Staff are offered a range of entitlements and benefits. These include:

  • Casual Fridays
  • Culture
  • Discounted Health Insurance
  • EAP - Free, confidential counselling services
  • Eye Testing
  • Friday Evening Drinks
  • Health and Well-Being initiatives
  • Learning and Professional Development
  • Leave Entitlements
  • Rail Ticket Club
  • 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 on to charities that VGSO staff support.

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 can access discounted health insurance through the Victorian Public Service (VPS) health benefits package.

HCF is the preferred private health insurance providers to employees of the VPS.  HCF offers all Victorian Public Sector employees a 12% discount, which means you can save up to $433.20 a year on a family membership if you take out top Hospital and Extras products.

Employee Assistance Program - Counselling Services

The staff counselling service provides free, confidential and personal counselling services to all 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 also 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.

Eye Testing

The VGSO offers employees the opportunity to have their eyes tested at OPSM, and subsidises eyewear where applicable.

Friday Evening Drinks

Friday Evening Drinks are a good chance for VGSO staff to get together and relax after the working week, and mingle with colleagues from different branches.  Friday Evening Drinks occur monthly and all staff members are welcome.  We also have a number of other social events.

Health and Well-Being initiatives

The VGSO values your health and well being.  The 2010 Health and Wellbeing Program included a number of health and well-being initiatives such as fruit at work, yoga, meditation, annual influenza vaccinations, myotherapy, participation in the LIV fun-run, the Global Corporate Challenge, and Ride to work day, nutrition and stress awareness sessions, 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).

We have a comprehensive induction program on commencement with the office.  We value knowledge sharing and have a comprehensive advice database and a number of practice groups who meet regularly to enhance knowledge sharing, discuss strategies and raise internal expertise.

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

VGSO staff are offered generous leave entitlements, including but not limited to: study leave, paid maternity and paternity leave (in addition to Commonwealth entitlements), a leave loading allowance when annual leave is taken, carers sick, compassionate leave, and the opportunity to take annual leave at half pay.

Rail Ticket Club

Eligible employees may purchase a yearly myki travel card through fortnightly deductions from their 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. Staff are encouraged to nominate their colleagues.

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. Staff 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 a pro bono opportunity for a full time secondment 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.