About Us

Court Services Victoria provides corporate services and facilities to support the performance of the judicial, quasi-judicial and administrative functions of Victoria's courts and tribunal, Judicial College and Judicial Commission.

Collectively, Victoria's Supreme, County, Magistrates', Children's, and Coroners courts, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), the Judicial College of Victoria, the Judicial Commission of Victoria, and Court Services Victoria (CSV) are referred to as the ‘Courts Group'.

Our people enable the Courts Group to deliver on each jurisdiction's own strategic priorities while also pursuing strategic opportunities that are interconnected and deliver benefits more broadly.

The Magistrates' Court of Victoria (MCV) is the first level of the Victorian court system and is a jurisdiction within the Court Services Victoria. It has a long history of providing justice for the people of Victoria in metropolitan and regional courts across the state. The Court determines in excess of 300,000 cases per annum at 51 locations, equating to approximately 90 percent of all cases that come before Victorian courts each year. The Court aims to be an innovative, accessible, and responsive court that provides quality services to the Victorian community.

About the Role

MCV has an exciting VPS 4 and ongoing opportunity to work as a Family Violence Applicant Practitioner (FVAP) at Dandenong Magistrates Court.

The FVAP provides support to individuals at the court premises who have experienced family violence, including assessing immediate non-legal needs and safety risks, and providing information about and referrals to external service providers as needed. The FVAP works with the FVRP, FVR, other court registrars, police prosecutors, lawyers and court support services at the court premises, will liaise with community-based support services, and may be required to provide information to magistrates in a courtroom. FVAP will establish and maintain relationships with community agencies and support services so effective referrals are made to ensure the safety of family violence applicants.

The FVAP will also be required to support the continuous improvement of the Court's response to family violence. This role reports to the Court Services Manager (Dandenong) and sits within the broader Metropolitan Court Operations team.

Key accountabilities include:

• Conducting risk assessments and developing safety plans for clients who have experienced family violence, and providing information and referrals to ongoing supports, case management and programs to address safety counselling and other needs as appropriate.
• Considering the needs of children in risk assessment and making appropriate referrals and links with child protection services as appropriate.
• Initiating and maintaining relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including liaising with legal services (duty or external), police prosecution and the court registry as required to support victim survivors and children at court.
• Contributing to and representing the MCV at regular meetings and committees with internal and external stakeholders
• Maintaining accurate, confidential client records including managing information sharing, privacy, confidentiality and consent.
• Preparing reports as required for management regarding services provided (including data of persons supported, support given, referrals made), external communications and meetings attended

About You

• Be passionate about supporting people experiencing Family Violence
• Skills and experience in engaging effectively with people and risk assessment
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in social work, psychology, social sciences, or other related field is highly desirable, in addition to demonstrated strong experience working in the family violence service system

How to apply

Click the ‘Apply Now' button, ensuring you include the following in your application:

• resume
• a short cover letter

Other information

CSV is the employer of staff at Courts Group. CSV has a firm commitment through its Koori Employment Plan to increase participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across our workforce.

We value the unique backgrounds, experiences, and contributions that each person brings to our community and encourage and celebrate diversity. Those from the LGBTQIA+ community, women, people of all ages, with disabilities, culturally and linguistically diverse people, and those who are neurodiverse, are encouraged to apply.

We aim to create a workforce that reflects the community in which we live.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to email the contact person listed in the advertisement.

As part of our commitment to a safe and respectful workplace, we conduct pre-employment checks, including but not limited to, reference checks, police checks and misconduct screening. These checks are handled confidentially and with care and are a standard part of our hiring process to ensure the right fit for both our candidates and the organisation.