Make a lasting impact in a role that demands excellence, compassion, and leadership in child and vulnerable person protection.

The Catholic Diocese of Cairns is seeking a highly experienced and committed Child and Vulnerable Persons Protection Officer to join our Professional Standards and Safeguarding Office (PSSO). This is a pivotal leadership role designed to uphold and strengthen the safety, wellbeing, and dignity of children and vulnerable people across our education and community service settings.

This role operates across Catholic Early Learning and Care and Centacare FNQ, with responsibilities that span policy development, staff training, case consultation, system change, and direct engagement with children’s services and community agencies. You will work at the forefront of safeguarding practice in the Diocese, ensuring alignment with the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards (NCSS), legislative frameworks, and Diocesan safeguarding policies.

Why Join Centacare FNQ

• 5 Weeks of Annual Leave - Recharge and Restore
• Paid Parental Leave - Because family matters
• Flexible Work Arrangements - We work with you
• Buy Extra Leave (Up to 2 Weeks per Year)
• Compassionate Leave Bonus - Additional paid leave on top of the standard entitlement
• Gift Day - Enjoy the workday after Boxing Day Off
• Salary Sacrificing Options - Boost your take home pay
• Real Access to Leadership - We're in this together
• Ongoing Professional Development - Grow with us

Why This Role Matters

This is not just another position — it is a vital leadership post for a seasoned professional with deep expertise in child protection. You will be entrusted with building safe environments, guiding responses to complex and sensitive cases, supporting leaders and staff in times of crisis, and ensuring the integrity of safeguarding practices across multiple services.

Your knowledge and actions will directly impact the wellbeing of children, families, and at-risk adults. This role requires a high level of professionalism, empathy, discretion, and sound judgement.

Key Responsibilities

Provide specialist advice and crisis intervention on child protection matters.

Support Nominated Supervisors and managers in handling and reporting disclosures of harm.

Deliver and evaluate staff training in personal safety, safeguarding, and compliance.

Assist in the development and review of safeguarding policies and procedures.

Build collaborative relationships with external statutory bodies (e.g. Child Safety Services, CPIU, QFCC).

Maintain accurate and confidential records in line with legal and organisational obligations.

Lead system-wide initiatives to strengthen child safety culture and mitigate risks.

About You

We are looking for a highly experienced professional who is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, confidentiality, and ethical conduct in all aspects of their work. You bring a proactive, solution-focused approach and have demonstrated success working within statutory child protection or a related field.

Selection Criteria:

Minimum Bachelor’s qualification in a relevant discipline (e.g. Social Work, Education, Psychology).

At least 3 years’ experience in statutory child protection with a government agency or equivalent.

Extensive knowledge of child protection legislation and trauma-informed practices.

Exceptional interpersonal and written communication skills.

Experience developing and delivering training for adult learners.

Demonstrated ability to work independently while collaborating across diverse teams and services.

High-level administrative, consultation, and case management skills.

Proven ability to maintain strict confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgement.

Mandatory Requirements

Current Working with Children Blue Card and Yellow Card (or eligibility to obtain).

National Police Certificate (or willingness to obtain).

Current Driver’s Licence.

Commitment to the mission and ethos of the Catholic Church and its child safeguarding vision.

This is a rare opportunity to join a values-based organisation where safeguarding is a central mission, not an afterthought. If you are passionate about child safety and want to use your expertise to lead, educate, and protect — we want to hear from you.