Senior Project Officer

Child Protection and Permanency

Senior Project Officer

HCEA Strategy Unit

Talent Pool

This is a comparative assessment recruitment for the development of a talent pool, which will be drawn upon to fill various Senior Project Officer roles within the HCEA Strategy Unit, as the need arises, and may be used by other business units and divisions, across Child Protection and Permanency and the broader Department of Communities and Justice.

Location: Parramatta

A hybrid mix, including working from a primary work location at least 50% of the time and working from home, can be negotiated.

Employment type: Talent Pool for future Ongoing and Temporary, Full-Time opportunities

Salary: Clerk Grade 9/10 ($133,348- $146,945 pa), plus employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading

The HCEA Strategy Unit sits within the Child Protection and Permanency division.

We acknowledge the harm caused by past government policies and practices and the significant impact these have had on First Nations children, families and communities.

We commit to recognition of past injustices, truth-telling, and working in partnership with First Nations children, parents, families, communities and the sector to improve outcomes for children and young people in who can’t live at home right now.

If you are aligned with our commitment and goals of inclusion, collaboration, courage and integrity – we encourage you to apply for this role.

The HCEA Strategy Unit

The High Cost Emergency Arrangement (HCEA) Strategy Unit fosters a collaborative and respectful working environment built on trust, equity, and inclusiveness. Our approach is based around shared responsibility, mutual respect, and collective action to improve outcomes for children and young people.

Our multidisciplinary teams work together to:

• Reduce the number of children and young people entering HCEAs in first instance by undertaking a preventative approach alongside districts and NGO casework teams.
• Reduce the number of children and young people currently in HCEAs by supporting restoration efforts, finding kinship placement options and addressing vacancies across the funded service system.
• Scrutinise and reduce costs associated with these arrangements.
• Increase placement supply and implement strategies to stabilise out-of-home care (OOHC) placements.

Your role

The HCEA Strategy Unit is an operational unit.

As a HCEA Support Squad Senior Project Officer in the HCEA Strategy Unit you will collaborate with DCJ and NGO casework teams to prevent unnecessary entries into HCEA, support safe and timely exits when a HCEA has been established, and ensure holistic care that focuses on permanency, cultural connection, and wellbeing. Our team drives system-wide solutions, challenges barriers, and partners with the broader sector to support safe and timely transitions back home to parents, kin and Country, or into stable, home-based or therapeutic placements, if suitable.

What you’ll do

In the HCEA Support Squads, you will lean on your operational expertise and your systems knowledge to reduce the number of children in HCEAs and how long they stay in HCEAs. You will provide practical support (e.g. home visits, group supervisions, assessments or other required operational or field work activities) and expert advice to prevent entries into HCEAs, working closely with casework teams, NGOs, and the Central Access Unit (CAU) to identify alternative placements and expedite referrals. You’ll monitor and review children in HCEA, support exit planning, and coordinate transitions and access to therapeutic supports. The role involves system advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and navigating complex service systems to remove barriers and improve outcomes. You’ll help to mobilise outcomes on-the-ground with casework teams – supporting staff to find family, make referrals, or bring together multiple stakeholders to expedite better outcomes. You’ll also oversee financial approval processes, contribute to quality assurance, and use data to inform decision-making and drive continuous improvement across the broader service system.

The HCEA Strategy Unit fosters a collaborative and respectful working environment built on trust, equity, and inclusiveness. Our approach is based around shared responsibility, mutual respect, and collective action to improve outcomes for children and young people.

Our multidisciplinary teams work together to:

• Reduce the number of children and young people in HCEAs.
• Scrutinise and reduce costs associated with these arrangements.
• Address vacancies across the funded service system.

Increase placement supply and implement strategies to stabilise Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) placements.

What we’re looking for

Are you passionate about creating equitable, inclusive, and sustainable solutions for vulnerable children and young people? The HCEA Strategy Unit is seeking dynamic professionals to join a high-performing team committed to transforming outcomes for children and young people in OOHC.

• Demonstrated experience providing high level advice and guidance to improve policy and programs with a focus on outcomes for children and young people.
• Ability to work autonomously and effectively manage competing priorities.
• Highly developed knowledge of ChildStory and proficiency using Microsoft packages (Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint).
• Excellent written communication skills including preparing written correspondence, briefs, reports and resources.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills supporting communication with a broad range of stakeholders including potential foster carers and funded service providers.

Essential Criteria:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology or other related degree if you can demonstrate your knowledge skills and experience working with vulnerable children, young people, families and carers.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to build positive working relationships.

Appointments are subject to reference checks and the following pre-employment checks:

• National Criminal History Record Check in accordance with the Disability Inclusion Act 2014.
• Working with Children Check clearance in accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012.

Download the role description and supplementary information for the role.

We focus on hiring people who share our commitment and goals of inclusion, collaboration, adaptability, courage and integrity. If you meet the essential requirements and the role resonates with you, please apply – you do not need to meet every desired requirement for us to want to talk to you.

What We Offer

We offer a variety of benefits, including:

• A challenging and rewarding career
• Flexible, autonomous work environment
• Competitive pay and conditions
• Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities
• Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.

Want more information? Visit our website to see more information on Working for us.

We do work that really matters

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It’s work that really matters.

Apply now and join Australia’s top public sector employer where we will support you and provide an exciting and flexible working environment!

Are you ready to join us?

Click apply, attach a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the requirements of the role as well as an up-to-date résumé (maximum 5 pages).

Applications close Sunday, 25 October 2026 at 11:59pm AEST.

Got a question?

For more information about the role or what it’s like to work for DCJ, please contact the hiring manager Paul Hilder on 0428 530 270 or at paul.hilder@dcj.nsw.gov.au, or Elizabeth McKay, on 0456 911 647 or at elizabeth.mckay@dcj.nsw.gov.au

If you’ve got a question about applying or would benefit from an adjustment in the recruitment process to help you perform at your best, please contact Ashlee Roberts via email as a preference to Ashlee.Roberts@dcj.nsw.gov.au or on 02 9765 4083.

Visit Recruitment adjustments on the DCJ website to learn more.

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers and other diversity groups.

To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit Inclusion and diversity on the DCJ website.

Other Information

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

For more information visit Your recruitment journey on the DCJ website.

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

To keep up with recruitment opportunities at DCJ, follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CareersatDCJ/

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