Senior Project Officer

Company description:

Department of Communities and Justice

Job description:

Senior Project Officer

Child and Family

Multiple roles available

Temporary full-time, 35 hours per week, for up to 12 months, with the possibility of extension

Location: Parramatta - Flexible working arrangements may be negotiated

Clerk Grade 9/10 Salary ($133,348 - $146,945 pa), plus employer's contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading

This is a targeted recruitment. While all applicants are welcome, preference will be given to candidates who meet the established standards of the role and are of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait islander descent. This is because the Department acknowledges this lived experience contributes a perspective valuable to our work with this community.

About the team

The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) is investing $900 million into a redesigned Family Preservation service system in NSW to improve the outcomes, experience, suitability, and accessibility for families. The redesign aims to keep children safe and at home and prevent entry into Out of Home Care.

For Aboriginal children, young people, and families this also means increasing culturally safe, responsive and community-led services that centre family-led decision making. The NSW Government is directing $350 million of funding, or 40% of service delivery funding, to Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs). Most of this funding is directed to the new ACCO-only Aboriginal Family Preservation Framework, which provides ACCOs with the opportunity to codesign Family Preservation models with the community.

This role is based in the Family Preservation and Child Protection Branch. The Family Preservation and Child Protection Branch is responsible for managing the Family Preservation program and leading the system design and implementation of the program, updating and developing child protection policy and practice mandates, and managing child protection programs (including Family Group Conferencing and Pregnancy Family Conferencing). Family Preservation and Child Protection Branch sits within Child and Family which leads the development of child protection policy, strategic program design and program management.

Your role

The NSW Government is investing $5.6m per annum to support the implementation of the redesigned Family Preservation system and has set out its 5-year road map in the Family Preservation Implementation Plan. The Family Preservation Program team is made up of three internal functions, each playing a distinct role, while working together to support consistent implementation across the state. These functions are Program management and communications, Program design & continuous improvement, and Implementation Support.

What you'll do

Senior Project Officer - Program design & continuous improvement

The Program Design & Continuous Improvement team is responsible for data system, reporting and evaluation, and for progressing ongoing program design work, including co-design activity. This function supports ongoing refinement of the Family Preservation system over time, informed by data, reporting and evaluation.

As a Senior Project Officer, you will:

• Use data, reports, and evaluation findings to inform ongoing program design decisions
• Progress refinements to program design, including changes to system settings, guidance or requirements as needed, and undertaking periodic review and updates of Program Specifications and Operations Manuals
• Establish an Aboriginal Family Preservation governance group to guide design decisions
• Partner with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to co-design aspects of the Aboriginal Family Preservation framework
• Work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders, including the coordination of relevant Communities of Practice
• Prepare meeting papers, reports and briefing notes updating on progress of projects

Senior Project Officer - Implementation support

The Implementation Support team is responsible for practical implementation support and on-the-ground engagement with services and districts during rollout. This function faces into regions to provide practical, localised support and improve responsiveness during implementation.

As a Senior Project Officer, you will:

• Support service providers to apply the redesigned, new system and operational requirements in practice and actively problem solve
• Provide training, walkthroughs and hands on support during the initial establishment period of the new Family Preservation system
• Work closely with regions (DCJ Child Protection and Permanency, and Commissioning and Planning) to support local rollout and resolve early operational issues
• Prioritise support for new and expanding service providers, including ACCOs and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) service providers
• Build trusted relationships and collaborate across government and stakeholders to support DCJ and the sector to keep children safe at home and prevent entry in to Out of Home Care

What we're looking for

• Tertiary qualifications relevant to the role and/or equivalent experience
• Senior Project Officer - Program design & continuous improvement: Experience in partnering with Aboriginal stakeholders to design and implement projects or services.
• Senior Project Officer - Implementation Support: Experience working in operations (e.g. casework experience).

In addition to the above essential criteria, as an ideal candidate you will have:

• Experience working with government agencies and non-government organisations to develop and implement initiatives or services

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, and a demonstrated commitment to teamwork and continuous improvement

• Ability to establish and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and communicate effectively

• Experience in project management

• Computer and systems competency
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills

• Sound research and analysis skills to support evidence-based decisions
• Experience in, or a working knowledge of child protection

Download the role description.

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To apply directly via the DCJ Careers site click here. Search for the job and click the ‘Apply now' button.

What We Offer

We offer a variety of benefits, including:

• A challenging and rewarding career

• Flexible, autonomous work environment

• Competitive pay and conditions

• Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities

• Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.

Want more information? Visit our website to see more information on Working for us.

We do work that really matters

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It's work that really matters.

Apply now and join Australia's top public sector employer where we will support you and provide an exciting and flexible working environment!

Are you ready to join us?

Click apply, attach a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) indicating which role/s you are interested in applying for and outlining how you meet the requirements of the role as well as an up-to-date résumé (maximum 5 pages).

1. Describe a time when you contributed to improving, implementing or reviewing a service, program, practice, process or policy. What was your role, what activities did you undertake, and what skills did you use to achieve the outcome?

1. Provide an example of when you were required to influence and negotiate with key stakeholders about changes to the scope and deliverables of a project. How did you manage expectations and different views and what was the outcome?

Applications close Sunday, 30 August 2026 at 11:59pm AEST.

Got a question?

For more information about the role or what it's like to work for DCJ, please contact the hiring manager Kylie Hawkins on 04•• ••• 391 or at ••••@dcj.nsw.gov.au

If you've got a question about applying or would benefit from an adjustment in the recruitment process to help you perform at your best (including an alternate method submission of the application), please call Olivia Alipalo on 04•• ••• 408 or via ••••@dcj.nsw.gov.au

Visit Recruitment adjustments on the DCJ website to learn more.

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers and other diversity groups.

To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit Inclusion and diversity on the DCJ website.

Other Information

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

For more information and advice on applying for roles at DCJ, visit Careers for Aboriginal people.

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

To keep up with recruitment opportunities at DCJ, follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CareersatDCJ/

The Welcome Experience
Thinking about moving to regional NSW? Get free, personalised support with housing, schools, jobs, and settling in. Learn more: www.nsw.gov.au/welcomeexperience

The careers site currently promotes this service on the ‘Discover roles with DCJ in regional NSW' page.