Benefits & Entitlements
Staff are offered a range of entitlements and benefits. These include:
- Casual Fridays
- Culture
- Discounted Health Insurance
- EAP - Counselling Services
- Friday Evening Drinks
- Health and Well-Being initiatives
- Learning and Professional Development
- Leave entitlements
- Salary Sacrificing
- Staff Awards
- VGSO Giving Program
- Work/life balance and flexible working arrangements
Casual Fridays
Every Friday VGSO staff can enjoy a suit-free day and work in the comfort of casual clothing (if meeting and court appointments allow this). Staff members who participate are asked for a small donation which is then forwarded onto charities the VGSO supports.
Culture
The VGSO is a friendly place to work. Our goal of pursuing excellence in client service and outcomes takes place in an atmosphere of camaraderie and mutual co-operation.
With an open door policy, accessibility, trust, and flexibility, you’ll discover a fun, supportive environment that offers a fair work/life balance.
Discounted Health Insurance
Employees of the Victorian Public Service (VPS) can access discounted health insurance through the VPS health benefits package.
HBA and NIB are the two preferred private health insurance providers to employees of the VPS.
Employee Assistance Program - Counselling Services
The staff counselling service provides short-term, confidential and personal counselling services to all DoJ staff. The service will address any work and personal issues such as emotional stress, relationship issues, inter-personal conflict, gambling and substance abuse problems.
As part of the Employee Assistance Program, all staff and managers have access to an on-line health resource called Look @ Life. Look @ Life contains straightforward, immediately accessible information on workplace-related and personal issues, particularly in relation to health and well- being.
Friday Evening Drinks
Friday Evening Drinks (FED) are a good chance for VGSO staff to get together and relax after the working week. FED events occur bi-monthly and all staff members are welcome.
Health and Well-Being initiatives
The VGSO has a number of health and well-being initiatives including yoga, annual influenza vaccinations, myotherapy, participation in the LIV fun-run, the Global Corporate Challenge, and Ride to work day, and the Employee Assistance Program.
Learning and Professional Development
The VGSO’s Learning and Development program is tailor-made for individual careers and allows for “learning on the job”, as well as the opportunity to take professional development courses provided in-house and by institutions such as the Law Institute of Victoria and IPAA (Institute of Public Administration of Australia).
The VGSO has an active Legal Education Committee for solicitors and a Learning and Development Committee for legal support staff. These committees share knowledge, identify organisation-wide training requirements, and contribute to establishing appropriate programs.
There are ongoing opportunities for promotion to senior positions, as well as horizontal movements to work in different practice areas to broaden your experience and expertise.
The VGSO’s Traineeship program provides rotations through all main areas of practice. This provides a firm foundation for a rewarding career in both government and private practice.
Leave Entitlements
Victorian Public Service staff are offered generous leave entitlements, including but not limited to: study leave, paid maternity and paternity leave, a leave loading allowance when annual leave is taken, carers sick, compassionate leave, and the opportunity to take annual leave at half pay.
Salary Sacrificing
VGSO offers a number of schemes that allow staff to benefit from salary sacrificing. These include salary sacrifice for:
- Superannuation from compliant funds
- Health insurance from approved health funds
- Novated leasing of motor vehicles
Staff Awards
The VGSO staff awards are made to individuals who have made significant contributions to the VGSO through their day to day work, or through a specific initiative.
VGSO Giving Program
The VGSO is a socially responsible organisation and supports a number of national and Victorian charities through its voluntary weekly Giving Program.
Staff donate on Casual Fridays and vote for three charities supported annually. 2008 saw record donations from staff, who view the Program as a way of giving back to the community.
Since 2004 we have donated to:
- Starlight Children's Foundation
- Wesley Mission
- ONEMBDA (day service for adults with intellectual disability)
- Field of Women (breast cancer)
- The Cancer Council
- Berry Street for Kids
- Beyond Blue
- Brosnan Centre
- Ardoch Youth Foundation
- Collingwood Homework Club
- Caring for Victoria (Wildlife Bush Fire Appeal)
- Urban Seed (homeless)
- Lifeline (Wesley Mission)
- RSPCA
- Aussie Helpers (drought relief)
- Fintry Bank Community (homeless)
The office also offers pro bono opportunities for secondments at the North Melbourne Legal Centre, providing lawyers with the chance to give back to the community.
Work/life balance and flexible working arrangements
We recognise that there's more to life than work, so we support you in achieving a work/life balance. Part-time work, job sharing, flexible working hours, home-based work and paid additional annual leave work modes have the potential to add more flexibility to your lifestyle. Additional support is also given to parents returning to work. Don’t just take our word for it – view some of our solicitor profiles for evidence that we walk the talk.
