Company description:

Department of Communities and Justice

Job description:

Cadet

Maliyan Program - Law Reform and Legal Services

• Location - Sydney (Regional locations will be considered)
• Employment Type - Temporary Part Time (12-month placement with possibility of extension, 14 Hours per week)
• Salary -Clerk Grade 1/2, Base Salary ($73,522 - $79,931 (pro rata), plus employer's contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading

This position is open to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people only

Your role

You will undertake a range of legal and other activities in the relevant area/s of law or policy to contribute to efficient and effective legal support services and policy reform for the Law Reform and Legal Division within the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ).

What you'll do

As a cadet in the Maliyan Program, you will engage in a variety of tasks that contribute to the delivery of legal services and the development of justice policy. You will assist teams throughout the Law Reform and Legal Services (LRLS) Division, providing valuable support in both legal and policy reform areas.

You will lead research and analysis, draft legal, policy, and parliamentary documents, and contribute to projects aimed at shaping law and policy. Collaborating with experienced legal and policy professionals, you'll help deliver outcomes that align with the Department of Communities and Justice's (DCJ) objectives.

You will also:

• Assist across the DCJ Legal branch, which provides legal advice, litigation support, dispute resolution, and ensures compliance with legal governance. This branch also handles Open Government, Information & Privacy services, including responding to applications under the Government Information (Public Access) Act (GIPA) and facilitating access to information under the Commonwealth Redress Scheme and via subpoenas, statutory notices, and orders.
• Contribute to the Policy Reform and Legislation branch, where you'll assist in developing and implementing the legislative program, providing legal policy advice to the Attorney General and other Ministers, and supporting alignment with the government's current priorities.
• Identify the need for legal changes and contribute to the formulation of law and criminal justice reforms. You'll also help ensure quality advice is given to Ministers and government stakeholders, and you will be involved in informing the public about legislative changes within the relevant sectors.
• Collaborate with various teams and assist with projects that shape and refine policies within the communities and justice sectors.

The Maliyan Program offers a 12-month, part-time opportunity (14 hours per week), with flexible start and end dates based on team needs. While the main office is in Parramatta, hybrid working arrangements are in place, and regional locations will be considered depending on the needs of the teams and candidates.

For more information on the Maliyan Program, click here.

What we're looking for

• A passionate, driven law student with a demonstrated interest in providing legal services and law reform initiatives to vulnerable communities
• Strong communication and legal writing skills
• Currently studying a law degree from an accredited law school (whether an undergraduate Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or postgraduate Juris Doctor (JD)
• This role is open to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants only.
• Willingness to undertake a Working with Children Check.
• Willingness to travel for regional or interstate commitments

As an Identified role, this position is open only to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons, Australia's First Nations people

Where a position is identified, an applicant's race is a genuine occupational qualification under the exception in Section 14(d) of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977.

There are two alternatives to confirming your Aboriginality, one of which must be uploaded to be considered for the role as follows. Either will be accepted:

Confirmation of Aboriginality form

or

Written confirmation from 2-3 Aboriginal organisations within the community in which you live/work, which addresses the three criteria listed below:

• is of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, and
• identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, and
• is accepted as a such by the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

Download the role description.

If you are viewing this ad in Seek and wish to apply via their portal, you will be required to either set up a profile or login via your existing Seek account.

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

For more information and advice on applying for roles at DCJ, visit Careers for Aboriginal people https://www.dcj.nsw.gov.au/about-us/careers-at-dcj/pathways/careers-for-aboriginal-people.html

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) outlining how you meet the requirements of the role as well as an up-to-date résumé (maximum 5 pages).

Applications close: Sunday, 08 June 2025 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 Annie Macleod on 0437 395 039 or at [email protected]

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 contact Lois Jebin at [email protected]

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 visit Your recruitment journey on the DCJ website (for all roles except Aboriginal Identified)

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.