Programs
• A passionate and supportive Team environment
• Equal Opportunity and Rainbow Tick Accredited employer

Key responsibilities for this role include:

• Support victim survivors of sexual violence to understand and exercise their rights, and support them to navigate justice, compensation, and recovery options.
• Provide trauma-informed, specialist, practical support to victim-survivors, including impartial and accurate information about their rights and entitlements.
• Engage in case planning, intervention, review, and closure processes for clients.
• Provide support and information to secondary victims such as children, friends and family members (with the consent of victim survivor).
• Build the capacity of other professionals and sectors to work with and advocate for victim survivors of sexual violence.
• Work collaboratively with existing legal supports, local Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and other services in Victoria, including facilitating warm referrals to services that can support victim survivor’s healing and recovery.
• Lead and maintain engagement with local Aboriginal communities and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to embed cultural safety within service provision, with a focus on continuous improvement and minimising cultural load for ACCOs.
• Work collaboratively with, but independently from, justice agencies and professionals to progress the needs and preferences of victim survivors.
• Translate complex legal terminology and processes into language that victim survivors can understand.
• Advise and participate in continuous improvement activities to improve the operation of justice and other systems from the perspective of victim survivors of sexual violence.
• Contribute to the development, refinement, and distribution of practical navigation resources, toolkits, and client information materials, while actively supporting project evaluation activities and data collection.
• Proactively establish and strengthen local inter-agency networks, collaborative forums, and referral pathways to enhance system navigation for victim survivors of sexual violence.
• Lead and facilitate project working groups, steering activities, and operational sub-committees as required by the Project Control Group (PCG) to drive pilot initiatives.

About you

You have an understanding of the services available to victim survivors of sexual assault and the ability to work well with them. You are experienced in navigating the legal system and proficient in trauma informed practice.

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in social work, psychology, counselling, law, or other related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience and skills in supporting survivors of sexual violence, with a strong knowledge of the dynamics of such violence, and the social and legal context in which it occurs.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of the provision of a service based on an intersectional feminist, rights advocacy, violence and trauma informed practice framework.
• Excellent communication (verbal and written), negotiation and advocacy skills.
• Strong understanding of Victorian justice and recovery service offerings and how to negotiate and advocate with multiple service systems to support the needs of clients and their families.
• Demonstrated experience and expertise in trauma-informed practice, preferably in a similar trauma recovery context or another area of trauma-focused service provision.
• Demonstrated experience conducting psychosocial assessments and risk assessments of adults and families.
• Ability to work collaboratively and within a cross-cultural context including working with other services and professionals.
• A strong understanding of intersectionality and how to work accessibly and effectively with victim survivors who experience increased barriers to safety and justice.
• An ability to work collaboratively with, but independently from, justice agencies and professionals to progress the needs and preferences of victim survivors.
• Demonstrated experience in project management, facilitating working groups, and leading multi-agency network development or sector capacity-building initiatives.
• Proven ability to deliver high-level secondary consultation to external professionals and build clear, collaborative cross-agency referral pathways.
• Demonstrated capability to balance client-facing responsibilities with strategic project deliverables, resource development, and evaluation processes.

About us

The Mallee Sexual Assault Unit (MSAU) and Mallee Domestic Violence Services (MDVS) provides services for women, men and children throughout the Northern and Southern Mallee region, border communities of New South Wales, the Mallee Track and Shires of Gannawarra and Buloke. Our services are free and available to all victim survivors.

We have a strong commitment to a workplace culture that is collaborative, provides work-life flexibility and encourages opportunities for growth and development. We take pride in providing a supportive workplace with great career opportunities for our employees.

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