Project Officers - Family Preservation and Child Protection Branch
Department: N/A
Department/Agency: Department of Communities and Justice
Location: Parramatta, NSW, AU, ****
Project Officers -
Family Preservation and Child Protection Branch
Multiple positions, Family Preservation and Child Protection Branch
Location –
Parramatta – Flexible working arrangements may be negotiated
Employment type –
Temporary full-time, 35 hours per week, for up to 12 months, with the possibility of extension up to a maximum of 4 years
Grade/Salary –
Clerk Grade 7/8 ($116,981 – $129,492 pa) plus superannuation
This is a targeted recruitment.
While all applicants are welcome, preference will be given to candidates who meet the established standards of the role and are of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent.
This is because the Department acknowledges this lived experience contributes a perspective valuable to our work with this community.
About the team
The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) is investing $900 million into a redesigned Family Preservation service system in NSW to improve the outcomes, experience, suitability, and accessibility for families.
The redesign aims to keep children safe and at home and prevent entry into Out of Home Care.
For Aboriginal children, young people, and families this also means increasing culturally safe, responsive and community-led services that centre family-led decision making.
The NSW Government is directing $350 million of funding, or 40% of service delivery funding, to Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs).
Most of this funding is directed to the new ACCO-only Aboriginal Family Preservation Framework, which provides ACCOs with the opportunity to codesign Family Preservation models with the community.
This role is based in the Family Preservation and Child Protection Branch.
The Family Preservation and Child Protection Branch is responsible for managing the Family Preservation program and leading the system design and implementation of the program, updating and developing child protection policy and practice mandates, and managing child protection programs (including Family Group Conferencing and Pregnancy Family Conferencing).
Family Preservation and Child Protection Branch sits within Child and Family which leads the development of child protection policy, strategic program design and program management.
Your role and what you'll do
The NSW Government is investing $5.6m per annum to support the implementation of the redesigned Family Preservation system and has set out its 5-year road map in the Family Preservation Implementation Plan .
The Family Preservation Program team is made up of three internal functions, each playing a distinct role, while working together to support consistent implementation across the state.
These functions are Program management and communications, Program design & continuous improvement, and Implementation Support.
The Program Design & Continuous Improvement team is responsible for data system, reporting and evaluation,



and for progressing ongoing program design work, including co-design activity.
This function supports ongoing refinement of the Family Preservation system over time, informed by data, reporting and evaluation.
As a Project Officer, you will:
Use data, reports, and evaluation findings to inform ongoing program design decisions
Progress refinements to program design, for example supporting the development and implementation of client experience measures
Support the coordination of co-design activity where further development or refinement of the program is required, for example, co-design aspects of the Families Together framework
Support the establishment of an Aboriginal Family Preservation governance group to guide design decisions
Partner with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to co-design aspects of the Aboriginal Family Preservation framework
Work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders, including the coordination of relevant Communities of Practice
Project Officer - Implementation support
The Implementation Support team is responsible for practical implementation support and on-the-ground engagement with services and districts during rollout.
This function faces into regions to provide practical, localised support and improve responsiveness during implementation.
As a Project Officer, you will:
Support service providers to apply the redesigned, new system and operational requirements in practice and actively problem solve
Support the provision of training, walkthroughs and hands on support during the initial establishment period of the new Family Preservation system
Work closely with regions (DCJ Child Protection and Permanency, and Commissioning and Planning) to support local rollout and resolve early operational issues
Prioritise support for new and expanding service providers, including ACCOs and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) service providers
Build trusted relationships and collaborate across government and stakeholders to support DCJ and the sector to keep children safe at home and prevent entry in to Out of Home Care
Project Officer - Program management and communications
The Program management and communications team is responsible for day program oversight, day-to-day coordination, and communications and stakeholder management.
The team plays a central role in bringing the program together, ensuring teams are aligned around shared priorities, plans, and outcomes, and supporting delivery across multiple workstreams.
This function ensures the program operates coherently, and that service providers have clarify about priorities and expectations,



so the program can be implemented as planned and to the benefit of children and families.
As a Project Officer, you will:
Perform secretariat duties for the Family Preservation Board
Provide secretariat support for other governance/advisory functions
Conduct project planning, maintain progress documents, and engage in risk management
Facilitate team project management meetings to discuss project progress, risks and issues
Advise the Director Family Preservation and Child Protection of key progress and risks
Prepare papers and reports for governance groups and stakeholder engagement activities
What we're looking for
Working with Children Check clearance in accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act ****
In addition to the above essential requirements for the role the successful applicant will desirable possess
Experience working with government agencies and non-government organisations to implement initiatives or services
Ability to work independently and collaboratively, and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders
Experience in project management
Computer and systems competency
Robust written and verbal communication skills
Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills
Sound research and analysis skills to support evidence‐based decisions
Experience in, or interest in, child protection
Project Officer - Program design & continuous improvement: Experience in partnering with Aboriginal stakeholders to implement projects or services is desirable
Project Officer - Program management & communications: Experience working in governance is desirable
What We Offer
We offer a variety of benefits, including:
A challenging and rewarding career
Flexible, autonomous work environment
Competitive pay and conditions
Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities
Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.
Want more information?
Visit our website to see more information on Working for us.
We do work that really matters
Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference.
We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities.
We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage.
It's work that really matters.
Applications close Tuesday 1 September**** at 11:59pm AEST.
Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit
We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience and backgrounds.
This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers and other diversity groups.
A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.
Thank you for your interest in this role.
We look forward to receiving your application.
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📌 Project Officers - Family Preservation And Child Protection Branch (New South Wales)
🏢 Nsw Department Of Communities And Justice
📍 New South Wales