Director, Summary Crime and Therapeutic Justice

Job Description

Title: Director, Summary Crime and Therapeutic Justice

Company Name: Victoria Legal Aid

Vacancy: 1

Job Location: Melbourne VIC,

Employment Status: Full time

• Newly created leadership position
• Play a critical role leading Victoria's summary crime and therapeutic justice services
• Member of Senior Leadership Team

About the organisation
Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) provides legal aid services to the Victorian community, focusing on prevention and the early resolution of legal problems through its information, legal advice, and education programs. VLA recognises the intersections between legal and social issues and advocates and works for change to address barriers that prevent people from accessing the justice system. VLA participates in research, systemic inquires, reforms and strategic advocacy, and prioritises its more intensive services, such as legal advice, legal representation, non-legal advocacy, and family dispute resolution to those most in need. VLA's Criminal Law Directorate is responsible for the delivery of services across five sub programs: summary crime, therapeutic justice, indictable crime, youth crime, and appeals and strategic litigation.

About the role
The Director, Summary Crime and Therapeutic Justice oversees the Summary Crime Program, VLA's largest service delivery program, and Therapeutic Justice, which includes growing services to drug courts and the Assessment and Referral Court. Reporting to the Executive Director, Criminal Law, the Director, Summary Crime and Therapeutic Justice provides high quality leadership in the planning, design, and delivery of VLA's Summary Crime and Therapeutic Practice services while developing and maintaining strong working relationships with key stakeholders, including partners in the legal assistance and criminal justice sectors.

The role focuses on reforming VLA's summary crime services to be more client-centred and informed by the lived experience of service users. It seeks to influence the broader summary crime system and increase usage of therapeutic or problem-solving approaches in VLA's criminal law services. The Director, Summary Crime and Therapeutic Justice contributes as a key member of the Criminal Law leadership team and a member of VLA's Senior Leadership Team that drives organisational priorities.

About you
You will have strong leadership, communication and stakeholder engagement skills and a demonstrated track record operating as a member of a senior leadership team to drive strategic priorities and influence cultural change and law reform. Tertiary qualified in law, public policy, or a related field, you possess a detailed understanding of criminal law, focusing on summary crime and therapeutic or problem-solving practice. With a proven ability to develop and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders in complex, client first service delivery contexts, you are committed to VLA's vision and values focused on a fair and just society and making a difference in the lives of clients and the community. You have a demonstrated understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This appointment is being managed by SHK on VLA's behalf. Please do not click the "Apply Now" button below as applications must be directed to SHK. For further information about this role, please contact Karen Starr at SHK on 03 8620 8013. A concurrent search is being undertaken by SHK to identify suitable candidates for this role.

Applications close by 11.59pm on Wednesday 9th November 2022.

Other relevant information:
To be eligible to apply for this position you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or hold a valid work permit or visa.

VLA employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. It is also a requirement that staff attend for office-based days at their primary work location. In line with this requirement, interstate applications will be considered only where the candidate is able and willing to relocate to Victoria, unless part of a border community.

VLA is committed to putting the safety and wellbeing of children first.