Principal Consultant - Child Safety

This is a permanent full-time position commencing in October 2026

The Role

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Principal Consultant to join our Statewide Services team, primarily supporting critical processes relating to child safety and wellbeing. The Department of Education Liaison Officer (DELO) is an interagency initiative established in January 2024 between WA Police Force (WAPF) and the Department to support responses to child safety and wellbeing concerns.

The successful applicant will be instrumental in providing practical, accurate, and timely policy advice, information, and support to meet system requirements for schools regarding student support services, including child protection, safeguarding, and student wellbeing. They will also be required to work flexibly and independently within the integrated and collaborative structures of the Department, partner agencies and stakeholders. The position will be located with the WA Police Child Assessment and Interview Team (CAIT) in East Perth, with some on site work at Padbury.

Role Overview

1. Information Exchange:

• Facilitating exchange of relevant information for the wellbeing of children, as per the Children and Community Services Act 2004.

1. Supporting Student Safety and Wellbeing:

• Supporting schools/regions through consultations or information exchange/provision in responding to the needs of vulnerable students. This may involve following up on information provided by WAPF and sharing it with relevant school/region/business units.
• Supporting schools and Interviewers with non-consent interviews on school grounds, including providing procedural guidance and reassurance.

1. Stakeholder Engagement:

• Building and maintaining effective relationships with schools and regions and other branches of the Department, other education sectors, WAPF, and various sections of Department of Communities.

1. Systemic Improvement and Workforce Development:

• Contributing insights from practical experience to inform the continuous improvement of child safety and wellbeing policies, procedures, and systems within the Department and across interagency partnerships.
• Supporting workforce capability building by providing guidance, advice, and contributing to the development of resources for schools and regions to enhance their response to child safety and wellbeing concerns.
• Using the positive outcomes and learnings from the DELO project to advocate for best practices in ongoing responses to child safety.

1. Reporting & Documentation:

• Maintaining accurate records and documentation related to child safety incidents and information exchanges.
• Preparing progress reports and tracking outcomes to ensure accountability and inform continuous improvement.

Professional Benefits

We are conveniently located in East Perth and our employees enjoy a range of benefits which include: 

• 12% employer contributed superannuation.
• Flexible working arrangements are genuinely considered to create healthy work life balance including; working from home or remote, flexible working hours and part-time arrangements
• Generous leave entitlements including annual, personal, long service and parental leave
• Professional development opportunities and study leave/assistance
• Access to salary packaging (in accordance with relevant industrial instruments) 
• Enjoy easy access to public transport with the Claisebrook train station just a 5-minute walk away or, take advantage of the free Yellow Cat bus service that stops outside our building entrance. Additionally, various CPP parking locations are within walking distance.

Want to know more?

Full details of the role, selection criteria and training requirements are listed in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Nicolette Cottrill on 0436 608 *** or by emailing ***************@education.wa.edu.au

Agency Referrals: Public sector agencies seeking to refer surplus employees should contact Recruitment at ***************@education.wa.edu.au during the advertising period. 

We are committed to building the leadership capability of our people (Building Leadership Impact).

Equity and Diversity

We are committed to an inclusive and culturally responsive workforce reflecting the diversity in our workplaces and the Western Australian community. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, young people, people of diverse sexualities and genders, people with disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Explore our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan 2021-2025 for more details.

Eligibility

To work with us, you must: 

• be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or have a valid visa with relevant work rights for the term of the appointment.
• consent to a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and obtain a current Screening Clearance Number issued by the Department of Education’s Screening Unit before you start.
• obtain or hold a current Working with Children Check.

More information about employment eligibility can be found on our website and in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).

Application Instructions

Apply online in two easy steps:

Step 1: Select Apply for Job

Complete the online application form, including details of two (2) work related referees, preferably one being your current line manager.

Step 2: Attach your documents

Your application should include: 

• A CV of up to two (2) outlining your employment history and professional learning summary relevant to this position
• A two (2) page statement addressing the following four (4) selection criteria as outlined in the attached JDF:

1. Demonstrated substantial knowledge and understanding of current initiatives and issues that support schools and regions to improve student achievement at a central, regional and school level.
2. Demonstrated high-level planning and management skills with a proven ability to plan and coordinate initiatives in a complex environment.
3. Demonstrated highly developed conceptual, analytical and problem-solving skills and experience in applying strategic thinking to achieve outcomes and implementing effective change management strategies to achieve educational outcomes.
5. Demonstrated highly developed written communication skills, including extensive experience in the preparation of correspondence, reports, Ministerial communications, briefing notes and policy.

Shortlisted applicants will have their skills and experiences in relation to the remaining selection criteria assessed in the further stages of the recruitment process.

It is recommended you have your attachments ready before selecting Apply for Job.

Your application must be received before the closing date and time. Late applications will not be accepted.

For technical support submitting your application, you can call the Department of Education’s Recruitment team on (08) 9264 41***for assistance.

Advertised Vacancy Number: DOE1062311 

Applicants assessed as suitable may be considered for similar vacancies that arise in our branch within the next 12 months. This includes circumstances where this position becomes subsequently vacant should the successful applicant decline or vacate the advertised position.

The Department applies a four (4) day breach period to this selection process.

Applications close: 4.30pm (AWST) on Friday, 11 September 2026