A career in child protection is both rewarding and varied. There are numerous career pathways and specialist streams available for those wanting to either advance their career or explore the different areas of expertise.
Position descriptions
View and download position descriptions for roles working in child protection.
Case practice support workers require no minimum qualifications.
Case Practice Support Practitioners (CPP2) are integral to child protection and involves case support tasks, such as facilitating contact visits, transporting children to services and other case support duties such as:
- observing and assessing the interactions between children and family members
- providing reports to child protection case managers to assess and plan for the child’s best interests.
Download the position description (Word doc):
Child Protection CPP2 Case Practice Support Work PD Sept 2026(opens in a new window)Word 162.06 KBCPP3 is the entry level for child protection practitioners. You will gain an excellent experience across the child and family services system. Additionally, you will manage a variety of cases and issues increasing in complexity with your experience, while changing the immediate future of at-risk children and their families.
At this level, you will have case management responsibility for child protection cases.
Their role includes:
- undertaking risk assessment, including assessment and investigation of reports to child protection
- assessing children and young people who need protection
- planning, implementing and reviewing case plans and case work tasks to address identified risks
- coordinating and negotiating services for children and young people
- providing or arranging practical and emotional support to children, young people and families
- working in collaboration with families, Community Sector Organisations and professionals to develop and implement effective plans for children
- where necessary, taking matters to the Children’s Court to ensure the safety of children or young people and supervising orders made by the Children's Court.
Download the position description (Word doc):
Child protection CPP3 case practice support worker position description-Sept 2026(opens in a new window)Word 163.58 KBAdvanced child protection practitioners work with more complex cases and situations. Ideally, you will have a minimum of two years’ case work or similar relevant experience in child and family social work.
As an advanced child protection practitioner, you’ll receive and assess reports of alleged abuse and neglect of children and young people. You'll do investigations and develop plans to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. This may include taking matters to court. You will often be dealing with more complex cases and will operate with an increased level of autonomy appropriate for the role.
Download the position description (Word doc):
Child protection CPP4 advanced child protection practitioner position description-Sept 2026(opens in a new window)Word 164.8 KBAt the senior level, there are numerous different specialist streams and leadership roles available. At this level, you will either be supervising a team in the delivery of services or operating as a specialist and sharing and applying your developed expertise.
- CPP5.1 Senior Practitioner
- CPP5.1 Senior Practitioner, Community based
- CPP5.1 Senior Practitioner, Court Officer
- CPP5.1 Senior Practitioner, Interstate Liaison
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Child protection CPP5.1 senior practitioner position description-Sept 2026(opens in a new window)Word 163.68 KBChild protection CPP5.1 senior practitioner community based position description-Sept 2026(opens in a new window)Word 163.55 KBChild protection CPP5.1 senior practitioner court officer position description-Sept 2026(opens in a new window)Word 163.79 KBChild protection CPP5.1 interstate liaison officer position description-Sept 2026(opens in a new window)Word 163.64 KBAt the senior level, there are numerous different specialist streams and leadership roles available. At this level, you will either be supervising a team in the delivery of services or operating as a specialist and sharing and applying your developed expertise.
Download the position descriptions (Word docs):
- CPP5.2 Team Manager
- CPP5.2 Team Manager, Orange Door
- CPP5.2 Practice Leader
- CPP5.2 Aboriginal Family Led Decision Making (AFLDM)
- CPP5.2 Family Drug Treatment Court and Marram-Ngala Ganbu
- CPP5.2 Sexual Exploitation
Download the position descriptions (Word docs)
Child Protection CPP5.2 Team Manager position description-Sept 2026(opens in a new window)Word 164.29 KBChild protection CPP5.2 team manager Orange Door position description-Sept 2026(opens in a new window)Word 161.63 KBChild protection CPP5.2 practice leader position description-Sept 2026(opens in a new window)Word 164.55 KBChild protection CPP5.2 practice leader AFLDM description-Sept 2026(opens in a new window)Word 311.56 KBChild protection CPP5.2 practice leader FDTC & MNG description-Sept 2026(opens in a new window)Word 164.97 KBChild protection CPP5.2 sexual exploitation practice leader position description-Sept 2026(opens in a new window)Word 161.53 KBThese are our most senior practitioner roles, and you will need to be well-qualified with significant experience.
Expert practice roles at the CPP6.1 level include:
- CPP6.1 Deputy Area Operations Manager
Download the position description (Word doc)
Child Protection CPP6.1 Deputy Area Operations Manager position description-Sept 2026(opens in a new window)Word 162.57 KBThese are our most senior practitioner roles, and you will need to be well-qualified with significant experience.
Expert practice roles at the CPP6.2 level include:
- CPP6.2 Area Operations Manager
- CPP6.2 Principal Practitioner
Download the position descriptions (Word docs)
Child Protection CPP6.2 Area Operations Manager position description-Sept 2026(opens in a new window)Word 163.18 KBChild Protection CPP6.2 Principal Practitioner position description-Sept 2026(opens in a new window)Word 162.64 KB
Salaries and benefits
As an employee of the Victorian Government, we offer competitive salaries and many benefits. Salaries for Child protection practitioners (CPP3-CPP5) are between $81,496 and $140,849*. At the Expert practice level (CPP6) the salary range for an Operations manager is between $142,790 and $191,087*.
*Subject to Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement 2024.
Find out more about salaries and benefits.
Application process
You will need to provide an up-to-date resume and academic transcripts. Applications can take between 20 and 30 minutes.
If you're applying for a specific advertised role, make sure you have the reference code to enter when required.
Find out more about the recruitment journey.
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