Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS)

Senior Lawyer, Balit Lawyer

Location: Preston, VIC | Full-Time | 12 Month (with potential for extension)

Salary: $101,410.40 – $105,905.80 + Super + Salary Packaging

Application Closing Date: 08th August 2025

About VALS

The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) has been advocating for and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people since 1973. Our holistic services span criminal, family, civil and human rights law, youth legal services, 24/7 custody notification, housing, family violence programs, and much more. At VALS, we are committed to self-determination, equality, diversity, and inclusion and we are always evolving to meet community needs.

About Balit Ngulu

The core function of Balit Ngulu is to provide Aboriginal children and young people (up to 21 years old) with appropriate legal advice and representation and support their empowerment and resilience within its service areas. Balit Ngulu will aim to:

Provide quality and timely legal services to Aboriginal children and young people for matters within Balit Ngulu's specified service locations of the Children's Court of Victoria.

Support Aboriginal children and young people with legal assistance and services to help them grow within the community.

Divert Aboriginal children and young people away from the justice system and seek incarceration alternatives for Aboriginal children and young people in contact with the justice system, including supporting and prioritising bail applications for those who are at risk of being remanded or are remanded in custody within Balit Ngulu's specified service locations.

Assist Aboriginal children and young people to have a strong voice in Child Protection decisions that impact them. Where children are removed from parental care, provide strong advocacy to ensure that appropriate support is provided to enable reunification to occur and ensure that Aboriginal children remain connected to their family, community and culture when living out of parental care.

Provide legal, non-legal and cultural support to children and young people in the Criminal and Family Divisions of the Children’s Court.

Provide legal education activities to vulnerable Aboriginal children and young people within service areas and those in youth detention.

Role Summary

The Senior Lawyer will report to the Managing Lawyer and case manage and appear in child protection and intervention order matters. The Senior Lawyer will also appear in some criminal matters for their cross-over clients.

This newly created role represents an expansion of our current legal team to further assist vulnerable Aboriginal children particularly in the Family Division. The position combines legal practice with greater intensive case management of individual cases while building strategic partnerships with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.

Key Responsibilities

Provide high-quality legal advice, assistance and representation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people across Child Protection, Criminal and Civil matters through integrated service delivery.

Establish culturally safe, inclusive practices that empower young people to participate in decision-making while accommodating diverse gender identities and abilities.

Develop trauma-informed legal strategies and pathways that support positive outcomes in education, employment and life planning.

Coordinate referrals and linkages to support services that address drivers of Child Protection and justice involvement, particularly family violence, to build positive pathways.

Working collaboratively with Balit Ngulu Aboriginal Community Engagement Woker to support young people

Maintain high professional standards and quality legal practice while ensuring client-centered, culturally appropriate service delivery.

Key Selection Criteria

At least 3 years experience in Child Protection and family violence.

Experience establishing strategic partnerships with ACCOs and mainstream services. Ability to coordinate referral pathways and advocacy across multiple service systems.

Experience working with Aboriginal children and young people. Strong understanding of cultural safety principles and Aboriginal ways of knowing.

Proven ability to supervise and mentor junior legal staff.

Qualifications & Mandatory Checks

Personal accountability

Compliance with all VALS values, code of conduct, policies and procedures and relevant government legislation and standards where relevant.

Demonstrate a commitment to the principles of social justice and aim to ensure every individual is treated with dignity and respect regardless of their background, ability, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation or religion.

Ensure appropriate use of resources.

Actively participate in initiatives to maintain, build upon and promote a positive and collaborative workplace.

Take reasonable care for your own health & safety, and health and safety of others (to extent required).

Maintain own self-care and wellbeing with support of line management.

Promptly respond to and report health and safety hazards, incidents and near misses to management.

Attend mandatory training sessions (ie. equal employment opportunity, health and safety, cultural safety) and mandatory training specific to position.

A copy of your current Employee Working with Children Check card

A copy of your current Victorian Driver’s License

You will be required to complete a current Criminal History Police Check

Proof of rights to work in Australia, i.e. a copy of an Australian Passport, Birth Certificate or Immigration VISA documentation

Copies of any certificates or degrees relevant to this role

Proof of rights to work in Australia, i.e. a copy of an Australian Passport, Birth Certificate or Immigration VISA documentation and copies of any certificates or degrees relevant to this role

Why Join VALS?

We offer a supportive, flexible, and culturally safe working environment with a range of attractive benefits, including:

17.5% Leave Loading

5 additional days of annual leave on top of the standard 20 days

Time in Lieu (TOIL) system for any hours worked beyond your contracted 21 hours per week

Access to company vehicles for work-related travel

Generous salary packaging up to $15,900 via Maxxia

Opportunity to work alongside a passionate team committed to delivering culturally appropriate legal and support services for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities

Ongoing professional development and training opportunities

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How to Apply

To apply, please provide:

A covering letter introducing yourself and explaining your suitability for the role

A statement addressing each of the Key Selection Criteria (please note: applications without this will not be considered)

Your current resume, including education, professional experience, and two referees

Submit your application to [email protected] using the subject line:
‘Application for Aboriginal Youth, Family Centered Specialist Position at VALS’

VALS actively encourages and supports Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people to apply. This designated position provides a culturally safe, supportive, and inclusive environment where your knowledge and lived experience are highly valued.

Please note: We do not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies. No fees will be paid to agencies submitting candidates without a valid written agreement.