Child and Vulnerable Person Protection Officer
Posted: 30/04/2025
Closing Date: 31/05/2025
Job Type: Permanent - Full Time
Job Category: Education & Training
Make a lasting impact in a role that demands excellence, compassion, and leadership in child and vulnerable person protection.
The Catholic Diocese of Cairns is seeking a highly experienced and committed Child and Vulnerable Persons Protection Officer to join our Professional Standards and Safeguarding Office (PSSO). This is a pivotal leadership role designed to uphold and strengthen the safety, wellbeing, and dignity of children and vulnerable people across our education and community service settings.
This role operates across Catholic Early Learning and Care and Centacare FNQ, with responsibilities that span policy development, staff training, case consultation, system change, and direct engagement with children’s services and community agencies. You will work at the forefront of safeguarding practice in the Diocese, ensuring alignment with the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards (NCSS), legislative frameworks, and Diocesan safeguarding policies.
Why Join Centacare FNQ
* 5 Weeks of Annual Leave - Recharge and Restore
* Paid Parental Leave - Because family matters
* Flexible Work Arrangements - We work with you
* Buy Extra Leave (Up to 2 Weeks per Year)
* Compassionate Leave Bonus - Additional paid leave on top of the standard entitlement
* Gift Day - Enjoy the workday after Boxing Day Off
* Salary Sacrificing Options - Boost your take home pay
* Real Access to Leadership - We're in this together
* Ongoing Professional Development - Grow with us
Job Description
Why This Role Matters
This is not just another position — it is a vital leadership post for a seasoned professional with deep expertise in child protection. You will be entrusted with building safe environments, guiding responses to complex and sensitive cases, supporting leaders and staff in times of crisis, and ensuring the integrity of safeguarding practices across multiple services.
Your knowledge and actions will directly impact the wellbeing of children, families, and at-risk adults. This role requires a high level of professionalism, empathy, discretion, and sound judgement.
Key Responsibilities
Support the Executive Director and Catholic Early Learning and Care and Centacare FNQ staff in the area of Child Protection
* Work and collaborate with various staff to plan and develop overall preventative and risk management strategies that assist Centacare and CELC to comply with relevant legislation relating to safeguarding children and at-risk-adults.
* Liaise, collaborate and provide recommendations to the Senior Staff and Nominated Supervisors
* Assist in the effective reporting and management of child protection matters, and the ongoing professional development of staff
* Liaise and collaborate with multi-disciplinary staff and locations in focusing on the wellbeing of children and at-risk-adults.
Support Nominated Supervisors and staff with regard to managing and reporting child protection and wellbeing matters
* Provide support and recommendations as appropriate at the disclosure and intervention stages and during investigation procedures
* Assist in crisis intervention and assessment of child abuse following a report to staff.
* Support staff in the ongoing management of suspected or confirmed child protection cases
* Source and identify relevant resources to provide crisis intervention and ongoing family support
* Work with leaders and nominated supervisors to develop their understanding of their own roles in the management of child protection matters
* Assist services in the management of cases of child harm including risk assessment and management
Contribute to organisational development and system change to ensure services can address barriers or inequities that may prevent quality service provision and a safe environment
* Develop, analyse and interpret pertinent professional reports including but not limited to child protection reporting data
* Develop and maintain awareness of relevant government and societal issues which could influence Centacare and Catholic Early Learning and Care policies and practices
* Collaborate with organisation personnel to develop system wide strategies that promote the link between child wellbeing and positive outcomes
Contribute to development of policy and practice in the area of well-being and care of children and vulnerable adults
* Undertake and implement reviews of key documents with a child protection lens (i.e. Code of Conduct)
* Contribute to the ongoing reviews of existing policy and procedures relevant to the position and the wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults
Development and delivery of professional development for staff in relation to child protection, preventative strategies and personal safety programs.
* Develop, review and provide assurance regarding the quality of Child Protection training material, policies and processes
* Respond, develop and implement training as requested by individual schools to meet specific needs and requests made by the school
* Assisting and supporting the integration of personal safety strategies into the programs
* Ensure schools have access to relevant documentation and other materials in place to demonstrate their compliance with legislative requirements (i.e. Child and Youth Risk Management Strategy, Child Safety Protection Reporting Processes and Guidelines)
* Develop the understanding of Nominated Supervisors, Leaders and staff so that they can better discern between matters requiring mandatory reporting and matters requiring a family support response
Liaise with statutory authorities and welfare agencies regarding the management and status of child protection cases as appropriate
* Assist services with the criminal justice process in relation to cases of child abuse
* Ensure appropriate liaison and advocacy on behalf of the organisation if required with authorities including CPIU, Child Safety Services, QLD Family and Child Commission, Family and Child Connect and other relevant government, non-government and individual professionals.
Monitor and maintain confidential child protection records, service consultations including but not limited to recommendations in alignment with legislated and organisational obligations
* Assist staff in the use of and maintenance of the online records management program
* Maintain confidential records of consultation
* Collaborate with CELC and Centacare management in reviewing and updating online resource material and user guides
Growth in professional competence and knowledge is pursued.
* Maintain knowledge and awareness of relevant issues, regulatory requirements and practices
Desired Skills and Experience
About You
We are looking for a highly experienced professional who is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, confidentiality, and ethical conduct in all aspects of their work. You bring a proactive, solution-focused approach and have demonstrated success working within statutory child protection or a related field.
Selection Criteria
* Knowledge of all areas of child harm including physical, emotional, sexual harm and the possible psychological, social and spiritual repercussions of such harm.
* Current and thorough knowledge of government legislation in relation to child protection.
* Outstanding administrative skills, including the ability to implement, monitor and adapt administrative procedures.
* Demonstrated high level communication skills.
* Demonstrated research and writing capabilities in gathering, recording and analyzing information and report writing.
* Ability to make sound and informed judgements around crisis management and unpredictable change.
* Experience in the development and presentation of training packages to staff in an adult learning environment.
Mandatory Qualifications and Requirements
* A current Working with Children Blue Card and Yellow card or be eligible to apply
* Have and maintain a satisfactory National Police Certificate
* Minimum bachelor's degree, tertiary qualification relevant to the position or the equivalent experience to fulfil the position criteria as necessary to successfully carry out the duties of the position
* Minimum of 3 years’ experience in statutory child protection work with either the QLD Police Service or Department of Child Safety, Youth or Women or an equivalent or comparative organisation or statutory body.
* Demonstrated experience in working with education settings
* Demonstrated ability to liaise with schools and the wider community.
* A strong demonstrated commitment to the objectives, vision and ethos of Catholic Education
* Promote child safety at all times
This is a rare opportunity to join a values-based organisation where safeguarding is a central mission, not an afterthought. If you are passionate about child safety and want to use your expertise to lead, educate, and protect — we want to hear from you.
Please note: We reserve the right to appoint a suitable candidate prior to the closing date.
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