Beginning Child Protection Practitioners - We are hiring for our Shepparton & Seymour office

If you are passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of children, then a career in child protection is for you. Child protection work is interesting, challenging, busy and fulfilling and involves therapeutic and analytical skills. You will be working in collaboration with families, Community Sector Organisations and professionals to develop and implement effective plans for children.

Beginning Child Protection Practitioner (CPP3)

Entry level roles for child protection practitioners allows you to gain an excellent experience across the child and family services system.

Key responsibilities for Beginning Child Protection Practitioner (CPP3), include but are not limited to:

Undertaking risk assessment, including assessment and investigation of reports to child protection

Planning, implementing and reviewing case plans and case work tasks to address identified risks

Coordinating and negotiating services for children and young people

Providing or arranging practical and emotional support to children, young people and families

Where necessary, taking matters to the Children's Court to ensure the safety of children or young people and supervising orders made by the Children's Court.

Benefits of a career in Child Protection

As a Victorian government employee, you will have access to a broad range of benefits and entitlements. These include access to professional development opportunities through training programs, peer support networks and access to a dedicated and free wellbeing and a support program specifically designed to support our child protection employee's mental health and wellbeing.

More information on the benefits in working with child protection can be found on our webpage Department of Families Fairness and Housing Victoria | Child protection

For further information about these roles please visit the Child protection jobs - position descriptions | vic.gov.au.

Commencement Salaries:

CPP 3.1: $79,122 (Diploma qualification entry level)

CPP3.2: $82,514 (Degree qualification entry level)

Assessment Stages and Key Dates:

Eligible CPP3 applicants are required to participate in a one-way video interview. If shortlisted for a CPP3, you will be required to undertake online psychometric and personality assessments by a set date.

Anticipated Online Assessment Centres: Assessment centres are projected to take place between Tuesday 22 July - Wednesday 23 July 2025.

Commencement Dates:

All new child protection employees to the department are required to complete one week of mandatory online training modules from 22 September 2025.

A mandatory full time five-week Practice Induction Program (PIP) will commence on 30 September 2025.

PIP is designed to provide new staff to the child protection program with the necessary practice knowledge and skills relating to the role. Successful candidates will be required to attend the PIP in person in Melbourne, with accommodation, travel and meals included.

Note preferred candidates will be required to undergo pre-employment screening including national police check, international police check (if required), misconduct screening, qualification checks and two professional reference checks.

Qualifications eligibility

If you have social work, welfare, psychology related qualification and/or relevant experience, you may be eligible for a CPP3 role.

Stream 1 – Accredited qualifications or memberships

Qualifications accredited or full membership with any of the following:

Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)

Community Work Australia

Australian Psychologist Accreditation Council (APAC).

Stream 2 – Combination of relevant qualifications and work experience

Must have studied units on child development (comprising physical, genetic, cognitive, social, cultural and emotional development stages, and other topics including attachment theory, language acquisition and moral understanding).

Must have studied units on human behaviour (that is, how behaviour is shaped by biology, learned experiences, cognitive, cultural, social and emotional development).

Must have studied or have 12 months’ work in depth experience in family dynamics, impacts of trauma, relevant case work and counselling, alcohol and other drugs, abuse and family/domestic violence, risk theories and assessments, community services sector experience, working with Aboriginal children, families and communities.

How to Apply:

Please refer to Child protection jobs - requirements and eligibility | vic.gov.au prior to submitting your application to ensure your application is complete.

You Resume, Cover letter, if VISA a coloured passport copy, Tertiary qualifications / awards / USI / transcript is required so we can assess your application.

Applications close 9 July 2025