About us

The Department of Education (the department) is responsible for delivering and regulating state-wide learning and development services to approximately one-third of all Victorians across the early childhood and school education sectors. The department is also one of Victoria's biggest employers, with approximately 80,000 teaching staff and around 5,000 public service employees.

The Legal Division provides highly valued legal services to support the delivery of the department's strategic objectives, key reforms and to manage legal risk. In doing so, Legal Division provides direct, practical and strategic legal advice to portfolio ministers, the secretary, other senior staff and over 1,600 government schools, supporting approximately over 650,000 Victorian Government school students.

About the role - Fixed term, full-time commencing September 2025 until June 2026.

A rare and exciting oppportunity has a risen for a lawyer to advance their legal career working in the newly formed Systemic Review Unit in the Legal Division of the Department of Education.

The Systemic Review Unit has been established following findings made by the Board of Inquiry into historical child sexual abuse in Beaumaris Primary School and certain other government schools (Inquiry). In its response to the Inquiry, the Victorian Government acknowledged the importance of institutional accountability and transparency to enable individual and collective healing, and provided a commitment to proactively understanding the extent of its own historical failings outside of those that were canvassed in detail as part of the Inquiry.

Lawyers in this team will will assist in the provision of high quality, timely legal advice relevant to the systemic review, including reviewing and analysing a high volume of historical child sexual abuse material, collecting data, reporting, and evaluating complex claims relevant to historical child sexual abuse, and leading the preparation of information for inclusion in a public report. The role will also contribute to whole of Victorian government intiatives and reporting relevant to the Victorian Government response to the Inquiry.

The successul candidate will have an understanding of child safety, institutional accountability, education law and government/public law, and project management experience in a legal environment. An understanding of negligence litigation claims relating to historical child sexual abuse in Victorian government schools, including an understanding of the child wellbeing and safety frameworks relevant to Victorian government schools, is desirable but not essential.

The role will also support the broader Legal Division's work, including: undertaking legal research; knowledge management; drafting legal documents; correspondence and briefings; reviewing department policies and guidelines; preparing reports and resources; and liaising with clients as appropriate.

Why join us?

• Meaningful work that is varied, satisfying and rewarding - A career as a government lawyer provides opportunities that are unrivalled by the private sector. Scale, impact and richness of work sets the public sector apart from almost every other employer. To find out more about the wide range of opportunities for bright publicly minded lawyers visit Legal profession | vic.gov.au

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements — Part time, flexible start and finish times, work from home to help manage your work and personal commitments.
• Competitive salary - Annual salary increases in line with the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement
• Diversity and inclusion - As one of Victoria's largest employers, the department is committed to creating an organisation that is inclusive and ensuring it has a workforce that represents the community it serves.
• Values - The department has adopted the public sector values which are set out in the Code of Conduct for Victorian Public Sector Employees, which are Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The department's Values underpin how we interact with colleagues, students and families, members of the community, suppliers and government.
• Employee assistance program — For emotional, mental and general psychological wellbeing and support

How to Apply

For more information, please review the attached position description.

Applicants are required to submit a CV and a cover letter (no more than 2 pages).

For a confidential discussion regarding the role, please contact Jessi Whitby, Project Director, Systemic Review on 7022 5811 or [email protected].

Visit https://www.careers.vic.gov.au/how-to-apply/how-to-apply-for-a-job for guidelines and tips for applying for government positions.

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.

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 11.59pm on Wednesday 9 July 2025.