Beginning and Advanced Child Protection Practitioners – various locations

Beginning and Advanced Child Protection Practitioners  

Working in child protection                                                                                                                           

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. 

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. 

Employees who are substantively employed and reside in selected regional locations maybe eligible for a retention allowance of up of to $15,000 paid over three years. 

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 

Beginning Child Protection Practitioner (CPP3) vacancies 

Entry level roles for child protection practitioners allows you to gain an excellent experience across the child and family services system. You will manage a variety of cases and issues increasing in complexity with your experience, while changing the immediate future of at-risk children and their families.  

Locations  

Metro: Preston, Frankston, Dandenong, Footscray 

Regional and Rural: Swan Hill, Mildura, Bendigo, Bairnsdale, Sale, Morwell, Seymour, Wangaratta, Wodonga, Ballarat, Horsham, Hamilton, Portland 

Advanced Child Protection Practitioner (CPP4) vacancies  

You will bring your suitable experience to strengthen your strong sense of social justice and understanding that families are complex, with their own unique histories. You will work with more complex cases and situations and operate with an increased level of autonomy appropriate for the role.  

Locations 

Metro: Preston, Frankston, Dandenong, Box Hill, Footscray 

Regional and Rural: Swan Hill, Mildura, Bendigo, Bairnsdale, Sale, Morwell, Seymour, Wangaratta, Wodonga, Ballarat, Horsham, Hamilton, Portland 

Urgent ongoing part time vacancies in Rural After-Hours Service (RAHS) for CPP3 and CPP4    

38 hours per fortnight plus on-call work                                                                                                                   RAHS operates an on-call, re-call model and participate on a roster and conduct emergency outreach visits as required at night, on weekends and on public holidays with applicable penalty rates and allowances. This is a critical, fast-paced environment with no two days the same.  

You will be responding to cases where existing and new child protection clients are at significant risk and require an urgent out of hours response. You also may be conducting outreach visits and undertaking a variety of tasks that support child protection operations. You will be supported by team managers throughout the outreach about key decisions.         

Opportunities are available in Rural After Hours Service at both the CPP3 and CPP4 levels in Gippsland, Ovens Murray, Goulburn, Loddon, Wimmera.   

 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. 

Key responsibilities for Advanced Child Protection Practitioner (CPP4), include but are not limited to:  

• Conducting risk assessments and investigations 
• Managing complex cases, problem solving and presenting matters to the Children’s Court of Victoria as required 
• Being responsible for supporting and developing Beginning Child Protection Practitioners in the integration of theory and practice while demonstrating your expertise through case practice 
• Working collaboratively with the Team Managers to strengthen case practice 
• Providing effective service delivery and support other practitioners 
• Determining case plans (including stability plans, cultural plans and therapeutic treatment plans) for the safety and wellbeing of children, and 
• Delivering case practice and case management services for children and young people who are either living with family or placed in out of home care. 

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

 Make the decision to pursue a fulfilling professional career and make a difference in vulnerable children’s lives.  Go Where You’re Needed – Do a Job that Matters.                             

Commencement Salaries: 

CPP 3.1: $76,817 (Diploma qualification entry level)                                                                                                        CPP 3.2: $80,111 (Degree qualification entry level) 

Salary:  CPP4:  $95,102 to $107,905 

 Assessment Stages and Key Dates: 

 Eligible CPP3 applicants are required to participate in a one-way video interview. 

If shortlisted for a CPP3 or CPP4 role, you will be required to undertake online psychometric and personality assessments by a set date. 

 Online Assessment Centres: 

Beginning (CPP3): Tuesday 18 March, Wednesday 19 March 2025                                                                             Advanced (CPP4): Tuesday 25 March 2025  

Commencement Dates: 

All new child protection employees to the department are required to complete one week of mandatory online training modules from 19 May 2025 and then attend a mandatory full time five-week Practice Induction Program (PIP) on Tuesday 27 May 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.   

 How to Apply:   

Please refer to Child protection jobs – requirements and eligibility | vic.gov.au prior to submitting your application. 

For Beginning Child Protection Practitioners, click on this link to submit your application  https://jobs.careers.vic.gov.au/jobs/VG-VG-CPP3AC42025 

For Advanced Child Protection Practitioners, click on this link to submit your application   https://jobs.careers.vic.gov.au/jobs/VG-VG-CPP3AC42025 

 Please note: For this role, you are not required to address each of the key selection criteria in a separate written document. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review our Careers Page. This page provides information on the department’s recruitment and pre-employment screening processes.