Department for Correctional Services
Job reference: 660222
Location: 5000 - ADELAIDE
Job status: Long Term Contract
Eligibility: Open to Everyone

About the Department for Correctional Services
The Department employs approximately 2,000 staff and has responsibility for nine prisons and fifteen Community Correctional offices across the state. Our vision is for a safer community by protecting the public and reducing re-offending. We work towards this through the contribution of staff who are employed in a wide variety of fields, from correctional officers and teachers, to social workers, psychologists and supervisors of court orders. Their commitment ensures we deliver quality services to prisoners, offenders and victims of crime. We strongly promote diversity and equity in our workforce, which directly contributes to greater effectiveness and better outcomes. In a supportive and collaborative environment, you will encounter interesting professional challenges and you will work alongside dedicated and passionate people who help to turn around the lives of offenders and rebuild lives affected by crime.

Duties
The Aboriginal Cadet is responsible for:

• Contributing to the protection of the community by supervising adult offenders who are referred to the Department by sentencing and releasing authorities and providing them with opportunities to
  cease offending.
  
• Utilising cultural knowledge and experience to provide an effective and accountable case
  management service.
  
• Liaison with a variety of Government and non-Government agencies in relation to the supervision of
  offenders.

Special Conditions

• Section 47 of the Public Sector Act 2009 applies in conjunction with other provisions of the act and
  other applicable industrial entitlements.
  
• The incumbent is required to satisfactorily complete a National Criminal History Check.
  
• A current South Australian Driver’s Licence is essential.
  
• A flexible approach to working hours is required.
  
• Some interstate and intrastate travel will be required which may necessitate overnight absences.

Requirements
Essential Criteria:

• Ability to provide an effective case management service utilising cultural knowledge and experience.
• Understanding of and alignment to Aboriginal culture.
• Demonstrated high level of oral and written communication skills, including high-level report writing. 
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with difficult and aggressive clients.
• Ability to organise work and priorities to meet deadlines under limited supervision and maintain
  confidentiality.
• Proven ability and experience in working with clients from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds.
• Experience in and knowledge of case management service model.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team.
• An understanding of issues relating to work in rural or isolated communities.

Desirable Criteria: 

• Experience in working with offenders.
• Experience in working with, or within, Aboriginal communities and with community groups or
  organisations.
• An overview of the Criminal Justice System and the legislation pertaining to community based
  correctional programs.
• General knowledge of personnel management principles under the Public Sector Act, Work Health &
  Safety Act, and the Equal Opportunity Act.
• General knowledge of DCS organisational structure and the South Australian Justice portfolio.

Remuneration
OPS3 ($67,589 - $72,033pa)

Enquiries
Mr Lachlan Mills 
Aboriginal Workforce & Projects 
(08) 8218 2066
Lachlan.Mills@sa.gov.au 

Application Instructions
All applications must be submitted online via I Work for SA.
Applicants are required to submit a cover letter of no more than two pages quoting the vacancy number and outlining their knowledge, skills and experience relevant to the role.
Please attach your proof of enrolment and academic transcript for the previous 12 months. 
Refer to the Advice to Applicants for information on how to apply.
Applicants are required to complete the Employment Declaration if not currently employed by the Department for Correctional Services.

Additional Information
This is a temporary vacancy for up to 12-24 months.
This is a part time vacancy at 0.6 FTE (45 hours per fortnight).
There is more than one position available.
Successful applicant will be appointed at either classification depending on the qualification and experience held.

DCS is an equal opportunities employer, and our workplace reflects the diverse communities that we serve. Safety at Work is central to our mission — emphasising respectful relationships, psychological wellbeing, and the physical and cultural safety of all employees.

We strongly encourage applications from women, Aboriginal people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, LGBTIQA+, neurodivergent people, people living with disability, people of all ages, and other diversity groups. We support flexible ways of working including part-time working arrangements, wherever reasonably possible, and strive to ensure a fair, accessible, and barrier-free recruitment process. We encourage you to share any support or access needs when you apply.

Applications close: 30/06/2026 11:00 PM

Attachments:
- Advice to Applicants CV Cover Letter (Only).doc
- DCS Pre-Employment Declaration.pdf
- Final JP OPS3 Aboriginal Cadet 2023.pdf

Flexibility Statement
The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.