Working arrangements and benefits
We are committed to diversity
Learn more
As a youth justice worker at any of our facilities, you will be part of a tight-knit multidisciplinary team of talented, diverse individuals who are committed to supporting each other and improving the lives of young people.
Learn more below about some of the other benefits of the job, including salary, training and additional staff support networks.
On this page
Working arrangements and benefits
Youth justice offers a range of flexible working arrangements and benefits for staff.
Shifts
A full-time ongoing youth justice worker at Parkville operates on a 2-week rotating fortnightly roster.
Here are some key things to know:
- You will work no more than 3 days in a row.
- Shifts can last up to 12 or 13 hours including your meal break.
- You will work every second weekend and public holidays as required, and earn penalty rates on top of your salary.
- Rotating rosters mean you can plan your life outside of work ahead of time.
Below is an example of a rotating roster at Parkville, in which you work 5 days in week one and 2 days in week 2 with days off in between.
| Mon | Tues | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 8.30 - 8.30 | 8.30 - 8.30 | 8.30 - 8.30 | 8.30 - 8.30 | 8.30 - 8.30 | ||
| Week 2 | 8.30 - 8.30 | 8.30 - 8.30 |
At Cherry Creek, a combination of shift lengths, varying start times and part-time options are available to support work-life balance and flexible working arrangements.
Unit staff are rostered 7 or 8 days per fortnight with a scheduled fortnightly crossover day (Friday). Depending on the accommodation unit you are rostered in, start and end times may vary by 1-1.5 hrs. Limited 12-hour roster options are also available in each unit.
| Mon | Tues | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 11.30 – 10.00 | 11.30 – 10.00 | 11.30 – 9.30 | 10.00 – 8.30 | |||
| Week 2 | 11.30 – 10.00 | 11.30 – 10.00 | 8.00 – 7.00 | 8.00 – 6.30 | |||
| Week 3 | 10.00 – 8.30 | 10.00 – 8.30 | 10.00 – 8.30 | 8.00 – 6.30 | |||
| Week 4 | 8.00 – 6.30 | 8.00 – 6.30 | 8.00 – 7.00 | 11.30 – 10.00 |
| Mon | Tues | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 7.00 – 1.30 | 7.00 – 1.30 | 7.00 – 1.30 | 7.00 – 1.30 | |||
| Week 2 | 7.00 – 1.30 | 7.00 – 1.30 | 7.00 – 1.30 | 7.00 – 1.30 | |||
| Week 1 | 11.30 – 10.00 | ||||||
| Week 2 | 11.30 – 10.00 | 11.30 – 10.00 | 11.30 – 10.00 | ||||
Part-time work and secondary employment
We employ casual or part-time staff depending on requirements at our facilities during the year. Please check details in job ads when they appear or contact our recruitment team at yjcsrecruitment@justice.vic.gov.au (External link)
If you wish to undertake secondary employment or unpaid work while employed, you will need to request permission. Each request will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Uniforms
Staff are required to wear uniforms, which will be provided.
Salary and benefits
The starting salary for youth justice workers is $79,122 per year plus superannuation. After completion of your Certificate IV in Youth Justice, you can earn up to $107,145 from a mid-range base salary of $84,209 including standard penalty rates.
Casual staff earn $49.88 per hour plus super and penalties.
Penalty rates
As a full-time youth justice worker, you will be required to work weekday shifts that stretch beyond regular business hours and will need to work some weekends and public holidays as well. You will be compensated for your commitment, with generous penalty rates applied.
- Monday to Friday (after 10 am) – paid at 115 per cent of hourly rate
- Saturday and Sunday – paid at 175 per cent of hourly rate
- Public holidays – a choice between being paid at 250 per cent of hourly rate or one day in lieu, plus 50 per cent of regular wage per hour worked.
Superannuation
Superannuation is awarded at 11.5% of your earnings and will be paid into your nominated fund, or you can join VicSuper.
Taxable income
Any salary or additional penalty rates count as taxable income.
Other benefits
As a youth justice worker, you will enjoy a diverse range of benefits, including:
- future opportunities to progress your career
- 8 weeks of fully paid training
- personalised professional development plans – creating opportunities for promotion and career progression
- 5 weeks of paid annual leave per year
- flexible work arrangements that support a healthy work-life balance.
Learn more about career pathways in youth justice.
Staff support
All employees have access to free, confidential, 24-hour Employee Wellbeing and Support services that includes:
- support and counselling for a broad range of personal and work-related issues
- manager coaching and advice to assist with a variety of people management issues
- career development and planning, resume and job seeking assistance, interview skills, vocational training
- strategies, tools and coaching to deal with difficult workplace and personal situations
- specialist advice across nutrition, sleep, resilience, mindfulness, addictive behaviours, retirement planning and positive lifestyle changes
- money management coaching to help work through financial wellbeing concerns
- critical incident support for employees following a work-related incident.
We are committed to diversity
Our aim is to employ a diverse workforce that is truly representative of the community we serve.
We welcome people of any gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability and cultural background and have a firm commitment to increase the representation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people across our workforce. We are also committed to the Victorian Government's promise to increase the number of veterans working in the public sector.
There are numerous cultural groups and networks you can join within youth justice, the department and the broader Victorian Public Service:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment (External link)
- VPS African Australian Network (External link)
- VPS Pride Network (External link)
- VPS Women of Colour Network (External link)
- VPS Enablers Network (External link)
- Job opportunities for veterans in the Victorian public sector (External link).
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates
Our dedicated Aboriginal Employment Team can support you throughout the application process, to give you advice and continue to develop your skills once you start your role.
We also have a dedicated Aboriginal Staff Network with over 100 members. The network gives peer support, state-wide networking and career development opportunities for all of our Aboriginal staff.
We are committed to creating a culturally diverse workplace and make time to celebrate significant Aboriginal events and dates across the department, such as Reconciliation Week, NAIDOC Week and Sorry Day. We also deliver an engaging Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Program for all staff across the department.
To find out more, contact our Aboriginal Employment Team via email aboriginal.employment@justice.vic.gov.au (External link)
Fitness
Due to the physical demands of the role, you must maintain a healthy fitness level to ensure you can do the job safely and without putting yourself at risk.
You will have to undertake a health assessment before being offered a role as a youth justice worker. Find out more about what’s involved in the health assessment and get a head start on preparing yourself for success.
Working with Children Check
All applicants who are offered a youth justice worker role are required to apply and pay for a Victorian Working with Children Check (WWCC) or produce a current WWCC card. A receipt payment for application is required.
For more information on the WWCC, please visit workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au (External link), or email yjcsrecruitment@justice.vic.gov.au (External link).
Driving licence
A driver's licence is desirable but not required.
People with a criminal record
If you have prior convictions and/or offences, we strongly encourage you to disclose this information before submitting your application. If you have any questions about your offence history, please contact our recruitment team at yjcsrecruitment@justice.vic.gov.au (External link)
Apply now
Learn more about becoming a youth justice worker
Join one of our regular information sessions for intakes at Cherry Creek and Parkville Youth Justice Precincts.
You can learn more about youth justice, the role of a youth justice worker and hear from current staff.
Health and fitness assessment
Learn about the health and fitness assessment for youth justice workers
Contact us
Youth justice worker recruitment
yjcsrecruitment@justice.vic.gov.au (External link)