Overview

Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time

Salary: $81,496 - $98,955

Grade: VPS 3

Occupation: Projects

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: VG/DE/VECRA/1939260

Join our Worker Suitability Team and play a key role in protecting children through regulatory decision-making. In this varied role, you'll assess worker suitability matters, support compliance activities, manage the Early Childhood Workforce Register and work with a range of internal stakeholders to deliver high-quality regulatory outcomes. If you're detail-oriented, analytical and passionate about meaningful work, we'd love to hear from you.

An exciting opportunity is available for a highly motivated regulatory professional with strong attention to detail and a passion for meaningful and impactful work. The Program Officer position sits within the Worker Suitability Team and supports the delivery of worker suitability register

As a Program Officer, you will provide high-quality operational and regulatory support across a range of worker suitability matters. You will exercise sound judgement to assess information, identify risks and issues, and contribute to recommendations regarding regulatory actions, including suspensions, prohibitions and other compliance responses.

The Program Officer will:

- Assess and administer worker suitability matters in accordance with legislative and regulatory requirements.
- Support the management and maintenance of the Early Childhood Workforce Register, ensuring accuracy and integrity of records.
- Analyse information and contribute to risk-based assessments and recommendations relating to worker suitability issues.
- Prepare high-quality correspondence, reports, briefings and recommendations.
- Support compliance, assurance and regulatory activities relating to worker registration and suitability matters.
- Provide guidance and support to stakeholders regarding the Worker Register and associated regulatory requirements.
- Maintain accurate records and case management information.
- Identify, escalate and support the management of worker-related risks.




- Collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders across investigations, legal, intelligence, policy and regulatory operations functions.
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and the effective delivery of team objectives.

Experience

The ideal candidate will bring experience working within a regulatory environment and applying legislative, compliance or regulatory frameworks. They will possess strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to assess complex information, identify risks and issues, and make sound, timely and risk-based recommendations. Highly developed written communication skills are essential, including the ability to prepare high-quality briefs, reports, correspondence and decision-making documentation. The successful applicant will demonstrate strong stakeholder engagement and customer service capabilities, exceptional organisational skills, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment. They will exercise a high level of integrity, discretion and professionalism when handling sensitive matters, work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams, and demonstrate a strong commitment to child safety, wellbeing and the Victorian Public Sector Value

Attributes:

- Decision Making: Resolves local operational service delivery problems within guidelines. Exercises professional judgement about the application of rules, or the selection of choices within guidelines. Assesses and responds to policy and process changes in the work area.
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Seeks resolution of problems through policy or process guidelines. Otherwise seeks guidance by providing information and ideas relevant towards resolution of problem.



Understands concepts enabling improvements in critical thinking and problem solving.
- Stakeholder Management: Responds to clients' needs. Keeps the client or stakeholder up to date with issues and developments. Promptly follows through on inquiries, requests and complaints

Qualifications

Essential: Experience working within a regulatory workplace and in applying legal and regulatory frameworks

Essential: A valid Working with Children Check is required

Further Information

Applicants are required to submit a CV and cover letter (max 2 pages for cover letter) summarising their skills, relevant experience and suitability to the role.

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.

VECRA values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for VECRA, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the VECRA website and our Diversity and Inclusion page.

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about VECRA's operations and employment conditions can be located on the VECRA website.

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Jorja Skaltsas, A/Manager Worker Suitability [email protected]

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to VECRA will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g. large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close 11:59pm on 14 August 2026

Applications close Friday 14 August 2026 at 11.59pm

Posted

31 July 2026

📌 Program Officer (Melbourne)
🏢 Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority
📍 Melbourne