Education and Integrity

About Victorian Catholic Education Authority (VCEA)
VCEA is the peak body for Catholic education in Victoria. The former Catholic Education Commission of Victoria (CECV)
was established in 1973 by the Archbishop of Melbourne and the Bishops of the Ballarat, Sale, and Sandhurst dioceses,
it was incorporated in 2006. Following a review of the CECV the renewed peak body VCEA was established in 2023 and
acts as the voice of Catholic education in state and national matters.

VCEA receives and distributes funding from state and federal governments for Catholic schools, provides strategic
leadership and planning, and represents and advocates for Catholic education. It is responsible for sector leadership in
education integrity and governance and has a Memorandum of Understanding to act as a Review Body for Catholic
schools with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA). As a Review Body, VCEA supports, reviews,
and monitors the compliance of Catholic schools with all registration, reporting and other requirements under relevant
laws. VCEA also undertakes initiatives to improve the statewide performance of Catholic schools.

Why work with us
As the peak body for Catholic education in Victoria, VCEA provides employees an opportunity to help shape the future of
Catholic education across the state. VCEA offers flexible working, a central city office location, competitive remuneration
with generous perks (including tax-advantageous salary sacrifice options), and opportunities for career development
and progression.

These benefits combined with our commitment to work life balance, make VCEA an employer of choice.

About the role
The Integrity and Assurance team is responsible for ensuring that VCEA fulfils its responsibilities as a review body under
the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the VRQA. This includes responsibility for assuring the compliance of
Victorian Catholic schools and school boarding premises with the minimum standards and other requirements for
registration in the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 and regulations (minimum standards) and with Ministerial
Order No. 1359 – Child Safe Standards.

The team is part of the Education and Integrity portfolio, Reporting to the Lead Assurance Advisor, this role will contribute
to the work of a professional, skilled, and motivated team. Responsibilities include assessment, moderation, assurance,
and stakeholder engagement as outlined in the key responsibilities of the role.

This role is responsible for providing sector level coordination and assurance of emergency management and bushfire
preparedness across Victorian Catholic schools, particularly during the bushfire season. It works closely with school
proprietors, government agencies and emergency services to support effective escalation, communication, reporting,
post-incident review and continuous improvement.

The role also manages and supports the escalation,



assessment and resolution of complex and sensitive complaints
ensuring matters are handled with procedural fairness, sensitivity to community contexts, and in accordance with sector
expectations and regulatory requirements.

Position Title Senior Advisor, School Compliance and Emergency Management

Reports to Lead, Assurance Advisor

Direct Reports No

Key responsibilities of the role
• Assess compliance of schools and school boarding premises with the minimum standards for registration and child

safe standards, including undertaking moderation processes to ensure assessments are consistent, high-quality and
aligned with regulatory requirements.

- Monitor, review and support school proprietors in maintaining compliant Emergency Management Plans (EMPs),

including bushfire preparedness, critical incident response, and provide oversight of annual validation processes and
escalation of non-compliance concerns.

- Act as a central coordination point for emergency management and bushfire preparedness across Victorian Catholic

sector, including with school proprietors, relevant state government departments, agencies and emergency services.
- Manage and support the assessment and resolution of escalated complaints within the Catholic school environment,

ensuring sector expectations are met, sensitivity to community contexts, and communication with key stakeholders
is timely and effective.

- Identify and escalate risks and identify risk managements and mitigations.
- Represent VCEA at stakeholder forums, working groups, response committees and coordinate responses back to

state government as required.

- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders with the ability to

ascertain stakeholder requirements, build trust, influence, and address stakeholder needs.
- Develop guidance and resources to support and assist school proprietors to understand and comply with the

minimum standards, emergency management, complaints handling and child safe standards.
- Plan and deliver training and information sessions to proprietors, principals, reviewers and other stakeholders.
- Analyse and report on school compliance data to identify key issues, risks, and trends in relation to compliance.
- Prepare briefings and board and subcommittee papers on compliance matters.
- Contribute to processes supporting the delivery and evaluation of the team’s workplan.
- Maintain professional and technical knowledge through consultation with stakeholders, professional development,

and establishing personal networks.

- Other duties as required by the Manager,



Integrity and Assurance.

Key selection criteria
• Demonstrated experience and ability to apply legislation, regulatory requirements and policy frameworks relevant

to Victorian schools to support effective compliance assessment and assurance activities.

- Ability to contribute to emergency management and critical incident activities, including supporting compliance with

EMPs, bushfire preparedness and other requirements for Victorian schools.
- Sound experience in supporting the assessment and management of sensitive and complex complaints or matters,

exercising sound judgement, procedural fairness, discretion and an empathetic approach in an education or
regulatory context.

- Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to gather and assess information, identify risks

or emerging issues, and contribute to the preparation of clear, accurate reports, briefings and advice.
- Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with internal

teams, school authorities and external agencies, and operate effectively during time critical or high pressure
situations under direction.

- Excellent attention to detail with experience establishing work and progress-tracking processes and delivering

outcomes within tight timelines.
- Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively with team members to achieve team goals and KPIs.

Skills, qualifications, and pre-requisites
Previous A minimum of three years' experience in education administration, law, audit, compliance,
Experience/s risk, or a related field.

Experience in compliance assurance, complaints handling, risk management or regulatory
support within a complex organisation, government, education or public sector workplace.

Qualifications Appropriate tertiary qualifications in risk, audit, legal or a related field.

Organisational values A commitment to the ethos, values, and mission of Catholic education and to VCEA values of
excellence, promoting the common good, integrity, and equity.

Other requirements An understanding of and commitment to the safety, wellbeing, and protection of children,
requiring that you:

a. Must hold and maintain a current Victorian Working with Children Check or be
eligible to receive same upon joining the organization.

b. Must also undergo and receive a clear National Criminal History Check (NCHC)
upon employment and during your employment with VCEA. All employees are
required not to have been charged with, nor found guilty of any offence which
would be incompatible with employment with VCEA.

Must hold and maintain a valid Victorian driver’s license, access to a reliable car and be willing
to travel to schools in metropolitan and regional Victoria

Willingness to take reasonable care for your health and safety in the workplace and for the
health and safety of others who may be affected by what you do or don’t do.

📌 Specialist in School Compliance, Assurance, Child Safety & Emergency Readiness (Melbourne)
🏢 Catholic Education Commission Of Victoria
📍 Melbourne