The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) brings together Victoria’s energy, environment, water, agriculture, forestry, resources, climate action, and emergency management functions into a single department to maximise connections between the environment, community, industry and economy.
Within DEECA’s Regions, Environment, Climate Action and First Peoples (RECAFP) group, the Biodiversity Division delivers policy and strategy, regulatory, emergency management, state-wide planning, program delivery, and foundational science research and information functions that support diverse and resilient natural ecosystems for a liveable, sustainable and prosperous Victoria.
The Biodiversity Division works with partners to
— understand biodiversity decline in Victoria, lead the government’s strategic policy response to biodiversity decline, and attract investment to deliver Victoria’s biodiversity goals and targets;
— ensure fit-for-purpose and modernised legislative framework and institutions;
— deliver strategic environmental planning;
— prepare for, respond to and lead recovery from wildlife emergencies;
—deliver strategic, targeted and sustained action and core on-ground programs to improve Victoria’s biodiversity; and
— deliver world-class foundational science and research functions, and decision-making tools, which provide a strong evidence base and underpin decision making within the environment portfolio and more broadly across government.
The division maintains strong and productive relationships across the Victorian government and external stakeholders including environment, community, and business groups, media, scientific and university research partners, and all levels of government. Partnering with Traditional Owners is a particularly high priority for the division, in order to effectively deliver Victoria’s biodiversity strategy, ensure Victoria’s biodiversity is valued and cared for, and support self-determination and progress towards Treaty.
Biodiversity decline – the challenge
Nature (biodiversity) loss creates significant economic and business risks that are growing each year. Protecting Victoria’s Environment - Biodiversity 2037 is Victoria’s current plan to stop the decline of our native flora and fauna and improve our natural environment. Launched in 2017, Biodiversity 2037 is a statutory requirement under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
Across Australia and globally, the scale of the effort needed to address these risks and reverse declining biodiversity is too great for government to take on alone.
Momentum has been increasing at the international, national and state level to address the significant risks of biodiversity decline.
Outcomes from the UN Biodiversity Conference held in Montreal in December 2022 agreed to by Australia include:
— the need for urgent action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030
— the need to ensure least 30 per cent of terrestrial, inland water, and of coastal and marine areas are effectively conserved and managed
— the need to reduce extinction risk by 2050.
Following in the footsteps of ‘net zero’ for climate change, ‘Nature Positive’ is a global goal for nature that refers to the repair and regeneration of nature – species and ecosystems – rather than decline. ‘Nature Positive’ recognises that the private sector, financial institutions, philanthropy and industry all have an increasing role to play in reversing biodiversity decline. ‘Nature Positive’ is aligned with Victoria’s progress towards Treaty, recognising the important role of First Nations People and Traditional Owners in Healing and Caring for Country.
Recent restructure of the division
The Biodiversity Division has recently undergone a restructure to better align with its priority functions. Under this new structure, the division includes five branches and five (SES1) director roles, which are now being taken to market.
These roles are as follows:
These roles represent complex and exciting opportunities for strategic thinkers, policy experts, and experienced science, planning and programs leaders from within or outside government. For more information or to apply, click on the corresponding link for each role above.
Please note that SHK has been engaged as DEECA’s exclusive sourcing partner for these roles. Direct and third-party applications will be forwarded to SHK.