VANESSA MELITA

For over 16 years, I have been a valued employee of Corrective Services NSW, working in various roles across the organisation. My experience spans administration, policy, project management, training, information analysis, and handling complex and sensitive issues. I have successfully overseen the testing and training phases of two significant projects: the Sentencing and Parole Reforms and Joined Up Justice. With my excellent communication and collaboration skills, coupled with my unwavering commitment to excellence, I consistently achieve quality results. I enjoy leveraging technology to enhancing operational efficiency, always striving to find new ways to innovate and improve processes.

July 2023 Grade 5/6 Onboarding Non-NSW Private Legal Professionals (PLP) onto JUST Connect

I identified issues faced by PLPs not registered in NSW, particularly those in border states, who had to manually submit Guest Professional forms for client appointments at correctional centres. Recognising the inconsistencies and inconveniences in the application process, I presented an Options Pack to the AV Strategy and Business Links Working Group. With their support, we changed the criteria to include all PLP applicants with a valid Australian Law Association or Bar Association registration. This change has promoted equality and enabled all PLP applicants to have a JUST Connect account for scheduling and managing bookings. This change has resulted in equality for all PLP applicants and enabled account holders the ability to manage their own bookings.

July 2023 Grade 5/6 PO Box address function in JUST Connect

During the JUST Connect account creation process for professionals, the user must connect a (firm) location and street address to their account. The address function in JUST Connect used Google Locations which did not recognise PO Boxes, creating a barrier for some users. To address this issue, I created an Options Pack and presented to the AV Strategy and Business Links Working Group. The members supported the option to modify the system to accept PO boxes. As this required development and system changes, I set the parameters to provide to the Dev Ops team, and I conducted multiple rounds of regression testing. The changes were approved deployed into the live environment, resulting in accurately reflected registered business addresses and providing privacy for individual professional’s place of residence.

2020 - 2022 Grade 5/6 Digitalisation of role and creation of OIMS report

As Committee Officer at the Serious Offenders Review Council (SORC), I successfully led the digitalisation of my role resulting in a system that reduced paperwork, increased productivity, and minimised environmental impact. The success of this system led to its implementation in other roles within SORC. Additionally, I proposed an OIMS report tailored for SORC and Inmate Classification and Placement, which has shown promising results in providing essential information efficiently.

March 2019 – April 2019 Grade 5/6 & 7/8 Court outcome training and manual

I conducted one-on-one training sessions for all staff members at the State Sentence Administration in Windsor, focusing on the processing of court outcomes. My expertise in this area was refined during my involvement in the Joined Up Justice project, where I played a pivotal role in developing these tasks and procedures. Additionally, I authored a comprehensive manual on this subject, serving as a valuable resource for both new and existing staff members.

January 2019  Grade 5/6 Intensive Correction Order revocation and reinstatement guide

I focused on developing procedures for Intensive Correction Order revocations and reinstatements, providing training sessions for staff members involved in these duties.

July 2018- December 2018  Grade 7/8 Sentencing and Parole Reform Project

I successfully participated in the Sentencing and Parole Reform Project, implementing practical applications of legislative changes to offender supervision in the community. My responsibilities included testing data quality, updating policies, writing guidelines, providing feedback on issues, and collaborating with stakeholders.

I also assisted the Manager of Community Corrections Policy in addressing staff inquiries related to the reform changes.

2016 – 2017 Grade 7/8 Community Corrections – Joined Up Justice Administrative Manual

In 2016, my expertise in the Joined Up Justice Project was acknowledged by Community Corrections, leading to the creation of an administrative manual to inform staff about the project and reduce inquiries to the Policy Unit. Portions of this manual have been integrated into the published Administrative Assistant Handbook.

2015 – 2017 Grade 7/8 and 3/4 Joined Up Justice project

My involvement in the Joined Up Justice Project showcased my ability to articulate responses, collaborate with stakeholders, provide feedback, analyse data, work with various databases and applications, meet deadlines, and deliver high-quality customer service. I also provided guidance to less experienced staff, oversaw daily operations, and conducted formal training for new recruits upon project completion.

• NSW Corrective Service Long Service Medal – 15yr clasp
• NSW Corrective Service Long Service Medal – 10yr medal
• NSW Corrective Semper Deinceps medal

• Generative AI Summit (26-27 July 2023)
• Beyond Punishment Seminar: Transforming rehabilitation through digital technology (2 March 2023)
• Beyond Punishment Seminar: Muslim experience of the NSW correctional system (17 June 2024)

• Ready and Confident
• DCJ Cyber Security Awareness Essentials (2024)
• Identifying, Managing and Reporting Sexual Harassment in Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW)
• Aboriginal Culture and Engagement Training - (SMRL) (completed 23/01/2024)
• Everyone's Business - Cultural Awareness Journey (completed 25/01/2024)
• Introduction to Hostage Awareness (completed 25/01/2024)
• Mandatory Data Breach Notification Training (completed 25/01/2024)
• Merit Assessment Program (completed 05/09/2023)
• Accessible Digital Communications learning pathway (completed 18/05/2023)
• DCJ Cyber Security Awareness Essentials (2023) (completed 29/05/2023)
• DCJ Conflicts of Interest (completed 12/10/2022)
• Privacy and you (2022) (completed 12/10/2022)
• DCJ Information Security (version 2022) (completed 12/10/2022)
• 6 Parramatta Square orientation (completed 25/08/2022)
• DCJ Code of Ethical Conduct (completed 02/07/2021)
• Privacy and you (2021) (completed 09/06/2021)
• DCJ Information Security (version 2021) (completed 09/06/2021)
• Stand TALR (completed 19/05/2021)
• Aboriginal Cultural Inclusion (completed 18/07/2017)
• Change and You (completed 01/11/2016)
• Induction Program - Welcome to the Department of Justice (completed 09/02/2016)
• CSNSW Integrated Induction Program (completed 23/11/2012)

· Jeans for Genes 100 Skips a day in August

· Volunteer at Coast Shelter, Gosford NSW

· Red Shield Appeal door knocking

· MS Fun Run volunteer

· Bay Run Fun Run

· Sydney Running Festival

· Fundraising for RSPCA

· Fundraising for Daffodil Day

· Fundraising for National Breast Cancer Foundation

· Fundraising for The Cancer Council

· Fundraising for Footy Colours Day - (Fight Cancer Foundation)

· Fundraising for The Pyjama Foundation

· Fundraising for Australia's Biggest Morning Tea

Rebecca Grimson, Principle Manager

Parliamentary & Executive Services

Corrective Services NSW

Rebecca.Grimson@dcj.nsw.gov.au

Pauline Ellem, Support Desk Lead – JUST Connect 

AV, Strategy & Business Links

Corrective Services NSW

Pauline.Ellem@dcj.nsw.gov.au