TALENT POOL - Risk Assessment Officer (Child Safety and Regulatory Assessment)

Office of the Children’s Guardian

• Contribute to meaningful work that helps create safer environments for children and young people across New South Wales.
• Join a supportive and collaborative team culture with flexible work options, professional development opportunities and access to wellbeing initiatives.
• Talent Pool for future temporary and ongoing opportunities based in Redfern/Strawberry Hills with hybrid 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 and young people’s right to be safe by overseeing, regulating and monitoring organisations and individuals that provide services to children. We are guided by our values of integrity, trust, service, accountability, respect and empathy.

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

The Opportunity

The Office of the Children's Guardian (OCG) is establishing a Talent Pool for future Risk Assessment Officer opportunities within the Working With Children Check Directorate. This pilot talent pool is designed to identify and engage professionals with transferable skills relevant to child safety, safeguarding and risk assessment. Suitable applicants may be considered for temporary and ongoing opportunities as they arise over the next 18 months.

We welcome applications from candidates with direct experience in risk assessment as well as those who can demonstrate relevant transferable skills gained through government, community, private sector, legal, regulatory or other professional environments.

The Role

Risk Assessment Officers assess information relevant to Working With Children Check applications and make evidence-based recommendations in accordance with legislation, policy and procedural fairness requirements.

• Review, analyse and assess information from multiple sources.
• Prepare clear, well-reasoned written recommendations.
• Manage a diverse caseload of complex matters.
• Engage with applicants, government agencies and key stakeholders.
• Contribute to consistent, high-quality and defensible decision-making.
• Contribute to OCG's commitment to creating safer environments for children and young people across New South Wales.
  

Who Should Apply?

We are looking for people with excellent caseload management experience in risk assessment environments.

We recognise there are many pathways into this type of work and welcome applications from candidates with experience in child protection, safeguarding, investigations, complaints handling, regulatory assessment, compliance, social work, psychology, community services, risk assessment, employee relations investigations, legal environments and government decision-making roles. Direct Working With Children Check experience is not essential.

We recognise that capability can be developed through many pathways and encourage applicants to demonstrate transferable skills, achievements and lived experiences that may contribute to success in the role.

Essential Requirements

• Relevant qualifications and/or equivalent experience.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a NSW Working With Children Check.
• Successful completion of security and probity checks.
• Australian work rights.

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

Our Commitment to Inclusion and Diversity

We welcome and encourage applications from people across our diverse community, especially from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. We believe everyone has the right to feel safe, respected, valued and heard regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity or disability, and we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, culturally safe and accessible workplace that reflects the communities we serve.

The OCG encourages applications from people with disability and we are committed to providing equitable employment opportunities and reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and employment lifecycle.

If you require an adjustment in the recruitment process, please contact the OCG People and Culture team on (02) 8219 3661 or OCG.HR@ocg.nsw.gov.au and advise of your preferred method of communication.

Child Safe Commitment

The Office of the Children's Guardian is committed to creating safer environments for children and young people. Child safety is embedded in our culture, decision-making and recruitment practices.

We expect all employees to uphold child-safe behaviours and contribute to environments where children and young people are respected, protected and empowered.

Why Join OCG
At OCG, you'll contribute to meaningful work that helps create safer environments for children and young people across New South Wales.

Benefits:

• Work-Life Balance: Enjoy a range of benefits including flexible hours.
• Wellbeing: Support and resources for you and your family.
• A diverse and inclusive workplace culture.
• Financial Benefits: Save on car costs with novated leasing.
• Career Growth: Develop a career path that enriches your employment experience through our wide selection of learning resources.

Talent Pool Information
This recruitment will establish a talent pool for temporary and ongoing Risk Assessment Officer opportunities that may arise over the next 18 months. Suitable candidates may also be considered for comparable opportunities requiring similar capabilities within the Office of the Children's Guardian during the life of the talent pool. Inclusion in the talent pool does not guarantee an offer of employment.

How to apply

When applying you will need to attach a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) which also addresses the two targeted questions below and an up-to-date resume (maximum 4 pages) in either Word or PDF format.

We are looking for you to demonstrate your competence in the focus capabilities as outlined in the role description, so please develop your response with this in mind.

Targeted questions

1. Describe a situation where you analysed information from multiple sources to reach a recommendation or decision. What approach did you take and what was the outcome?
   

1. Describe a situation where you managed a sensitive or complex matter involving competing information, difficult conversations or stakeholder concerns. How did you approach the situation?
   

Note: Applications will be reviewed as they are received so don't wait until the closing date to apply.

Applications closing date: 10 January 2027 9:59am.

A talent pool is a group of applicants who have been assessed and identified as suitable for this role, and who may be considered for a range of similar roles, including temporary, term or ongoing roles, over the next 18 months.