Overview
Location: 273 High Street, Preston VIC 3072Employment Type: Full Time, 12-Month Fixed Term (potential to be ongoing)Salary: $120,000 + Super + Salary Packaging
This is a rare opportunity to establish and lead a newly created Family Violence Service at VALS. You will shape the service model, build a high‑performing team, and deliver culturally safe, multidisciplinary support to clients across Victoria. If you’re a senior practitioner who wants influence, impact and the chance to build something meaningful then this role is for you.
About Victoria Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS)VALS is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation providing culturally safe legal and support services across Victoria. Since 1973, we have delivered advocacy in criminal, civil, family and human rights law, alongside holistic programs including our 24/7 Custody Notification Service, family violence support, community legal education and culturally grounded client services.
About the Family Violence ServiceOur new multidisciplinary model brings together lawyers, family violence practitioners, Aboriginal Community Engagement Workers, paralegals and support staff. The service integrates legal advocacy with social support, safety planning, cultural connection and holistic case coordination. The focus is on reducing misidentification, improving justice outcomes and ensuring clients receive safe, dignified and culturally secure support.
The RoleAs Managing Lawyer, you will provide leadership, practice oversight and operational management of the Family Violence Legal Team. Your work will combine:
- Lead the establishment and ongoing development of the service
- Oversee day‑to‑day operations, file allocation and court coverage
- Ensure high‑quality, integrated multidisciplinary practice
People and Culture
- Supervise and mentor lawyers and paralegals
- Support professional development, wellbeing and performance
- Foster a positive, inclusive and culturally safe team culture
Legal Practice
- Provide expert legal representation in family violence and related criminal matters
- Manage high‑risk and complex caseloads
- Offer specialist guidance on misidentification and integrated responses
Sector Impact
- Represent VALS in stakeholder forums and partnerships
- Contribute to policy, law reform and service improvement initiatives
- Deliver training and community legal education
Who We Are Looking ForA values-driven senior practitioner who:
- Brings strong cultural humility and trauma‑informed practice
- Has exceptional leadership presence and emotional intelligence
- Thrives in complex, fast‑paced and high‑risk environments
- Is motivated by service-building and long‑term impact
- Can balance compassion with accountability and high professional standards
Essential Criteria
- Current unrestricted Victorian Practising Certificate and ability to hold a Principal Practising Certificate
- Significant experience in family violence, criminal law or related practice areas involving Aboriginal clients
- Demonstrated experience with complex matters, including misidentification
- Strong understanding of culturally safe and trauma‑informed practice
- Experience supervising staff within multidisciplinary service models
- Proven service leadership and operational management capability
- Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills
Why Join VALS
- Lead a newly established specialist service
- 17.5% Leave Loading
- 5 additional days of annual leave on top of the standard 20 days
- Generous salary packaging up to $15,900 via Maxxia
- Real influence over service design and practice
- Work within an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation
- Integrated multidisciplinary model of care
- Strong organisational support and professional development
- Purpose-driven work with long-term community impact
Ready to lead change where it matters most?Submit your Resume and Cover Letter and take the lead in building a culturally safe, specialist Family Violence Service that strengthens safety, reduces harm and improves justice outcomes.
We are committed to equity, inclusion and accessibility. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. We welcome people from diverse cultural backgrounds and LGBTIQA+ communities, and we actively support workplace adjustments throughout recruitment and employment.
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Your application will include the following questions:
- Which of the following statements best describes your right to work in Australia?
- Do you have a current Australian driver’s licence?
- Do you hold a current, unrestricted Victorian Practising Certificate and do you have the ability to hold a Principal Practising Certificate?
- Are you able to undertake regional or interstate travel as required?
- Have you led or conducted complex family violence and/or criminal matters involving Aboriginal clients (including misidentification cases) in the last 2–3 years?
To help fast track investigation, please include here any other relevant details that prompted you to report this job ad as fraudulent / misleading / discriminatory / salary below minimum wage.
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