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Make a move to Regional Victoria

Are you considering work as a child protection practitioner in rural Victoria?

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)
  • Morwell, Leongatha & Warragul (Inner Gippsland)
  • Mildura and Swan Hill (Mallee Area)
  • Bendigo (Loddon Area)
  • Shepparton and Seymour (Goulburn Area)
  • Wangaratta & Wodonga (Ovens Murray Area)
  • Ballarat (Central Highlands Area)
  • Hamilton & Horsham (Western Melbourne Area)
  • Portland & Warrnambool (Wimmera South West Area)

Financial incentives for employees who commence in an eligible role and who meet the eligibility criteria may include a new starter location incentive of up to $13,500, paid over three years. In addition, employees may be eligible for a once off relocation supplement of between $1,000 and $4,000 upon commencement. To be eligible you must be live and work in one of the regional locations below 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.

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
  • 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, 5 days of professional development time per year, 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
  • Annual mobility payment of up to $1,595
  • 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
  • Local coordinators (coordinators are appointed within the department and will be available to provide information and support on local amenities and information to support new starters)
  • Regional orientation (new starters are provided with a tailored orientation program)
  • Mentoring program and buddy system

Applicants are encouraged to seek independent financial advice when considering salary packaging.

For further information contact - childprotectionjobs@dffh.vic.gov.au