Senior Training Officer | First Nations Cultural Capability

• Part-time (0.8FTE, Monday to Thursday)
• 12-months Fixed-term
• $110,929.00 + Super + Salary Packaging
• Preston, VIC
  

Help transform how Victoria's legal sector supports First Nations people.

Are you a community lawyer, legal assistance lawyer or allied legal professional who understands the legal system from the client's perspective?
Do you believe lawyers can provide a better, more culturally safe service to First Nations people? Are you excited by the opportunity to create positive change across the Victorian legal sector?

Victoria Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) is looking for a passionate Senior Training Officer to deliver impactful training that builds the cultural capability of legal professionals across Victoria.

About the First Nations Cultural Capability Uplift Program
The First Nations Cultural Capability Uplift (FNCCU) Project is a major statewide initiative designed to strengthen the cultural capability of legal professionals and support more culturally safe, responsive and equitable legal services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Working within VALS' Research and Evidence Development team, you will help deliver and continuously improve this important program in partnership with organisations including the Law Institute of Victoria and Victoria Legal Aid.

About the role
As Senior Training Officer, you will facilitate engaging and practical workshops for legal professionals across metropolitan and regional Victoria.
You will:

• Facilitate and co-facilitate engaging training workshops in person, online and in hybrid settings.
• Travel across Victoria to deliver training in regional and metropolitan locations.
• Contribute to the design, refinement and continuous improvement of FNCCU training programs.
• Develop and adapt learning resources including facilitator guides, e-learning modules, toolkits, learner materials and presentation resources.
• Work with VALS teams, legal sector partners, community legal centres, law firms and peak bodies.
• Gather and analyse learner feedback and observations to improve training content and delivery.
• Use learning management systems and digital training platforms to support accessible and engaging learning.
• Contribute subject matter expertise to ensure training is relevant, practical and grounded in culturally safe legal practice.

About you
You are an engaging facilitator who understands the legal system and its impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
You will bring:

• At least 3 years' experience in training, facilitation or capability-building, ideally with experience in the legal, community or social justice sectors.
• Strong facilitation, communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience developing and delivering learning through a range of methods, including face-to-face, online, webinars and Learning Management Systems.
• Applied knowledge of adult learning principles and social justice approaches to education.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to build trust and engage confidently with diverse audiences.
• Strong digital literacy and confidence using Microsoft Office, Zoom and online learning platforms.
• A genuine commitment to culturally safe and equitable legal services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Experience working within the legal sector, community legal services or Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations will be highly regarded, as will experience contributing to professional development for legal practitioners and developing e-learning resources.

Relevant qualifications in First Nations and/or Indigenous Studies, Education, Law, Social Work, Community Development or a related discipline are also highly regarded.

Why join VALS?
VALS is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation and Victoria's only specialist legal and support service dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Established in 1973, VALS works across criminal, family, civil and human rights law, youth justice and specialist litigation, alongside broader community support and advocacy.

This is an opportunity to take your professional experience beyond individual client work and help influence how an entire sector understands, engages with and supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are strongly encouraged to apply - Training and development support can be provided where candidates have relevant experience and demonstrate the capability and commitment required for the role.

VALS is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome applicants from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, LGBTISBQ communities and diverse cultures, and welcome requests for reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment.

If you want to use your legal, community or professional experience to create meaningful change across Victoria's legal sector, we would love to hear from you.