About This Role
* Provide practice advice to custodial staff and service providers in delivering effective and responsive case management.
* Fixed term to 30 June 2028, Full-time opportunity to work with a high-performing and passionate team in the Victorian Public Service
* VPS4: $97,955 - $111,142 plus superannuation
The Department of Justice and Community Safety (the department) is seeking a Youth Development Officer, to provide a critical role within Metropolitan Remand Centre
.
About The Business Unit
Corrections Victoria is part of the Department of Justice and Community Safety and is responsible for the operation of Victoria's adult corrections system, public and privately operated prisons, and a transitional centre. It ensures that people held in prison are safely and securely contained and aims to rehabilitate people by addressing the underlying causes of offending behaviour.
The Metropolitan Remand Centre (MRC) is a 954 bed maximum-security facility for unsentenced male offenders located within the West Metropolitan Region.
Corrections Victoria recognises that young adults in custody (typically aged 18–25) represent a distinct cohort whose developmental, behavioural, and rehabilitative needs differ significantly from those of older people in prison. This age group is characterised by ongoing neurological, emotional, and social development, which influences decision-making, impulse control, and responsiveness to rehabilitative interventions. Evidence from both local and international correctional systems highlights that young adults benefit most from environments that emphasise structure, positive engagement, and skill building, rather than purely compliance-based management.
About The Role
The Youth Development Officer (YDO) is responsible for the development, implementation, and co ordination of the youth response at select prison locations. The YDO will drive best practice engagement strategies of young people across the prison system and support the facilitation and promotion of development activities, living and vocational skills, sports and recreation programs, activities, and events for young people in custody.
The YDO is a key role within the Offender Services team which is responsible for the co-ordination and delivery of a range of rehabilitation, reintegration and specialist support services. YDOs will work alongside existing prison staff to enhance capability and consistency in working with young adults, embedding best-practice approaches that recognise their distinct developmental and rehabilitative needs. They will also play a key role in connecting young adults to tailored programs and supports, fostering positive identity, family connection, and pathways for successful reintegration into the community.
The YDO will lead a small team, providing oversight in the response to general staff and enquiries from people in prison across their service area in an efficient, effective and customer focused manner to deliver timely, accurate and reliable support to the centre.
Some Of Your Duties Will Include
* Assess and identify young adult needs, and provide proactive advice, consultation, case co ordination, guidance and recommendations in relation to the needs of young adults.
* Develop, deliver and coordinate a comprehensive suite of services, programs and engagement activities for young adults in custody, ensuring participation strategies that promote meaningful involvement and respond to individual needs.
* Manage a team consisting of a Youth Team Leader and Recreation Officers that are responsible for the coordination and supervision of a range of recreational activities and programs for people in prison.
To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.
About You
To be successful in this role, you will have:
* Demonstrated expertise in the development and support of young adults in the justice system, including comprehensive knowledge of criminogenic needs, risk and protective factors, and evidence‑based intervention frameworks.
* Skills and/or knowledge in applying trauma‑informed, strengths‑based, and culturally responsive approaches to promote pro‑social behaviour, enhance wellbeing, and support positive identity formation.
* Experience or ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to design and implement structured case plans, behavioural interventions, and developmental programs tailored to the unique needs, motivations, and lived experiences of justice‑involved young people.
* Demonstrated ability to engage resistant or complex young adults and build accountability and resilience to support their successful reintegration as positive community members.
Qualifications
* Relevant tertiary qualification or experience in the field of youth or social work is highly desirable for this role.
* A current Victorian driver's licence is required for this role.
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 SAFE 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.