Investigation Officer (Identified)

Office of the Children’s Guardian

Investigation Officer (Identified)

• This is an Identified position and is open only to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
• Contribute to creating safer environments for Aboriginal children, young people and communities across New South Wales.
• Bring your investigation, risk assessment or regulatory experience to an Aboriginal Identified role where cultural knowledge, community connection and professional capability are highly valued.
• Join a newly established Investigations & Enforcement Directorate committed to child safety, accountability and continuous improvement.
• One full-time, temporary opportunity to 30 June 2027.
• Located at Strawberry Hills with hybrid / flexible working arrangements.
• Clerk Grade 7/8 - $116,981 - $129,492 (plus employer's contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading).

About the Office of Children’s Guardian

The Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) upholds NSW children, young people and vulnerable people’s right to be safe by overseeing, regulating and monitoring organisations and individuals that provide these services. We are guided by our values of integrity, trust, service, accountability, respect and empathy.

Located on Gadigal Country in Redfern, Sydney, we work across metropolitan, regional, rural and remote communities to strengthen child-safe practice, regulate key child-related sectors and support better outcomes for children and young people.

Through regulation, oversight, education and partnership, we support organisations, communities and individuals to uphold the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children and young people.

To find out more about the Office of the Children’s Guardian, visit our website.

Why Join OCG

At OCG, you'll contribute to meaningful work that helps create safer environments for children and young people across NSW.

We offer:

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• A culturally safe workplace supported by OCG's First Nations Staff Network, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Steering Committee and access to culturally appropriate external cultural supervision and support.
• Access to leave and flexible working arrangements that support connection to culture, Country, community, family and significant cultural obligations.
• Professional development and career growth opportunities.
• A values-driven workplace committed to child safety and cultural inclusion.
• You will also have the opportunity to help shape a newly established investigations function and contribute to strengthening child-safe systems across New South Wales.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment

The Office of the Children's Guardian values Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge and leadership and is committed to creating a culturally safe workplace where employees feel respected, supported and empowered to thrive. We recognise the importance of connection to Country, culture, community and kinship and encourage applicants to draw on cultural knowledge, lived experience, community engagement, leadership and transferable skills throughout their application.

We welcome applications from candidates with experience gained through community, government, non-government, regulatory, investigative, justice, advocacy, service delivery and leadership roles.

If you do not meet every listed requirement but believe your experience, cultural knowledge, community connections and transferable skills would enable you to succeed in the role, we strongly encourage you to apply.

About the role

The Investigation Officer supports the delivery of high-quality, consistent, and timely regulatory investigations across the Child Safe, Working with Children Check, and Reportable Conduct schemes. The Investigation Officer contributes to the centralised investigations and compliance function by gathering information, conducting preliminary assessments, analysing evidence, and preparing documentation that informs decision-making.

The Investigations and Enforcement Directorate plays an important role in responding to matters affecting the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children and young people across New South Wales. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives are critical to ensuring our regulatory approaches, investigations and stakeholder engagement are culturally informed, respectful and responsive to the diverse communities we serve. This identified role contributes to strengthening cultural capability within the Directorate and supporting better outcomes for Aboriginal children, young people, families and communities.

Essential Requirements

• Appropriate tertiary qualifications or demonstrated, relevant, equivalent professional experience.
• Employment at the Office of the Children’s Guardian is subject to the satisfactory completion of security and related vetting checks.
• All roles associated with the Office of the Children's Guardian are required to have a current Working with Children Check.

For further information about the role, please view the role description.

Note: As an Identified role, this role is open only to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons, Australia’s First Nations people. Where a position is identified, an applicant’s race is a genuine occupational qualification and authorised by Section 14(d) of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977.

There are two alternatives to confirming your Aboriginality:

1. Confirmation of Aboriginality form OR

2. Written confirmation from two to three Aboriginal organisations within the community in which you live or work, confirming that the applicant:

• is of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent;
• identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person; and
• is accepted as such by the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, culturally safe and accessible workplace that reflects the communities we serve.

We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ people, carers and people with diverse lived experiences.

We recognise the unique strengths and perspectives Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples bring to our work and are committed to creating an environment where employees feel respected, supported and able to thrive.

We are committed to providing equitable employment opportunities and reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and employment lifecycle.

If you require a reasonable adjustment in the recruitment process, including application, assessment or interview stages, please contact the People and Culture team on (02) 8219 3661 or OCG.HR@ocg.nsw.gov.au and advise of your preferred method of communication. Requests will be treated confidentially and considered on an individual basis.

To apply, please submit:

• An up-to-date resume (maximum four pages) in either Word or PDF format; and
• Responses to the two targeted questions below (maximum 400 words each).

When preparing your application, provide practical examples demonstrating your experience, transferable skills, achievements, cultural capability and suitability for the role. Applications will be assessed on merit, having regard to the capabilities, knowledge, experience and requirements relevant to the position.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants may request cultural support at any stage of the recruitment process.

Targeted questions

1. Describe a situation where you gathered information from a range of sources to investigate an issue, assess risk or support a recommendation. What was your approach and what was the outcome?

2. Describe a situation where you built trust or worked collaboratively with people from diverse backgrounds to achieve an outcome. What approach did you take and what was the result?

Note: the selection process will include a range of assessment techniques to assist in determining your suitability for the role.

Want to learn more?

We understand that applying for government roles can be unfamiliar. Applicants are encouraged to contact the hiring manager for a confidential conversation about:

• the role
• the team
• the recruitment process
• reasonable adjustments
• cultural support requirements.

You can contact the hiring manager Lindsay Kerfoot, Manager Investigations & Enforcement, Investigations & Enforcement on phone 0447 601 354 or via email at lindsay.kerfoot@ocg.nsw.gov.au to discuss the role.

Applications closing date: Monday 12 November 2026 at 10:00am

This recruitment may result in the establishment of a Talent Pool and/or Merit Pool for future temporary, ongoing, project-based, secondment or acting opportunities at the same grade.

Suitable candidates may also be considered for comparable roles requiring similar capabilities across the Office of the Children's Guardian for up to 18 months without the need to reapply.