Senior Legal Counsel

Thomas Embling Hospital, 201 Yarra Bend Rd, Fairfield VIC 3078, Australia

Grade: HS8

$136,650 + Super + Benefits + salary packaging (Salary subject to change with recent EBA)

Full time ongoing

Are you a motivated, self-starting legal professional interested in mental health and looking to apply your legal expertise for good?

Forensicare is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel to join its Governance, Risk and Legal (GRL) team. Reporting to the Head of Legal, the Senior Legal Counsel will work closely with all members of the GRL team and will be responsible for providing expert legal advice and assistance on a broad range of areas to guide and inform Forensicare’s decision making, including Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997 matters, privacy, employment, commercial contracting, corporate governance and risk management.

This is a role that will expose the successful candidate to a breadth of legal, compliance and governance issues and provide an opportunity to develop their legal expertise in a supportive team environment.

Does this sound like you?

A strong self-starter and problem solver, you will have had at least 5-6 years’ post admission experience in a respected firm or in-house setting. You enjoy working in a hands‑on role and are confident to take the lead on matters and provide support and guidance to junior members of the team. You are personable which enables you to thrive in a team environment and successfully engage and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.

You also have excellent communication and drafting skills, including the ability to write in a clear and engaging manner.

About Forensicare

Forensicare (the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health) is the leading provider of forensic mental health services across Victoria. Forensic mental health is a specialist area within the mental health service system.



Forensicare delivers recovery‑focused programs to consumers with serious mental illnesses across the Victorian justice system, mental health sector, and the community – from early intervention and prevention, to inpatient care, rehabilitation, and community transition support.

These services are delivered through three streams— inpatient services at Thomas Embling Hospital, community services through the Community Forensic Mental Health Service and prison‑based services at several locations across the State. This position will be based at Thomas Embling Hospital with a requirement to work across all Forensicare sites from time to time. We also work in partnership with Swinburne University of Technology through the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science to deliver a forensic mental health research programme, specialist training, and ongoing professional education.

Benefits

- Great salary packaging conditions and leave entitlements
- Ongoing training and professional development
- Comprehensive health and wellbeing programmes including gym and pool access, staff health service, Critical Incident Stress Management and Employee Assistance Programs.
- Police Check required
- Forensicare values a diverse workforce and strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Criteria

- Hold a current Australian practising certificate which entitles you to practice in Victoria.
- At least five years post admission experience.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently (with judgement regarding when to elevate matters to the Head of Legal) but also an enthusiastic team player.




- Statutory interpretation skills and demonstrated experience in public law.
- General commercial contracting capabilities.
- Experience in any of the following areas will be viewed favourably:
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022, Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997 and the Charter
- Employment
- Procurement
- Privacy and Freedom of Information

Culture

- People matter
- Excellent supervision and investment in the skill development of all team members
- Well defined career pathways across our Directorates with multi‑disciplined teams
- Salary packaging options available – Mortgage, Rent, Car, Expenses
- Leading, multi‑faced approach to safety, with unparalleled strategic, practical, individualised and team‑based supports to minimise risks and fear and maximise safety and security
- Celebration and reward for good performance, through employee recognition
- Access to an employee assistance program – external, confidential, self‑referral employee wellbeing program for personal or work‑related matters
- Mental health and wellbeing programme providing psychological, peer support and critical incidence response programmes

Equal Opportunity Statement

Forensicare is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to attracting and developing a diverse workforce which reflects the community we serve. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people who identify as LGBTQI+, people with a lived experience of disability, as well as people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Forensicare promotes its guiding principles of RESPONSIVENESS, INTEGRITY, IMPARTIALITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPECT, LEADERSHIP, HUMAN RIGHTS and encourages behaviours that are consistent with these values at all times. Forensicare is an equal opportunity employer and offers a smoke‑free environment.

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📌 Legal - Senior Legal Counsel (Melbourne)
🏢 Forensicare
📍 Melbourne