Aboriginal Workforce Strategy
The the department takes pride in ongoing achievements in increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Aboriginal) employment across all divisions and business units. We remain deeply committed to growing and supporting the Aboriginal workforce, ensuring meaningful career development opportunities at all levels. We are committed to growing and developing our Aboriginal workforce.
In July 2024, the Board of Management approved the department’s Aboriginal Workforce Strategy 2024–2027. The strategy expands on the former Koori Employment and Career Strategy 2017–2020.
The Aboriginal Workforce Strategy 2024– 2027 is part of an integrated approach to enhance the department’s cultural capability, support the Aboriginal workforce and benefit Aboriginal communities through improved policy making, well-informed program design, implementation and evaluation.
The strategy addresses key recommendations from the Aboriginal Justice Agreement: Phase 4 and the Review of the Adult Custodial Corrections System – Safer Prisons, Safer People, Safer Communities.
The strategy is comprised of three core pillars:
- Attract and retain Aboriginal talent
- Create culturally safe and supportive workplaces
- Create employment pathways and build stronger careers
The three core pillars of the strategy expand on the former Koori Employment and Career Strategy 2017–2020 by incorporating the themes of connection, reducing cultural load, reducing barriers, and a united strategy that the Committee identified. The Strategy incorporates the themes by:
- acknowledging and providing support mechanisms for Aboriginal employees experiencing cultural load
- addressing the need for connection by creating opportunities for networking and increased connection to culture
- reducing barriers to employment opportunities, career development and education
- facilitating the implementation of a united strategy.
Each strategy initiative within the three pillars is linked to one of the core themes of connection, cultural load, barriers, and united strategy that emerged during consultation with the Committee.
Some of the initiatives within the Aboriginal Workforce Unit (AWU) include:
Aboriginal Tertiary Scholarship Program
The Aboriginal Tertiary Scholarship Program is one of the initiatives within the Aboriginal Workforce Strategy 2024 – 2027 dedicated to establishing clear and accessible employment pathways for Aboriginal people.
The program aims to support Victorian Aboriginal tertiary students in completing their studies. Recipients of the scholarship receive a fortnightly study allowance to undertake full-time study in a broad range of fields related to the department's business.
The program aims to achieve a long-term increase in the number of qualified Aboriginal people employed across all areas and all levels of department and related agencies.
The department will offer a limited number of scholarships each year in the amount of either $10,000, $20,000 or $30,000.
Scholarship recipients will gain access to a work placements and internship opportunities at the department, and can apply for the Victorian Public Sector Commission’s Aboriginal Pathway to Victorian Government graduate program (External link) on completion of their studies.
Applications for the Aboriginal Tertiary Scholarship Program open in December of each year and will be advertised on the Careers Vic website (External link).
For more information on the Aboriginal Tertiary Scholarship Program, please contact the Aboriginal Workforce Unit via email aboriginalworkforce@justice.vic.gov.au (External link).
Senior Scholarship Program
The Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) Scholarship Program offered by the Australian and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG), is one of the initiatives within the Aboriginal Workforce Strategy 2024 – 2027 dedicated to establishing clear development pathways for Aboriginal employees.
The program aims to increase Aboriginal representation at the executive level of the department and to provide opportunity for Aboriginal staff to reach their full potential.
The department will offer a limited number of scholarships towards the payment of the EMPA Program over the term of the Aboriginal Workforce Strategy 2024 – 2027.
For more information on the Aboriginal ANZSOG EMPA Scholarship Program, please contact the Aboriginal Workforce Unit via email aboriginalworkforce@justice.vic.gov.au (External link).
Aboriginal Undergraduate Internship Program
The Aboriginal Undergraduate Internship Program provides work experience to second and third year Aboriginal students who are undertaking their first undergraduate degree. The program is designed to develop specialist skills, provide access to mentors, and senior Aboriginal VPS employees.
Internships provide paid work experience and run over the course of 12 weeks during the summer university break.
