Job Description

Help people prepare for a new beginning. Build pathways from prison to community, connection and opportunity.

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Position Snapshot

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Salary range - $124,744 to $129,961 Level 7 SCHADS Award 2010 + Superannuation (pay point dependent on qualifications and experience)

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Full-time, 1.0 FTE, Ongoing

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Position is based in Melbourne CBD, with State-wide travel, access to a fleet vehicle

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Generous not-for-profit salary packaging and above-Award leave arrangements

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About ReLink

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Leaving prison is more than a change of location.

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It is a significant transition, one that can involve reconnecting with family and community, navigating services, finding stability, rebuilding identity and relationships, and beginning to imagine what life beyond prison might look like.

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The period before release provides an important opportunity to prepare for that transition.

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ReLink is part of the Corrections Victoria Reintegration Pathway and is a voluntary preparatory program for people being released from prison. The program supports participants to prepare for life in the community by providing practical strategies, meaningful connections and tailored transitional support.

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ReLink recognises that successful reintegration is built over time. It begins before release and is strengthened when people have the knowledge, relationships, resources and confidence to navigate the transition ahead.

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We are looking for an experienced and values-driven ReLink Program Manager to lead this important work.

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About the role

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As ReLink Program Manager, you will lead the delivery, quality and continuous improvement of ReLink across Victoria.

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You will provide strategic and operational leadership to a team working within Victorian prisons, supporting practitioners to engage people in purposeful conversations about their futures and to build practical pathways towards community life.

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You will create the conditions for staff to do their best work — providing clear expectations, reflective supervision, practical support, accountability and opportunities to develop their practice.

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A key part of your role will be ensuring that ReLink is both person-centred and outcome-focused. You will monitor program data and participant outcomes, identify what is working and where gaps exist, and use these insights to strengthen practice and improve the program.

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You will also build solid relationships across the justice, community and service systems, working with Corrections Victoria, prison-based teams, Community Corrections, ReConnect providers and community services to strengthen continuity of support.

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This is an opportunity to lead a program that helps people move from a custodial environment towards a future in which they can reconnect, participate and belong.

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What you'll be doing

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Lead high-quality reintegration practice

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- Lead the delivery of ReLink in accordance with contractual requirements, program standards and Vacro's practice frameworks.
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- Support staff to engage participants in meaningful preparation for release and life in the community.
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- Embed a practice approach that recognises participants as people with strengths, aspirations, relationships and capacity — not simply as people with risks or needs.
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- Support staff to explore the practical and relational foundations of successful reintegration, including identity, relationships, housing, health, community connection, service access and future aspirations.
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- Ensure practice is strengths-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive and grounded in participant choice and agency.
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- Build staff capability through mentoring, reflective supervision, feedback and professional development.
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- Support practitioners to navigate complexity and challenging situations while maintaining a focus on participant dignity, safety and possibility.
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Lead a program that learns and improves

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- Analyse program data, processes and work practices to understand strengths, weaknesses, emerging issues and opportunities.
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- Monitor program delivery and outcomes against contractual KPIs and other quality measures.
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- Lead continuous improvement activities and ensure identified improvements are implemented.
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- Use monitoring and evaluation findings, practitioner knowledge and participant experience to inform program design and service improvement.
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- Identify emerging gaps or barriers to effective reintegration and develop practical strategies to address them.
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- Review and develop program manuals, processes, practice resources and other documentation.
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- Conduct internal program audits and contribute to internal and external audits.
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- Support research and evaluation activities that contribute to a stronger evidence base for reintegration practice.
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Build pathways and partnerships

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- Effective reintegration depends on what happens beyond the program itself.
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You will develop and maintain strong relationships across the justice and community sectors, including:

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- Corrections Victoria and prison staff.
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- ReConnect service providers.
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- Housing and homelessness services.
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- Drug and alcohol treatment providers.
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- Mental health and disability support services.
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- First Nations community services.
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- Other community support providers and networks.
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You will represent Vacro and ReLink in relevant forums and networks, advocate for participant needs, and work with stakeholders to strengthen pathways between prison, community services and the wider community.

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You will help build a shared understanding that reintegration is about creating the conditions in which people can establish stability, connection, purpose and a sense of belonging.

