Senior Caseworker

An exciting opportunity for a suitably qualified candidate to work in the Study Melbourne Student Centre (SMSC) and help deliver the suite of support services that respond to the needs of international students, whilst they are studying in Victoria.

As a Senior Caseworker with SMSC, you will have demonstrated experience in a leadership role and be keen to extend your skills in a range of areas. You will enjoy the opportunity to move between a variety of tasks such as direct service provision and project based work in your day. Reporting to the Manager, you will support the operations of the centre and provide direct supervision to the team.

The successful applicant will work effectively as a member of a team, enjoy flexible working arrangements and undertake a wide variety of work across the division, involving project delivery and direct service provision to international students.

Are you?

Seeking an opportunity to learn, grow and achieve?

Looking for a challenge, variety and flexibility?

Enthusiastic and self-motivated?

Position Details

Position Title:Senior Caseworker

Position Number:018855

Classification:VPS Grade 5

Salary Range:$92,253 – $111,619 plus Superannuation

Group/Division/Branch:Employment, Investment and Trade/ Sector Development

Usual Work Location:599 Little Bourke Street Melbourne

Usual Hours of Work:Full Time(flexibility may be available)

Tenure:Fixed term (from 7 August 2017 to 28 August 2018)

Further Information:Alex Prentice/Andrea Brookes

Phone: 8383 6409

Position Reports To:Manager – Study Melbourne Student Centre

About the department

The Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR) is the Victorian Government’s lead agency for creating the conditions to sustainably develop the Victorian economy and grow employment.

Our role is to increase jobs, investment, exports and opportunities; stimulate innovation, competitiveness, and confidence; and support sustainability.

DEDJTR has eight Ministers across 12 portfolios: Public Transport; Major Projects; Creative Industries; Small Business, Innovation and Trade; Tourism and Major Events; Agriculture; Regional Development; Industrial Relations; Roads and Road Safety; Ports; Industry and Employment; and Resources. Two enabling groups provide department-wide support: Strategy and Planning and Corporate Services.

DEDJTR employees are located throughout the Melbourne CBD, metropolitan Melbourne, regional Victoria and international offices worldwide.

Additional information about the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources can be found on our website

DEDJTR Values

DEDJTR adopts the Victorian Public Sector Values. Our values are vital to who we are and our success, and help us to ensure our people are productive, safe, happy and healthy. Our values are:

•Responsiveness

•Integrity

•Impartiality

•Accountability

•Respect

•Leadership

•Human Rights

The department has an expectation that all people undertake their duties and responsibilities in an inclusive and ethical manner, upholding the values of the VPS.

The Employment, Investment and Trade Group

The Employment, Investment and Trade Group delivers programs and services to grow the Victorian economy. Its focus is on creating jobs and raising incomes through industry development, targeted investment and increasing the export value of Victorian firms.

The group works closely with businesses, including primary producers, to open up new trade opportunities, improve productivity through innovation and skills, develop economic infrastructure and remove impediments to growth. The Group also delivers programs aimed at supporting workers affected by industry changes to transition into new jobs as well as providing opportunities for disadvantaged job-seekers to participate in employment.

The Employment, Investment and Trade Group includes Agriculture Victoria; Creative Victoria; Visit Victoria; Regional Development Victoria and the divisions of Investment and Economic Projects; Trade Victoria; Sector Development; Programs, Small Business and Employment; Resources;Fisheries; Employment, Investment and Trade Policy; and the Chief Operating Officer.

The Sector Development Division

The Sector Development Division is responsible for growing the Victorian economy through the development of evidence-based industry policy. We assist Victorian automotive businesses, workers and communities transition into new opportunities and we have strengthened the Victorian Industry Participation Policy to maximise opportunities for local businesses to supply into government procurement projects. We are responsible for driving the growth of Victoria’s Future Industries as well as developing and implementing the Victorian Government’s innovation agenda (including science, technology and entrepreneurships).

The Division has two branches comprising of the following six sector teams: Defence, Transport, Construction & Manufacturing; Retail, TDL and Postal Services; Medical Technologies and Pharmaceuticals; ICT / Technology; Professional and Community Services; and International Education.

Each sector team is responsible for setting the strategy and policy agenda to drive their sector and to inform the department’s investment and trade activities. The teams provide departmental and government coordination and responses specific to their sector; and provide a key interface point and consult appropriately with key industry stakeholders and related agencies.

International Education sector team(IEST)

The International Education sector team (IEST) is responsible for supporting Victorian education exporters in the Higher Education and Research, Vocational Education and Training (VET), and English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) sectors. These sectors contribute more than 95 per cent of total education export activity to the State.

The IEST aims to consolidate Victoria's global leadership in international education to attract more international students seeking high quality education and experience living abroad in one of the world's most friendly, cosmopolitan and liveable cities.

The SMSC is a key service delivered by the International Education Unit as part of the Student Experience Team. The SMSC provides information, professional support and referral to local services and community resources to international student studying in Victoria. The staff include a team of trained and experienced caseworkers, who work with a variety of international students on a daily basis to provide crisis intervention and case management. The Student Experience team delivers projects and works with key stakeholders to improve student wellbeing through a range of initiatives as outlined in the Victorian Government’s International Education Strategy.

Key Accountabilities

  1. Provide intake assessment, case planning support and referral to international students with a range of issues. Participate in rosters including duty, an out of hours on-call roster and reception.
  2. Directly supervise a small team of caseworkers, applying culturally responsive practice and leadership. This could include reviewing current policies, as well as developing new policies and procedures when required.
  3. Maintain and develop relationships with stakeholders to promote the goals of SMSC through a variety of methods, including presentations, networking, meetings and as a contact point for key referrals. Will responsibilities will also include the management of activities and special events at SMSC.
  4. Manage and have oversight of the day to day casework systems of SMSC. Including duty rostering, allocation of workload, case audits and database maintenance and improvement.
  5. Provide safe and welcoming service to international students in a study space. Which includes practical support and triage for urgent issues.
  6. Support the SMSC manager in the delivery of projects related to SMSC goals and the international education strategy. This may include contract management, reviewing communication and participating in grant application panels.

