• Position    : Permanent Full time/ Part Time
• Location   : Preston
• Salary      : $105,349-$129,205, plus super and salary packaging is available

The Organisation

The Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) is an Aboriginal Community-Controlled organisation that supports and advocates for the Aboriginal Community and is the largest organisation of its kind in Australia. The VACCA team is committed to the organisation’s visions and values, passionately providing support, service and advocacy for our children and other vulnerable members of the community.

Our strength lies with our people.

About the role

The primary responsibility of the VACCA Lawyer is to provide legal advice and court representation to VACCA’s Nugel Program, including maintaining responsibility for an allocated number of cases.

The role involves significant courtroom advocacy, but with a difference. The approach of VACCA’s Nugel program and the in-house legal service is an Aboriginal child rights-based approach, providing an exceptional opportunity for lawyers interested in this unique and rewarding area of law.

The role will work across specialist Children’s Court venues at Melbourne, Broadmeadows, Moorabbin and Dandenong as well as regional Magistrates Courts sitting as Children’s Courts at Morwell, Wangaratta and Wodonga. Travel is required to Courts and offices in relevant designated region/s and may vary according to organisational need

About You

• Demonstrated awareness and appreciation of Aboriginal societies and cultures, and commitment to continually build knowledge of such, along with a high level of awareness of the key issues that impact Aboriginal communities.
• Demonstrated experience in court advocacy with the ability to confidently and sensitively represent VACCA in court proceedings.
• Demonstrated ability to research, analyse and apply different areas of law as required.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high quality written materials addressing a range of issues for different audiences or purposes. 
• Demonstrated capacity to employ critical analytical skills to solve problems or provide policy solutions. 

Requirements:

• Bachelor of Laws/Juris Doctor.
• Admitted as an Australian Lawyer in Victoria and holder of an unrestricted practicing certificate, with at least 5 years post-admission experience, including at least 1 year of relevant experience of the Victorian Child Protection system
• Valid Police Check, a Working with Children’s Check for a paid employee (or willingness to obtain) and a Victorian Driver Licence. Current COVID-19 vaccination (Strongly Recommended)

What we can offer you

• A supportive environment that includes comprehensive induction
• The support of regular internal supervision
• Professional development and training opportunities 
• Attractive salary packaging to increase your take-home pay
• 17.5%  loading on annual leave
• Access to agency vehicles for all work-related travel 
• Access to Employee support and wellbeing programs 
• Paid parental leave after 12 months of ongoing employment
• Opportunity to work and build connection with the Aboriginal Community and culture
• Fitness Passport - allowing you (and your family) access to any of the facilities available on this program 

 We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people to apply

Applications should include a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria and current resume. We encourage applicants to view the Position Description prior to applying.

Please click here to download the position description for this role. 

 Senior Lawyer.pdf

Application closes by November 30, 2025

We are committed to Aboriginal self-determination and supporting strong, safe, thriving Aboriginal communities and aim to ensure every individual is treated with dignity, honouring all cultural backgrounds, abilities, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities and spiritual beliefs.

VACCA is a child-safe organisation and is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and young people with zero tolerance for child abuse. All successful applicants will be required to undertake a National Police Record Check and Working with Children Check prior to commencement of employment and periodically following commencement.

VACCA is an equal opportunity employer and has a smoke-free workplace policy