- How many CCS offices are there in Victoria and where are they located?
- What is the organisational structure of a Community Correctional Services (CCS) office?
The Role of a Community Corrections Officer
- Would I make a good Community Corrections Officer?
- What qualifications are required? What does this mean for my salary?
- Is the role of a Community Corrections Officer only about ensuring the welfare and rehabilitation of offenders?
- Will I be safe working in a Community Correctional Services office?
- Will I be required to write reports?
- What hours will I be required to work?
- Can I transfer from one location to another?
- Will I be required to travel?
The Role of a Field Officer
- Would I make a good Field Officer?
- What qualifications are required?
- Will I be required to write reports?
- What hours will I be required to work?
- Will I be required to travel?
Training and Career Development
- What type of training is provided?
- Do I have to sit exams as part of the preservice training program?
- Do I receive any formal qualifications following the CCO training?
- Does Corrections Victoria encourage further training and career development opportunities following the initial CCO training?
The Application and Recruitment Process
- Is there a minimum age restriction on applying to work in a Community Corrections environment?
- Do I require an email address to apply online?
- Can I apply for a position if I have a disability?
- I am currently living outside Australia, and would like to migrate to Victoria, can I apply for a job?
- I have a working visa. Can I apply for a position with Corrections Victoria?
- If I can’t attend the scheduled Information Sessions, can I still apply?
- If I want to be a Senior Community Corrections Officer, or a Leading Community Corrections Officer, do I have to already be a Community Corrections Officer?
- How long is the recruitment process?
- Do I have to complete psychometric testing?
How Many CCS offices are there in Victoria and where are they located?
Community Correctional Services is divided into eight geographic regions. The CCS regions can be viewed in CCS new regional structure map. As can be seen in the regional structure map. CCS offices are located in both metropolitan and regional areas across the state.
What is the organisational structure of a Community Correctional Services (CCS) Office?
Review a diagram of a larger CCS location organisational structure here .
Please note, this diagram is illustrative of a larger CCS location. There are a number of smaller CCS locations, which have different structures and reporting lines, as not all positions are present. For instance, the Officer in Charge will be the most senior staff member at a smaller CCS location.
The Role of a Community Corrections Officer
Would I make a good Community Corrections Officer?
Corrections Victoria values people with maturity, professionalism, dedication and personal integrity who can actively contribute to teamwork and learning across the organisation.
Community Corrections Officers work in a challenging, rewarding and demanding environment and are expected to be positive role models for offenders. High personal ethical standards are absolutely essential and you will be required to undertake a number of checks and security clearances (including Victoria Police check) in accordance with Victorian Government Policy.
People with demonstrated time management and organisational skills make good Community Corrections Officers, as there are a wide variety of tasks to be completed on a daily basis. If you believe you have these attributes, becoming a Community Corrections Officer may provide you with a rewarding and enjoyable career path within Corrections Victoria.
While no formal qualifications are required, a degree in an appropriate discipline such as Social Work or Criminal Justice is desirable.
It is also helpful to have completed VCE or at least a Year 10 level of secondary education. It is important to note that starting salaries for Community Corrections Officers are different if you have completed a relevant degree or diploma. For someone without a qualification, the starting salary is $40,771.
With a relevant qualification, a trainee Community Corrections Officer will start on $44,080. Upon the successful completion of the Certificate 3 in Correctional Practice, the annual salary increases to $47,390. To find out more about the salary and benefits for the role, click here
Is the role of a Community Corrections Officer only about ensuring the welfare and rehabilitation of offenders?
No. While offender welfare and rehabilitation is an important focus, the primary focus is on risk reduction and community safety while ensuring that the integrity of the offenders’ Court orders are maintained. Enforcement of offenders’ compliance with Orders is a necessary requirement of the position.
In relation to offender welfare, it is more common for Community Corrections Officers to refer offenders to appropriate local community agencies for assistance.
Will I be safe working in a Community Correctional Services office?
Every effort is made to ensure a safe working environment, including specific security systems. You will also receive a formal induction into your work location, Occupational Health and Safety Awareness training, comprehensive emergency management and work as part of a team at all times.
Will I be required to write reports?
Report writing is a key requirement of the roles of all staff. Community Corrections Officers are required to complete various reports about the offenders that they work with. Timely reports must be provided to the Courts, Adult Parole Board and senior Corrections Victoria managers, so good written communication skills are required. As reports follow specific formats, templates are provided, and you are shown how to use these during your training.
What hours will I be required to work?
The majority of locations operate from 8:45am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. In addition some locations open after hours one evening a week until approximately 7:30pm. It is also possible that staff will be required to undertake weekend work occasionally.
Can I transfer from one location to another?
You will initially work in the location to which you have been recruited. Later, with suitable experience, you can apply for a transfer or promotion.
Yes, however this depends upon the work location. For example, staff at Berwick CCS travel to Dandenong CCS for regional team meetings, or to fill in for absent staff. This interaction between locations provides staff with development opportunities, including the ability to work with different types of offenders.
The Role of a Field Officer
Would I make a good Field Officer?