To express your interest in undertaking an internship, please contact the Aboriginal Workforce Unit via email aboriginalworkforce@justice.vic.gov.au (External link).
Youth Employment Scheme traineeships
The Youth Employment Scheme (YES) is an initiative that provides employment and training for young people. Traineeships are a full-time 12 to 24 month commitment comprising four days of work and one day of training per week. Upon successful completion, trainees receive an accredited qualification and genuine work experience. The program provides a pathway for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander youth into the department through ongoing employment on successful completion of their traineeship.
To express your interest in becoming a Aboriginal YES trainee, please contact the Aboriginal Workforce Unit via email aboriginalworkforce@justice.vic.gov.au (External link).
Aboriginal Staff Network
The department has various employee support networks in place including a state-wide Aboriginal Staff Network. These networks assist in developing and retaining Aboriginal employees by promoting cultural peer support, professional and personal development and establishing connections with other Aboriginal employees across the department.
VPSC Graduate Program – Aboriginal Pathway
The department promotes the Aboriginal pathway to Victorian Government graduate program (External link) offered by the Victorian Public Sector Commission. This opportunity is open to Aboriginal Victorians who have completed their degree or are in the final year of their studies.
The Aboriginal Pathway is a culturally supportive entry point for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduates wishing to apply for the Victorian Government graduate program.
The objective of this program is to make the transition to a career within the department and government more accessible to Aboriginal candidates.
The hallmarks of the Aboriginal pathway are cultural sensitivity, pastoral care and strong networking. Graduates entering the Victorian Public Service (VPS) via the program and the Aboriginal pathway are recruited to an ongoing role in the VPS.
Graduates with placement in the department will have access to additional networking opportunities and peer support through the department’s Aboriginal Staff Network (ASN).
To learn more, contact the Aboriginal Workforce Development Team at aboriginal.employment@vpsc.vic.gov.au (External link).
Aboriginal Employment
The department strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal people. There are a broad range of opportunities across the department.
Aboriginal candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for mainstream general positions as well as Aboriginal designated and prioritised roles.
For more information on the areas within the department please visit our people and organisational structure section.
Corrections Victoria
Aboriginal Employment in Corrections Victoria aims to attract, recruit and retain Aboriginal people in a number of roles including prison officers (External link), community corrections officers (External link) and Aboriginal wellbeing officers. This support includes a culturally appropriate attraction and recruitment process, with all candidates given the opportunity to utilise support from the Aboriginal Recruitment Team.
To apply for a job in Corrections, visit our Corrections Careers Portal (External link).
Youth Justice
Opportunities available within Youth Justice (External link) include roles such as Youth Justice Worker (External link), Aboriginal Liaison Officer (External link), and Advanced Case Manager. (External link)
To apply for job in Youth Justice, visit Youth Justice jobs (External link).
Apply now
All employment opportunities within the department are advertised on our careers website (External link).
The Aboriginal Recruitment Team is available to support Aboriginal applicants throughout the recruitment process. Email us on: aboriginalrecruitment@justice.vic.gov.au (External link)
Banner art: Rain Coming Down #7 by Melissa Bell
The artwork you see on the desktop version of this page was created by Melissa Bell.
Melissa is a proud Gunditjimara and Yorta Yorta woman from Cummeragunja. Melissa often paints her Country to express the deep connection first nations people have with the land. She represents her Country in bright colours and striking patterns such as diamonds to represent fishing spots and dots to represent waterholes. Melissa describes how being able to express her culture through art has empowered her and given her a life to be proud of. Art has always been important to the Bell family and Melissa credits her Uncle and Great-Great-Grandfather for inspiring her to become an artist. Melissa completed a Diploma in Visual Arts at RMIT and has been a practising artist with the Torch since 2016. Melissa’s artwork has been purchased by the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, the County Koori Court and Respect Victoria.
"This painting represents my land, the connections to all my people, the rain coming down. The dots represent all the different tribes all over Australia."