The Witness Assistance Service (WAS) aims to minimise the stress and risk of potential re-traumatisation for victims of crime, their families and vulnerable witnesses involved in matters prosecuted by the CDPP. We work with a diverse range of victims/witnesses including those involved in prosecutions relating to online child sexual exploitation, people trafficking and work health and safety offences. The vast majority of matters referred to the WAS involve children/young people and online child sexual exploitation offences, such matters require WAS staff to communicate with children/young people and their parents and caregivers. The Witness Assistance Officer (WAO) is a high-volume casework role. The WAO provides prosecution-related information and support to victims of crime and vulnerable witnesses and helps to ensure the Office meets its various legal and policy obligations. The WAO does not perform a counselling role, but does provide victims of crime and vulnerable witnesses with referrals and information to various support services, including counselling services. You will support witnesses engaged in criminal matters by explaining prosecution and court processes in plain language and coordinating practical arrangements for statements, hearings and trials. Working closely with prosecutors, investigators and external stakeholders, you will manage sensitive and confidential information, respond calmly to emotionally charged situations and exercise sound judgement in complex circumstances. At the APS6 level, you will manage more complex witness matters, mentor staff and contribute to improving witness support practices and procedures. The nature of WAO work involves a significant amount of communication via telephone, in writing and via virtual platforms such as Microsoft Teams. Some intra and interstate travel involving overnight stays may be required, however this is expected to be minimal. We are seeking applications for both APS 5 and APS 6 classification. The key duties of the position include At the APS5 level, in addition to meeting the APS 5 work level standards and Integrated Leadership System profile of the APS Level 5, under limited direction you will: provide victims and witnesses with information and support in relation to the role of the CDPP, the prosecution process, court procedures and their entitlements, including the development of victim impact statements in cases that vary in levels of complexity; create and maintain high quality case notes and meet all record keeping requirements in a timely manner; liaise with internal and external stakeholders including investigative agencies, court officials, prosecution lawyers and other parties, establishing key contacts and communication channels on cases; liaise between victims and legal teams, providing general and case specific information, updates and debriefing where required on allocated cases; and perform an administrative role for the team as required, this may include: o creating and/or maintaining of electronic records/resources; o ensuring all relevant documentation is created and stored correctly and in line with policy, practice and legislative requirements; and o performing data entry and record keeping role relevant to case work and other WAS work. At the APS6 level, in addition to the above duties and meeting the APS 6 work level standards and Integrated Leadership System profile of the APS 6 level under limited direction, you will: develop, support and guide new and/or less experienced staff; provide victims and witnesses with information and support in relation to the role of the CDPP, the prosecution process, court procedures and their entitlements, including the development of victim impact statements in cases that vary in levels of complexity and include more complex matters; liaise with internal and external stakeholders, including investigative agencies, court officials, prosecution lawyers and other parties, establishing key contacts and communication channels on cases including complex cases; liaise between victims and legal teams, providing general and case specific information, updates and debriefing where required on cases including complex matters; analyse data and evaluate information sources to assist with the creation of recommendations, reports and training; and contribute to the development of guidelines, policies, procedures, resources and training to assist legal teams and other colleagues with the handling of victim/ witness issues.