Indigenous Group of Learning Manager

Department/Unit /
Castan Centre for Human Rights Law
Faculty/Division /
Faculty of Law
Classification /
HEW 5 (.2 EFT)
Work location /
Flexible
Date document created or updated /
November2017

Organisational context

Monash is a university of transformation, progress and optimism. Our people are our most valued asset, with our academics among the best in the world and our professional staff revolutionising the way we operate as an organisation. For more information about our University and our exciting future, please visit

The Monash Faculty of Law is consistently recognised as one of the world’s leading Law Schools. Our excellence in research, teaching and scholarship has been at the forefront of legal education for decades in Australia. We provide a broad teaching base, with course offerings at all levels, and pride ourselves on offering real, tangible legal experience and international study opportunities. Our programs are offered in Australia, including at the Monash University Law Chambers situated in the Melbourne CBD, and offshore. For more information about the Faculty of Law, please visit our website at

The Castan Centre for Human Rights Law (Castan Centre) promotes and protects human rights through its world-renowned public scholarship.In pursuit of this mission, the Centre works in the key areas of research, teaching, public education, policy and student programs. The Centre is a trusted voice on human rights. It actively participates in public debates and mentors many of the human rights leaders of tomorrow. For more information about the Centre, please visit:

Position purpose

The IGL Manager manages the Indigenous Group of Learning, which is coordinated by the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law. The Group runs weekly sessions at Port Phillip Prison, where it connects predominantly Indigenous student volunteers with Indigenous prisoners for informal learning and mentoring in a pro-social environment. Activities in the weekly sessions include traditional art, educational games and formal interventions such as CV writing and tutoring. Some participants have received little formal education while others have completed high school.Research shows that the program is successfully helping prisoners with their mental health, cultural connection and preparedness for release. It caters to approximately 10-15 prisoners per session.

Reporting Line:The position reports to the Manager of the Castan Centre

Supervisory responsibilities:Not applicable

Financial delegation and/or budget responsibilities:Not applicable

Key responsibilities

  1. In consultation with the Centre Manager and the program’s supervisors, coordinate the development of the Indigenous Group of Learning.
  2. Plan, coordinate and attend the weekly sessions at Port Phillip Prison or any other prison where the program may run.
  3. Manage all aspects of the volunteer engagement, including advertising for volunteers, volunteer selection, pre-deployment training, and supervision at all times in the prison.
  4. Liaise with prison authorities regarding all aspects of the program.
  5. Develop relationships with external organisations to contribute to the program, both by providing services to the program and assisting program participants post-release.
  6. Provide input to all program reports.

Key selection criteria

  1. Experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and people.
  2. Experience in running a community program, educational program or cultural group.
  3. Experience in managing people, including volunteers.
  4. Excellent emotional resilience.
  5. Preference - experience in justice, youth work, community work, social work, residential care, childhood services or psych.

Education/Qualifications

  1. The appointee will have:

•a undergraduate degree, from a recognised university in the areas of law, justice, youth work, community work, social work, residential care, childhood services or psychology; or

•an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.

  1. The appointee must successfully undergo a mandatory police check and a working with children’s check, and must complete all paperwork required by the prison.

Knowledge and Skills

  1. Demonstrated ability to operate independently and exercise initiative with limited supervision.
  2. Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills, together with a demonstrated ability to deal efficiently, tactfully and confidentially with all levels of people in a diverse team environment
  3. Demonstrated organisational and project management skills
  4. Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to prepare high quality written work of a standard suitable for publication within agreed timeframes

Other jobrelated information

  • The appointee will be required to work in a prison environment once per week.
  • The Castan Centre is based on the Clayton campus at Monash University, but the appointee will have flexibility to work from the Clayton campus, the city campus or home when not required at the prison.
  • Aboriginalor Torres Strait Islanderpersonsarestrongly encouraged to apply.

Legal compliance

Ensure you are aware of and adhere to legislation and University policy relevant to the duties undertaken, including: Equal Employment Opportunity, supporting equity and fairness; Occupational Health and Safety, supporting a safe workplace; Conflict of Interest (including Conflict of Interest in Research); Paid Outside Work; Privacy; Research Conduct; and Staff/Student Relationships.

Applications Close: Sunday 11 March 2018

For all details, including contact details, go to

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