Name: Kimberley
Current role: Acting Team Leader CSO Unit and Programs
What is your area of expertise? I have been lucky enough to work across all business units within Community Corrections, which puts me in a unique space with my knowledge as I have a working understanding of all units and teams. I have found having my Social Work degree to be helpful in this space as it taught me a lot about working with people in the community and introduced me to the world of Community Corrections through my fourth year prac. Prior to working at Community Corrections I did two years in housing and homelessness, due to this my area of expertise is also in this area, as I have made sure to keep up to date with changes in this space since leaving. This way I can pass accurate housing options/information onto staff and clients.
How long have you worked at the Department of Justice (DoJ)? I have worked at the Department of Justice for seven years in October. I also completed a full time four month prac in 2014 as a part of my UTAS Social Work Degree.
What other roles have you undertaken at DoJ? I started my DOJ carer in the community service unit - I did two years as a Probation Officer in this space. I was lucky enough to help rebuild the scheme with another new colleague. We processed hundreds of old CSO breaches and implemented new policies and procedures in this space. After this time I move to the supervision space, working with parole, home detention and supervision clients. During this time I did some small Team Leader (TL) backfills in the team also. After this I took the opportunity to move into the CMD team as acting TL for 8 months. After finishing that, I have been acting as the TL in the Community Service and Programs team since January 2023. It felt good to return to my roots and be in the Commodity Service unit again. My substantive role is in the CMD team which I am excited to return to once my TL duties have run out. The great thing about the DOJ is there is room for movement and different opportunities, which has really helped me be motivated and passionate at CC.
What do you enjoy about working at DoJ? Working with our client base is my favourite thing about work, it’s challenging, but interesting. Seeing change in people over time is a great thing to witness. I think we’re in a privileged position in this space and while the nature of our job can be frustrating, I think it’s important to remember that. Working at the DOJ has also helped me realise that I have a passion for working in people management and helping my staff cope with the challenges that come from such roles. I’m lucky enough to work with great teams with years and years of experience, which makes the workplace fun and unique.
What advice do you have for someone considering a career at DoJ? This area can be very rewarding, and presents you with the ability to be challenged, grow resilience and learn a lot. I’d highly recommend a career in the DOJ to anybody who has been considering it.