About the Department

The department provides a wide range of learning and development support and services.

The department provides policy leadership, plans for the future of education in Victoria and leads key cross-sector collaboration. The department plays an important system steward role by providing support, guidance, oversight and assurance across early childhood and school education systems, as well as directly providing school education and 50 new early learning centres.

About the Division

The Employee Safety, Wellbeing and Inclusion Division (ESWI Division) is committed to the Department's vision to create safe, healthy, respectful and inclusive working environments for Department employees to thrive and succeed.

This role is a part of the Small Schools OHS and Facilities Program which is delivered jointly by ESWI Division (which is responsible for employee health and safety) and the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) (which is responsible for facilities management). This program supports small rural and regional schools across Victoria with practical, expert, hands-on OHS, facilities and workers' compensation support.

About the Role

This is a Full Time, Fixed Term position until 30 June 2026.

An exciting opportunity is available to support the Department of Education's Small Schools OHS and Facilities Program in the South East Region as a Return to Work Coordinator (VPS4), in the Employee Safety, Wellbeing and Inclusion Division (ESWI Division).

The Return to Work Coordination Team commenced in early 2023, and aims to provide person centred, dedicated support to injured workers with workers' compensation claims, specifically targeting Principal claims, escalated and complex claims, and claims by staff from small schools.

This role supports schools and workplace managers with workers' compensation claims by acting as the Return to Work Coordinator. The coordinator helps injured workers return to work safely and sustainably, handling all the administrative tasks and legal requirements for return-to-work planning on behalf of the principal or workplace manager. This role relieves administration burden on principals, regional and school staff. They also assist schools to build skills, knowledge, and understanding of workers compensation obligations, so that Department staff can focus more of their time on improving student learning outcomes. The roles are critical in ensuring the department can meet its workers' compensation policy and legislative requirements.

All return to work coordinator roles requires specialised knowledge, experience and expertise in workers' compensation.

We are looking for candidates with innovation, energy and the experience to drive change within the departmental context. Ideally, candidates should have:

• strong people and stakeholder management skills with the ability collaborate on initiatives to improve results
• excellent verbal and written communication and case management skills including organisational and records management
• an ability to identify risks, navigate complex issues and provide support an appropriate action
• expert knowledge and experience in workers compensation legislation, obligations and practices
• Provides high level expertise dealing with more complex issues in a specialised support function
• Ability to drive team performance towards achieving set key performance indicators (KPIs).
  

While this role does not involve direct management responsibilities, it requires strong leadership skills to ensure both personal and team accountability. The successful candidate will champion public sector values, adhere to performance standards, and support the team in achieving its goals by identifying potential roadblocks and implementing solutions.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

The successful candidate must have completed the WorkSafe approved Return to Work Coordinator Training (or hold an equivalent qualification) and have a minimum of two years of recent experience working within workers compensation.

This role requires travel across the south east region to undertake school visits, and a current driver's licence is mandatory. This role will also involve work within regional office locations, including attending the central office on a regular basis to connect and collaborate with other staff. As this role will require onsite school visits a working with children's check is required.

Applicants are asked to provide a statement of no more than two pages against the Key Selection Criteria including addressing the essential qualifications and experience listed.

Further Information

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.

The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page.

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au.

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Lorna Lutu, Manager Return to Work Coordinator Team via (03) 5215 5240 or [email protected].

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close 11:59pm on Thursday 17 April 2025.