Field Officers work in a challenging, rewarding and demanding environment and are expected to be positive role models for offenders. High personal ethical standards are absolutely essential and you will be required to undertake a number of checks and security clearances (including Victoria Police check) in accordance with Victorian Government Policy.
Previous supervisory experience is beneficial, as Field Officers are required to closely monitor and supervise offenders as they complete their community work hours. But what we really look for is people with strong leadership, communication and interpersonal skills. The ability to work within and ensure compliance with regulations and guidelines along with the ability motivate others is also key.
No formal studies or qualifications are required for the Field Officer position and our Field Officers come from a range of different backgrounds.
However, Field Officers are required to transport offenders to and from community work sites. Flexibility to work across a range of different work sites and a current, full Driver’s Licence are therefore required.
Will I be required to write reports?
Yes. As a Field Officer you are responsible for closely monitoring and supervising offenders at community work sites. You will be required to prepare reports on First Aid and OHS incidents and any other notable incidents that occur during the course of the program being supervised.
What hours will I be required to work?
Field Officers work a variety of hours both during the week and on weekends. The hours worked will depend on the requirements of the region you work in.
Yes. As a Field Officer, you are recruited to work within a region. Particularly in metropolitan regions, you may be required to travel to a number of office locations within the region. You will also have to travel to community work sites, which in regional areas may require signifcant travel. If you are transporting offenders you will use the Department’s mini bus.
Training and Career Development
What type of training is provided?
Newly-recruited Community Corrections Officers receive almost two months of training that includes classroom and on-the-job training and development at a Community Correctional Services location.
You will complete this training with other trainee Community Corrections Officers. This allows you to create strong and lasting work relationships with your colleagues. This will be followed by a formal induction period of 18 months, which includes on-the-job supervision and support, self-paced learning and classroom based training.
Newly-recruited Field Officers complete seven modules of classroom-based training, coupled with extensive on the job training and support to ensure they are equipped with the skills necessary to perform the job.
Do I have to sit exams as part of the CCO training program?
No, you are not required to sit formal examinations, but you are required to demonstrate what you have learnt throughout the duration of the training course. There are assessments of, and feedback on your progress through out the pre-service training period.
Do I receive any formal qualifications following the CCO training?
Yes, if you complete the initial training and the 12-month formal induction period you will receive the nationally recognised Certificate III in Correctional Practice qualification.
Corrections Victoria encourages all staff to continue their learning and development throughout their careers. To support this, all CCS locations offer staff the opportunity to undertake additional training and on the job learning and provide opportunities for career advancement.
The Application and Recruitment Process
Is there a minimum age restriction on applying to work in a Community Corrections environment?
As you are required to supervise adult offenders, you must be over 18 years of age.
Do I require an email address to apply online?
Yes – you will need a personal email address that you can access regularly outside business hours. If you do not have a personal email address, you can set up a free email account at www.hotmail.com or www.yahoo.com.
Can I apply for a position if I have a disability?
Yes, the Department of Justice encourages diversity among our staff and across Victoria. Reasonable adjustments can be implemented for candidates to complete the recruitment process or if they were successful into the role.
However, you must be able to undertake the requirements of the role. If you would like to have a confidential discussion about your eligibility, please contact the Volume Recruitment and Projects Team on (03) 8684 0053.
I am currently living outside Australia, and would like to migrate to Victoria, can I apply for a job?
You must have a valid visa to work in Australia for employment. To obtain information about migrating to Australia, and applying for the appropriate visa, visit the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
I have a working visa. Can I apply for a position with Corrections Victoria?
Yes you can apply. If, after interview, Corrections Victoria believes you may be suitable for employment, you will be required to complete an ‘Authority to Obtain Details of Work Rights Status from DIMIA’ form.
Corrections Victoria will not employ a candidate who is on a time-restricted visa in an ongoing (permanent) position.
For further information about visas, visit the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
If I can’t attend the scheduled Information Sessions, can I still apply?
Attendance at an Information Session is not compulsory – however it is highly recommended that you attend, in order to speak to staff currently working in Community Correctional Services. You can apply online via this website without having attended an Information Session.
If I want to be a Senior Community Corrections Officer, or a Leading Community Corrections Officer, do I have to already be a Community Corrections Officer?
No, you may have gained excellent supervisory or case management skills from another organisation in a completely different field and this may make you the most suitable candidate for the role. If you are successful, you will be required to complete a pre-service training course designed to cover the additional demands of these roles.
How long is the recruitment process for the CCO and Field Officer positions?
From your application submission to placement on the order of merit, the recruitment process for Community Corrections Officers and Field Officers takes approximately 8-12 weeks.
You cannot move from one stage of the recruitment process to another until your application has successfully met the benchmark criteria for that stage. Find out more about the Recruitment Process.
Do I have to complete psychometric testing?
Yes. If your application progresses beyond the online application stage and you are not a current Department of Justice employee, you will be required to complete the suitability assessments.
These are psychometric tests, which assess workplace values, behaviours and skills that are critical to the Community Corrections role. Find out more about the Suitability Assessment.
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