Youth Development Officer - Melbourne Assessment Prison

At the Department of Justice and Community Safety, we’re looking for people who want to make a difference. People who take pride in their work. People who get things done. People who are committed to making Victoria a safer place.

We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve. We’re all about recruiting the best people, regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or cultural background. If you think you can do the job and would be a good fit for our department, we’d love to hear from you.

The department is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and recognises that children’s rights need to be respected, their views welcomed and valued, and their concerns taken seriously and acted upon.

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 get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit justice.vic.gov.au/careers

We’re proud of the important work we do across Victoria. Want to be part of it?

• Drive the development, implementation and co-ordination of the youth response at selected prison locations.
• Fixed term, Full time opportunity until 30 June 2028.
• VPS grade 4 - $97,955 - $111,142 plus superannuation.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is seeking a Youth Development Officer to provide a critical role at Metropolitan Assessment Prison.

About the Business Unit

Corrections Victoria is part of the Department of Justice and Community Safety and is responsible for the operation of Victoria's adult corrections system, public and privately operated prisons, and a transitional centre. It ensures that people held in prison are safely and securely contained and aims to rehabilitate people by addressing the underlying causes of offending behaviour.

The Melbourne Assessment Prison (MAP) is a maximum-security facility providing state-wide assessment and orientation services for all male prisoners received into the prison system and is located within the Northwest Metropolitan Area, Department of Justice. The MAP provides accommodation for up to 305 males in shared cells in Victoria's only multi storey facility located within the West Metropolitan Region, Department of Justice. The MAP consists of the prison, the custody facilities at the County, Supreme and Appeal Courts and holding cells at St Vincent's and St Augustine's Hospitals for prisoners requiring outpatient medical treatment.

Corrections Victoria recognises that young adults in custody (typically aged 18–25) represent a distinct cohort whose developmental, behavioural, and rehabilitative needs differ significantly from those of older people in prison. This age group is characterised by ongoing neurological, emotional, and social development, which influences decision-making, impulse control, and responsiveness to rehabilitative interventions. Evidence from both local and international correctional systems highlights that young adults benefit most from environments that emphasise structure, positive engagement, and skill-building, rather than purely compliance-based management.

About the Role

The Youth Development Officer (YDO) is responsible for the development, implementation, and co-ordination of the youth response at select prison locations. The YDO will drive best practice engagement strategies of young people across the prison system and support the facilitation and promotion of development activities, living and vocational skills, sports and recreation programs, activities, and events for young people in custody.

The YDO is a key role within the Offender Services team which is responsible for the co-ordination and delivery of a range of rehabilitation, reintegration and specialist support services. YDOs will work alongside existing prison staff to enhance capability and consistency in working with young adults, embedding best-practice approaches that recognise their distinct developmental and rehabilitative needs. They will also play a key role in connecting young adults to tailored programs and supports, fostering positive identity, family connection, and pathways for successful reintegration into the community.

Some of your duties will include:

• Assess and identify young adult needs, and provide proactive advice, consultation, case co-ordination, guidance and recommendations in relation to the needs of young adults.
• Develop, deliver and coordinate a comprehensive suite of services, programs and engagement activities for young adults in custody, ensuring participation strategies that promote meaningful involvement and respond to individual needs.
• Support people in custody to access relevant services, both in the community and within prison settings.

To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Demonstrated expertise in the development and support of young adults in the justice system, including comprehensive knowledge of criminogenic needs, risk and protective factors, and evidence‑based intervention frameworks.
• Skills and/or knowledge in applying trauma‑informed, strengths‑based, and culturally responsive approaches to promote pro‑social behaviour, enhance wellbeing, and support positive identity formation.
• Experience or ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to design and implement structured case plans, behavioural interventions, and developmental programs tailored to the unique needs, motivations, and lived experiences of justice‑involved young people.
• Demonstrated ability to engage resistant or complex young adults and build accountability and resilience to support their successful reintegration as positive community members.

Qualifications/requirements

• Relevant tertiary qualification or experience in the field of youth or social work is highly desirable for this role.
• A current Victorian driver's licence is required for this role.