Have you ever thought about relocating to Victoria and having a positive impact on the lives of children and families? Now is the perfect time to make that move with the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing currently offering generous financial supports for experienced child protection practitioners to relocate and work in Victoria. Relocation incentives are available to Advanced child protection practitioners (CPP4), and Senior/Lead child protection practitioners (CPP5) commencing in child protection in the below regional work locations:
- Sale and Bairnsdale (Outer Gippsland)
- Hamilton, Horsham, Portland & Warrnambool (Wimmera South West)
- Morwell, Leongatha & Warragul (Inner Gippsland)
- Mildura and Swan Hill (Mallee Area)
- Bendigo (Loddon)
- Shepparton and Seymour (Goulburn)
- Wangaratta & Wodonga (Ovens Murray)
- Ballarat (Central Highlands)
Financial incentives are available to suitably qualified and experienced Child Protection Practitioners at the CPP4 and CPP5 levels who commence in an eligible role and who meet the eligibility criteria. This includes a $5,000 one off payment upon commencement, up to $7,000 in relocation and accommodation supports, plus up to $8,000 paid over three years at 6 months, then annually after. To be eligible you must be live and work in one of the regional locations listed and be relocating from either a metro area in Victoria or from another state in Australia or New Zealand.
Please see the regional incentive program flyer or contact childprotectionjobs@dffh.vic.gov.au for further information.
Child Protection Retention Allowance
Under the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement 2024, eligible Child Protection Practitioners may also be eligible to receive the Retention Allowance.
This is a payment of $15,000 paid over three years to eligible CPP3 - CPP6 employees who are substantively employed and reside in one of the below regional locations:
- Outer Gippsland
- Inner Gippsland
- Mallee
- Wimmera South West
- Ovens Murray
- Goulburn
Payment schedule:
- 1 January 2025 - $2,500
- 1 July 2025 - $2,500
- 1 January 2026 - $2,500
- 1 July 2026 - $2,500
- 1 January 2027 - $2,500
- 1 July 2027 - $2,500
Other benefits include:
- Flexible work arrangements such as flexible start and finish times, condensed working arrangements, part time options and the ability to purchase additional leave. Some leave/arrangements will be subject to business needs.
- Four annual wage increases of 3 per cent over the life of the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement 2024.
- Up to 38 hours per year paid professional development leave (pro-rata for part time employees).
- Annual clothing allowance paid on 1 July of $650, pro rata for part time employees.
- Annual lump sum mobility payment – depending on the classification may vary from $836 to $2,251.
- Salary sacrificing options such as vehicle novated leases, private health insurance.
- Generous leave provisions i.e. 20 days of annual leave, 15 days of personal/ carer’s leave, an extra 5 days of annual leave after 12 months of service. Some leave will be pro-rata based on part time hours.
- Entitlement to access long service leave after 7 years of service.
- Dedicated and free wellbeing and support program specifically designed to support the mental health and wellbeing of child protection practitioners.
- Wellbeing and support program for employees and their immediate families, a free confidential service that provides a range of supports services, tools, and strategies to address a range of work-related and personal issues such as employee assist, career assist, legal assist, money assist, nutrition, and lifestyle assist. Some services may not extend to immediate families.
- Career supports for immediate family members (members of an immediate family have access to career development and job change supports such as job identification, job application assistance and interview skills).
- Other incentives and benefits i.e. flu vaccinations, rural after hours stand-by allowance, study assistance, reimbursements towards the cost of prescription glasses, reimbursements for damaged clothing, discounted gym memberships.
Applicants are encouraged to seek independent financial advice when considering salary packaging.
For further information contact childprotectionjobs@dffh.vic.gov.au.