Women's Prison Chaplain & Reintegration Officer

The Islamic Council Of Victoria – West Melbourne VIC

Position Title: Women's Prison Chaplain & Reintegration Officer

Organisation: Islamic Council of Victoria

Employment Type: Part Time, approximately 1.5–2.5 days per week; fixed term to 30 June 2027, with possibility of extension subject to funding.

Remuneration: $32–$32.50 per hour + superannuation

Reports to: ICV Chief Executive Officer

Office Email: *****@icv.org.au

The Islamic Council of Victoria:

The Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV) is the peak body for Muslim organisations in Victoria. The ICV represents the Victorian Muslim community and has more than 85 member organisations located throughout metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.

The ICV’s vision is to build a better community for all Australians through the empowerment of Muslims. The ICV aims to fulfil this vision through the provision of advocacy and social welfare services, and in consultation and cooperation with governments, multifaith communities, service providers and wider society. The organisation is firmly committed to providing support for, and protecting the rights of, Victorian Muslims.

The Position

Muslim Connect is an ICV initiative providing culturally and spiritually appropriate reintegration support for Victorian Muslims exiting prison – helping participants reconnect with family, community and faith, access mainstream services, housing and financial assistance, and build stable lives that reduce the risk of reoffending.

This position provides pre-release and post-release support to Muslim women in custody and returning to the community. Given the small number of female participants, both are held by one worker. Pre-release work involves regular travel to Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in Ravenhall and to Tarrengower Prison near Maldon (around two hours’ drive from Melbourne); post-release work is delivered through community outreach across Victoria. The role is also intended to take on ICV’s Sisters’ prison chaplaincy – leading prayers, religious education and pastoral care for Muslim women in custody. The Muslim Connect component commences immediately. The chaplaincy component is expected to follow later in the term, subject to confirmation; if it proceeds as anticipated, timing and hours will be agreed with the successful applicant and hours will increase accordingly.

The position reports to the Muslim Connect Program Coordinator, works within ICV’s established procedures and guidelines, and refers non-routine matters to ICV Management. Day to day, it works closely with the Muslim Connect Case Manager, and with ICV’s Head Imam and chaplaincy team on religious matters.

Responsibilities

Pre-Release Support

- Engage eligible Muslim women in custody, explain Muslim Connect and obtain informed consent to participate.




- Provide pre-release support and counselling (in person and online), including wellbeing assessments and release-readiness planning.
- Work with the Case Manager to develop individualised reintegration plans and referrals before release.

Post-Release Support

- Provide regular check-ins, mentoring and informal counselling to female participants, as per program guidelines.
- Support participants to access housing, financial assistance, employment, health services and culturally appropriate community networks, in coordination with partner services.
- Assist participants to meet release conditions, and support families where appropriate.
- Build working relationships with correctional staff, community corrections, community organisations and service providers.

Prison Chaplaincy (Sisters’)

- Attend women’s prisons on a regular scheduled day; lead prayers and religious services, and deliver Islamic classes and study circles.
- Provide one-on-one pastoral care to Muslim women in custody, including those not in Muslim Connect, and deliver Ramadan and Eid programs.
- Advocate with prison management for religious needs (prayer, diet, dress, religious materials) and source religious resources.
- Keep the two functions distinct: chaplaincy is available to all Muslim women in custody, pastoral conversations remain confidential (subject to risk-of-harm, mandatory reporting and prison security requirements), and information shared pastorally is not entered in Muslim Connect records without the participant’s agreement.

Records, Safeguarding and Compliance

- Maintain accurate, confidential records and case notes in line with ICV and funding requirements, record hours against each component, and contribute to program reporting.
- Identify and elevate risk, safeguarding and wellbeing concerns in line with ICV policies and mandatory reporting obligations, and raise extraordinary prison matters with ICV Management promptly.
- Observe all prison security protocols and complete facility inductions; comply with ICV policies and maintain skilled boundaries, confidentiality and the highest ethical standards.
- Participate in supervision, team meetings and training, and undertake other duties as reasonably requested by ICV Management.

This position description intends to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this role. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities.



The order in which duties and responsibilities are listed is not necessarily significant.

Key Selection Criteria

Essential Experience, Knowledge, and Attributes

- Demonstrated experience as a chaplain, counsellor, mentor, pastoral carer or support worker, ideally with vulnerable or justice-involved people. A relevant qualification (counselling, social work, chaplaincy, community services) is highly regarded.
- Sound knowledge of Islamic principles and practice, with respect for the diversity of opinion and practice within the Islamic tradition, and the ability to lead prayers and religious programs for women, teach foundational Islamic knowledge, and provide faith-based pastoral support.
- Ability to deliver trauma-informed, non-judgmental support to women with complex needs, including housing instability, mental health, substance use and family violence.
- Ability to help participants navigate housing, financial, health and employment services, and to work collaboratively with case managers, correctional staff and partner services.
- Understanding of confidentiality, professional boundaries, duty of care and mandatory reporting.
- Strong communication, interpersonal and organisational skills, accurate record-keeping, and the ability to work independently in prison and community settings.
- Commitment to ICV values, including cultural safety, dignity and empowerment for participants.

Strong Preferences

- Experience within or alongside the correctional or criminal justice system.
- Language skills relevant to the Muslim community, e.g. Arabic, Somali, Turkish, Dari, Urdu.

Other Requirements

- Current right to work in Australia.
- Full driver’s licence and access to a reliable vehicle, for regular travel to Dame Phyllis Frost Centre and Tarrengower Prison (regional Victoria) and community outreach.
- Ability to obtain prison clearance (Fit2Work) and complete prison induction before client-facing work; National Police Check and Working with Children Check (or willingness to obtain).
- Availability during business hours (Monday to Friday), with occasional work outside these hours, and capacity to increase hours when the chaplaincy component commences.

Contract Period

Part-time, fixed term to 30 June 2027, with possibility of extension subject to funding. The commencement of the chaplaincy component, and any change to hours, will be agreed with the successful applicant.

Hours

Approximately 1.5 to 2.5 days per week depending on the mix of components, and may increase when the chaplaincy component commences. Hours are agreed with the successful applicant and varied by agreement as needed. Occasional work outside ordinary hours may be required, for example around Ramadan and Eid programs or to support participants at release.

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📌 Women's Prison Chaplain & Reintegration Officer (Melbourne)
🏢 The Islamic Council Of Victoria
📍 Melbourne