About the Office of the Guardian for Children and Young People
The Office of the Guardian for Children and Young People (OGCYP) is an independent body that promotes and advocates for the rights and best interests of children and young people who are:
* under the guardianship of the Chief Executive of the Department for Child Protection; and/or
* sentenced or remanded to detention in the Adelaide Youth Training Centre (AYTC).
We provide advocacy on individual and systemic issues, as well as monitoring safety and wellbeing for children and young people in care or detention.
In everything we do, we are committed to ensuring the voices of children and young people are heard, and their rights are upheld.
The OGCYP provides support for the Guardian for Children and Young People, who is an independent statutory officer appointed under the Children and Young People (Oversight and Advocacy Bodies Act. The Guardian also holds the roles of Training Centre Visitor, Child and Young Person's Visitor and Youth Treatment Orders Visitor.
More information about each of these roles and the work of the OGCYP is available on the Guardian's website at
About the role
The Principal Advocate supports the Guardian (and their respective ex-office roles) by managing visiting programs and associated activities under mandates, specifically with respect to:
1. The Guardian's Monitoring role under s.26(1)(c) of the Children and Young People (Oversight and Advocacy Bodies) Act 2016.
2. Visiting pursuant to s.14(1)(a) of the Youth Justice Administration Act 2016.
3. The Child and Young Person's Visitor role for children and young people living in out-of-home care under Chapter. 9 of the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017, and
4. The Youth Treatment Orders Visitor role established under Part 7A of the Controlled Substances Act 1984.
The Principal Advocate, depending on their area of responsibility will be responsible for:
* Leading activities with respect to the functions set out in s.26 of the Children and Young People (Oversight and Advocacy Bodies) Act 2016.
* Ensuring the provision of specialist professional advocacy on behalf of individual children and young people as it relates to their care and youth detention experiences.
* Managing visiting programs and associated activities with respect to the mandates outlined above
* Assist with inquiring, investigating and advocating into individual and systemic needs, issues and reforms
* Ensuring respectful engagement with children and young people, develop and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders
* Model a positive culture by acting in accordance with the organisational and oversight values
* Supervising staff, developing and implementing appropriate policies and operational guidelines
* Meeting key objective and deliverables set in accordance with organisational direction and need.
Special conditions
The successful applicant is required to gain a Department for Human Services (DHS) working with children check (WWCC) prior to being employed which is required to be renewed every five years before expiry.
The incumbent will be required to undertake RRHAN-EC (Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect - Education Care) Facilitator Lead (Masterclass) extended course or the online (Fundamentals) course which will be required to be updated every three years. For all other Special Conditions please refer to the Role Description.
Enquiries
Enquiries can be directed to Sue Macdonald, Director, Operational Oversight, via tel: or email:
Further information
This is a full-time contract role (1.0 FTE), initial 6-month term contract.
For further information and details on how to apply for this vacancy, please go to and search for vacancy number Applications are to be made through the IWorkForSA website.
Applicants are required to submit a CV, the Application Cover Sheet, Employment Declaration, and a cover letter of no more than two pages addressing the key competencies in the attached position description.
The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.
People of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent and/or those who have a disability are strongly encouraged to apply.
Applications close on 1 February 2026 at 11:30 pm