Project Officer

OzChild has been given a philanthropic grant to employ a project officer for 12 months to realize it’s goal to be an agency that excels in empowering CYP in OOHC to have a voice in matters that affect them. The purpose of the position is to undertake project work to build OzChild’s capacity to listen and respond to the children and young (CYP) people we work with.

OzChild is required to demonstrate that we act to encourage the participation of CYP to meet Child Safe principles and standards. OzChild aims to move beyond a simple ‘meeting of standards stance’ to become an agency that empowers the children we work with to have a voice in the matters that affect them. Not only does OzChild want to hear about what is important to them in their personal and daily lives, but OzChild wants to know their ideas about how we can work better and what is important to them. 

The project will focus on developing an OzChild participation and empowerment framework, which will inform of strategies to increase the participation of CYP in OOHC and demonstrate to CYP that it is worth telling us what they want. This in turn will increase a CYP sense of empowerment and will lead to better outcomes for the CYP we work with. OzChild aims to give CYP confidence we are both listening and will act on their advice. OzChild believes ‘children have the right and the capacity to participate in decisions that affect their lives and children who have experienced adversity can have unrecognized strengths and skills.’

In this position, you will be required to apply a research and co-design methodology to develop and implement a CYP participation and empowerment framework applicable for the OzChild OOHC client group. This framework will provide guidance and best practices around how staff and carers can optimise practice in listening and acting on child voices to improve their participation. This in turn will help improve outcomes in OOHC by empowering CYP to feel heard and that their voice makes a difference.

Who we are looking for:

• Tertiary Qualification in Social Work, Social Sciences or Psychology with similar experience will be highly regarded

OzChild offers:

•  A full-time – fixed term 12 mths contract
• Unique training and professional development journey ·     
• Salary fully negotiable dependent upon experience 
• Salary packaging up to $15,900
• Ex gratia days Easter & Christmas
• A unique culture promoting diversity, cultural competence and shared values
• Hybrid working WFH ( but there will be travel to offices at times)

OzChild is committed to the employment of Aboriginal people and providing a work environment in which Aboriginal peoples’ cultures, beliefs and values are acknowledged and respected, and in which the individual career goals and personal aims of Aboriginal staff are identified, promoted and achieved.

OzChild is an equal opportunity employer and encourages individuals of diverse backgrounds to apply. This includes, but is not limited to, those from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse and LGBTIQ communities.

We are reviewing applicants immediately, Please do not delay your application if you are interested.

Successful candidates will be required to undergo a police check and provide a WWCC card for Victoria.

All shortlisted candidates will be required to provide evidence of COVID-19 Vaccination  Status including Booster.