Title:  Safety Inspector

Safe journeys, every time.

At Safe Transport Victoria, our fundamental goal is simple: to help ensure Victorians and visitors can travel safely on our roads and waterways. We work with passengers, drivers, operators, vessel owners, masters and industry participants across the commercial passenger vehicle, bus and maritime sectors to improve safety outcomes and build confidence in Victoria's transport network.

Safe Transport Victoria is Victoria's transport safety regulator, managing compliance, accreditation and registration across the commercial passenger vehicle, bus and maritime sectors. From 1 October 2026, Safe Transport Victoria operates as a division within the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) while continuing its role as an independent regulator.

Working with industry, government and the community, we help foster a safe and sustainable transport network for all Victorians. Through education, engagement, compliance monitoring, investigation and enforcement activities, we work to improve safety outcomes and build public confidence in the transport sectors we regulate.

About the Role

As a Safety Inspector, you will play a vital role in delivering safe transport outcomes across Victoria's commercial passenger vehicle, bus and maritime sectors.

Working as an Authorised Officer, you will undertake inspections and operational compliance activities to identify safety risks, monitor compliance with legislation and support safer outcomes for industry and the community.

You will engage directly with operators, drivers, vessel owners, industry participants and members of the public, applying a range of regulatory approaches including education, compliance monitoring, investigation and enforcement activities.

This is a dynamic and rewarding role where no two days are the same. You will work across metropolitan and regional Victoria, both independently and as part of a team, contributing to safer roads and waterways for all Victorians. The role includes participation in major events, weekend operations, seasonal compliance campaigns and occasional after-hours activities. Overtime opportunities are regularly available through planned operations, major events and targeted enforcement activities.

What Makes This Role Unique?

No two days are the same.

One day you may be patrolling Port Phillip Bay conducting vessel safety inspections. The next, you could be supporting commercial passenger vehicle compliance activities at a major event such as the Australian Open, inspecting wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) to help ensure accessible transport services are safe, respectful and reliable for passengers who require them, undertaking bus inspections during the alpine snow season, educating recreational boaters at the Melbourne Boat Show, investigating a safety complaint, or participating in a targeted multi-agency operation.

Safety Inspectors work across Victoria's transport network, providing a visible regulatory presence while working with industry to improve safety, accessibility and compliance outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct inspections and compliance activities across the commercial passenger vehicle, bus and maritime sectors.
• Monitor compliance with transport safety legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Investigate complaints, incidents, intelligence reports and alleged breaches of legislation.
• Gather, assess and document information and evidence.
• Apply legislation, policies and procedures to make sound regulatory decisions.
• Engage with operators, drivers, vessel owners and industry participants to promote safe and compliant practices.
• Deliver education and awareness activities with industry and the community.
• Participate in planned operations, major events and compliance campaigns.
• Participate in joint agency operations with partners such as Victoria Police, NHVR and Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) and other government agencies to address safety risks, promote compliance and improve transport safety outcomes.
• Prepare reports, review and assess evidence, and make informed regulatory decisions. Apply appropriate compliance and enforcement responses, including issuing formal warnings, infringement notices and defect notices, and preparing briefs of evidence to support regulatory and legal proceedings.
• Identify emerging safety risks and contribute to intelligence-led and risk-based compliance activities.
• Maintain accurate records and prepare regulatory documentation in accordance with legislative and organisational requirements.

To access the Position Description, click here.

About You

You are a motivated individual who enjoys working in a diverse and operational environment.

You are confident engaging with people from all backgrounds, can remain calm and focussed in challenging situations, and have a genuine interest in improving safety outcomes for the community.

You have strong judgement, sound decision-making skills and the ability to interpret and apply legislation, policy and procedures in practical situations.

Whether your experience comes from safety, compliance, investigations, operations, customer service, emergency services, law enforcement, transport, local government, maritime operations or another regulatory environment, you are committed to making a positive contribution to public safety.

We welcome applicants with experience in workplace health and safety, transport safety, risk management, compliance, investigations, emergency response, operational roles or customer-facing environments who are looking to build a career in safety regulation.

Key Selection Criteria

Applicants must address the following key selection criteria in their cover letter:

Outcomes Thinking

Demonstrates the ability to identify safety risks, assess information and make informed decisions. Applies legislation, policies, procedures or established frameworks to achieve positive safety and compliance outcomes.

Work Collaboratively

Builds cooperative and supportive working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders. Contributes positively to team objectives and works effectively across diverse operational environments.

Stakeholder Engagement

Communicates confidently with a diverse range of people and builds productive relationships. Demonstrates the ability to educate, influence and engage stakeholders to achieve safety, compliance or service outcomes.

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Gathers and analyses information, identifies issues and assesses risk. Uses sound judgement to make decisions and determine appropriate responses in operational or complex situations.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Current Victorian Driver Licence.
• Well-developed communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to undertake field-based work across metropolitan and regional Victoria.

Advantageous:

• Experience in safety, compliance, investigations, inspections, transport operations or another operational environment.
• Experience engaging with stakeholders and working with legislation, policies or procedures.
• Certificate IV in Government Investigations, Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety or other relevant qualifications.
• Experience in recreational boating, commercial maritime operations, marine safety, waterways management or marine compliance activities.
• Marine Licence, Personal Watercraft (PWC) Endorsement, Coxswain, Master or other maritime qualifications.

Diverse Backgrounds Welcome

Safe Transport Victoria is committed to building a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve.

We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and identities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, women, LGBTQIA+ people, veterans and those returning to the workforce.

We recognise that great Safety Inspectors come from a variety of backgrounds. You may have experience in safety, compliance, investigations, transport operations, vehicle inspections, emergency services, customer service, local government, maritime operations, community services or another operational environment.

We value transferable skills and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, women, LGBTQIA+ people, veterans and those returning to the workforce.

If you have experience engaging with people, assessing risk, investigating issues, making decisions or improving safety outcomes, we encourage you to apply.

Further Information

For a confidential discussion about the role, please contact:

safetyinspectorrecruitment@safetransport.vic.gov.au

To learn more about Safe Transport Victoria, visit our website and explore our role in improving safety outcomes across Victoria's commercial passenger vehicle, bus and maritime sectors.

To gain further insight into the role, watch Meet the Safety Inspectorate at Safe Transport Victoria, where our inspectors share their experiences working across Victoria's roads and waterways.

Website: https://safetransport.vic.gov.au/
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOAiFuo8_7w

Other Relevant Information

Preferred candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening, including:

• National Police Check.
• Misconduct Declaration Statutory Declaration.
• Working with Children Check

Candidates may also be required to undertake psychometric assessments as part of the recruitment process. These assessments help us evaluate capabilities, work preferences and suitability for the role and will be considered alongside other selection criteria.

To be eligible for appointment, applicants must have appropriate work rights for the advertised employment period. Appointment to an ongoing position is only available to Australian Citizens, New Zealand Citizens or Australian Permanent Residents.

How to Apply

Click the Apply Now button and submit:

• Resume (maximum 3 pages).
• Cover Letter (maximum 1 page) outlining your suitability for the role and addressing the Key Selection Criteria.

Applications close midnight Thursday 22 October 2026.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require application materials in an alternative format, please contact us using the details provided in this