Safer Community Advisor (TAFE)

This is a full-time, ongoing Safer Community Advisor (TAFE) position at Victoria University in Melbourne. The role involves responding to disclosures and reports of concerning student behavior, conducting risk assessments, providing initial support and referrals to TAFE students, and engaging in outreach and early intervention. Key requirements include experience in student support, case management, behavioral risk assessment, and a strong commitment to trauma-informed, student-centered, and culturally safe practices, with an understanding of TAFE/VET contexts.

• The Safer Community Advisor (TAFE) is a student-facing role focused on supporting safe, respectful and inclusive experiences for TAFE students.
• In this role, you will respond to disclosures and reports of inappropriate, concerning, disruptive or threatening behaviour, undertake preliminary risk assessments, contribute to safety planning and support students to understand their options.
• You will provide initial information, support, triage and referral, and facilitate warm handovers to appropriate internal or external services where specialist advice or intervention is required.
• The role also has an outreach and early intervention focus, including engagement with TAFE students, teaching areas and student support services.
• You will contribute to case coordination, staff guidance, accurate documentation, reporting, service improvement and the continued development of Safer Community processes for the TAFE context.
• Receive and respond to disclosures and concerns in a trauma-informed, respectful and procedurally fair manner.
• Undertake preliminary risk assessments to identify immediacy, severity, escalation requirements and referral pathways.
• Provide initial information, support, triage and referral for TAFE students experiencing welfare, personal, pastoral, academic, financial, conflict, complaint, crisis or safety-related concerns.
• Facilitate referrals and warm handovers to appropriate internal or external specialist services.
• Develop and support safety and risk management plans where required.
• Work collaboratively with TAFE department managers, teaching staff, student support teams and external agencies to support coordinated responses to student needs.
• Provide advice, guidance and resources to staff on disclosures, concerning student behaviour, referral pathways, escalation and professional boundaries.
• Participate in student-facing activities, including orientation, induction, wellbeing and engagement activities that support connection, safety and help-seeking.
• Maintain accurate, timely and confidential case records in accordance with privacy and recordkeeping requirements.
• Analyse case activity, service demand, referral trends and emerging issues to inform reporting, prevention strategies and continuous improvement.

• You will bring experience in student support, case management and behavioural risk, together with a strong commitment to trauma-informed, student-centred and culturally safe practice.
• You will be confident working with sensitive and complex matters, able to exercise sound judgement, and comfortable operating in a role that requires both independent decision-making and close collaboration with others.

• VU provides competitive salaries, excellent superannuation, and a variety of benefits.
• The university fosters an environment where staff can excel, achieve their goals, and develop their careers.
• With a focus on diversity, inclusion, and family-friendly policies, VU supports both professional and personal well-being.
• For more information, please visit our Careers at VU Webpage