Key Selection Criteria

  1. Demonstrated leadership in applying culturally responsive practice when leading a team who provide services to people from various culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and the ability to provide effective casework consultation, supervision and support to caseworkers.
  2. The ability to use excel and client management databases to create and regularly run a variety of data reports, as well as the capacity to analyse the data to inform continuous service and process improvement.
  3. Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to engage and work collaboratively with stakeholders both internally and externally to the Organisation, as well as the ability to communicate effectively through a range of methods such as presentations, memos or briefs, and other written and verbal communication channels.
  4. Experiencing in the provision of casework utilising an empowering approach to the duties of intake, assessments and case planning. Demonstrated ability to conduct risk assessments which identify key needs and risks impacting the client and organisation
  5. Able to develop and manage small projects and contracts in accordance with DEDJTR requirements.
  6. Able to work independently and demonstrates high level of proficiency and judgment in contributing towards client outcomes and the unit.

Desired Experience/Qualifications

  • A relevant tertiary degree in Social Work or other related discipline is required
  • Possession of a current Victorian Working with Children Check
  • Proficiency in languages other than English is desirable.

Position Specific Requirements

This position has the following specific requirements:

  • This position has a requirement to participate in a low-demand telephone roster out of hours including evenings and weekends

Other Relevant Information

Employment Eligibility

  • Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa
  • Recipients of Victorian Public Service (VPS) voluntary departure packages should note that re-employment restrictions apply
  • Non VPS applicants will be subject to a probation period of three months.

All new appointments to the department will be subject to a National Police Records Check which will comply with the 100 point Proof of Identity Check.

Equal Opportunity Employer

DEDJTR is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds.

DEDJTR strongly encourages applications fromAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

DEDJTR offers reasonable adjustments for applicants with disabilities on request.

Emergency Response Requirements

DEDJTR plays a major role in Victoria’s emergency response activities, biosecurity incursions and compliance actions. Employees may either have the opportunity to be directly employed for these roles or may be called upon to support these activities as required following appropriate training and suitability assessment.

Health and Safety Requirements

You may be required to undertake relevant medical and other safety compliance requirements that relate to any risks associated with this role.

The occupational health and safety requirements of this position include, but are not limited to activities involving:

  • Driving
  • Sedentary desk work
  • Manual handling

Agreement/Award Coverage

DEDJTR non-executive employees are covered by the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement 2016and for Executive Officer classified positions, the Victorian Public Service Executive Employment Handbook 2016.

Terms and Conditions

DEDJTR non-executive employees have generous terms and conditions which are outlined in the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement 2016. These terms and conditions apply across the VPS

All DEDJTR employees are required to comply with the Code of Conduct for Victorian Public Sector Employees.

Privacy Notification

DEDJTR affirms that the collection and handling of applications and personal information will be consistent with the requirements of thePrivacy and Data Protection Act [2014].

What we offer you

Working with DEDJTR presents a wide variety of opportunities, with an extensive range of personal and professional development programs designed to develop our people and their careers.Working closely with industry, business and the community enables you to make a difference to the economic prospects of all Victorians.Some of the benefits that we offer you include:

Safety and Wellbeing

DEDJTR is committed to support the safety and wellbeing of employees. DEDJTR assistsemployees to maintain their health and safety by providing training and safety systems and by offering a wellbeing program. DEDJTR recognises that employees are critical to its ability to deliver business outcomes, and understands that a holistic approach is required in engaging, satisfying and retaining its employees.

Diversity @ DEDJTR

At DEDJTR, 'diversity' includes all the ways in which employees differ, and the valuable contribution that all of these differences bring to theDepartment. The strength of the organisation is in the innovation and the diversity of itsemployees. DEDJTR’ s broad diversity program enables it to more successfully attract, recruit, retain and develop a diverse workforce; fostering greater innovation, greater customer connection, increased wellbeing and satisfaction, and the ability to attract and retain talented people during times of economic change.

DEDJTR recognises the rights of all staff to be free from violence and gender-related discrimination. Reducing all violence in our community is a priority. All forms of violence are unacceptable, in any community and in any culture. It is everyone's responsibility to reject and prevent violence. DEDJTR is proudly working with White Ribbon to create a safer workplace.

Environment

DEDJTR is committed to reducing environmental impacts in the workplace through both staff behaviour change and infrastructure upgrades. DEDJTR recognises the importance of engaging with employees to help bring about positive environmental outcomes for the organisation.

Learning and Development

We want you to grow, develop and learn with us. DEDJTR provides you with access to a range of internal and external learning and development opportunities to support your performance in your role and further your career aspirations. DEDJTR also supports relevant study via negotiated financial assistance and leave provisions for approved courses. Our Performance and Development Plan aims to support and encourage employees in achieving work and career objectives through clearly defined roles, development opportunities and performance targets.

Balancing Work and Life

We understand that work/life balance is an important part of our employees’ lives. The department offers a range of short term and long term flexible work arrangements to enable you to balance home and work life. These include job sharing, working from home, part-time work, flexible attendance and the ability to purchase additional leave.

How to Apply

Applications including a resume and statement addressing the Key Selection Criteria are to be submitted online by visiting All documents are to be attached as a Microsoft Office Word document. Applications not addressing the Key Selection Criteria may not be considered.

If you experience any difficulty in lodging your application on line, please contact: , where your enquiry will be handled by one of the Recruitment Team.

February 2017