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Lead and develop people

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- Lead, mentor and support Senior Reintegration Coordinators.
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- Monitor staff performance, engagement and wellbeing.
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- Provide regular management supervision and practical feedback.
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- Support staff to reflect on their practice and learn from experience.
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- Undertake Performance Planning, Development and Review processes.
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- Foster a team culture characterised by trust, empowerment, clarity, accountability and learning.
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- Provide effective support and debriefing following challenging situations.
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- Ensure appropriate management coverage during periods of leave to maintain continuity of program delivery.
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- You will lead with self-awareness and empathy, understanding that leadership behaviour shapes the experience, confidence and capability of the people around you.
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Strengthen accountability and impact

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- Ensure ReLink achieves and maintains contractual KPIs and quality measures.
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- Identify and address issues that may affect contractual compliance or program performance.
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- Monitor the accuracy, completeness and timeliness of program data.
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- Oversee quarterly and annual reporting.
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- Prepare high-quality reports that clearly communicate program performance, outcomes, challenges and opportunities.
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- Contribute to contract reviews, KPI development and potential variations to service delivery.
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- Ensure program delivery remains aligned with Vacro's organisational strategy and reintegration frameworks.
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About you

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You are an experienced human services leader who understands that reintegration begins well before a person leaves prison.

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You understand that people returning to the community need more than a referral or a list of services. They need opportunities to prepare, make meaningful choices, reconnect with relationships and community, build confidence, and develop a pathway towards a future they can see themselves belonging to.

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You bring strong program management and people leadership capability,



combined with a genuine belief in people's capacity to change and create new possibilities.

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You will bring:

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- A tertiary qualification in Social Work, Psychology, Criminology, Human Services or a related discipline.
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- Significant program management experience working with complex clients, particularly people who have been involved with the criminal justice system.
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- Strong knowledge and understanding of the experiences and systemic barriers affecting people leaving prison and their families.
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- Demonstrated experience supervising, mentoring and developing staff.
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- Experience providing reflective supervision and debriefing staff following challenging situations.
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- Demonstrated ability to identify problems, develop practical solutions and implement change collaboratively.
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- Experience developing, documenting and communicating service delivery processes in consultation with stakeholders.
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- Demonstrated ability to develop partnerships across justice, housing, health, community and other service systems.
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- Experience using data, monitoring and evaluation to understand performance and improve practice.
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- Strong understanding of strengths-based, trauma-informed and culturally responsive practice.
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- Highly developed interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
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- Strong written communication and reporting skills.
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- Excellent organisational, planning, record-keeping and time management skills.
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- Confidence using Microsoft Office, Teams, databases and other digital systems.
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- Most importantly, you will bring curiosity, humility, empathy and a commitment to meaningful change.
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- You will be comfortable working with complexity while maintaining a focus on possibility. You will understand that people's pathways are rarely linear, and that sustainable reintegration is strengthened when people have genuine agency, meaningful relationships and practical support to navigate change.
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About Vacro

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Vacro is an independent non-profit organisation working with people caught in the criminal justice system and their families. Founded in 1872, we are Victoria's oldest and only specialised criminal justice reintegration service. We provide reintegration, family, and employment support that enables people to create new beginnings for themselves and their families.

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We value the expertise of people from a wide range of backgrounds. Because of the work we do, we especially value the expertise of First Nations people, people with lived experience of the criminal justice system, and people of diverse cultural backgrounds and identities. We also welcome applications from people with a criminal record. (We do not discriminate based on a person's criminal record, however in some circumstances, contractual or legislative obligations may limit a person's eligibility for certain roles. We are happy to have a confidential discussion about how these requirements may affect a candidate).

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Many members of our workforce bring invaluable lived experience that enriches our teams with authenticity and diverse insights. These individuals not only possess professional skills, but also a profound understanding of the challenges and complexities that arise from their personal journeys. Their unique perspectives cultivate empathy and spark innovation, enabling us to develop solutions that are not only practical but also meaningful. At Vacro, you'll be part of a culture that champions inclusivity and values every voice, empowering you to make a real difference in the lives of those we serve.

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What we offer

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Vacro is dedicated to staff wellbeing. We provide extensive on-boarding training and ongoing professional development for staff, amongst other benefits.

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Vacro is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. We celebrate and welcome all people regardless of ethnicity, cultural background, age, gender, sexuality, disability or religious affiliation.

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Some roles at Vacro require applicants to undergo an extensive screening process prior to appointment.

📌 Program Manager - ReLink Program (Victoria)
🏢 VACRO
📍 Victoria