Director – Family Services

  • Base/Location:Echuca
  • Reports To:Chief Executive Officer
  • Hours:Full-time (37.5 hour week)
  • Award:Negotiable, depending on experience
  • Position Scope:

    Njernda Aboriginal Corporation is an independent not-for-profit Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service, governed by a Board of five Directors. Our primary population catchment is the Echuca and Moama Murray River region with services reaching out to the Loddon Mallee region.
    Njernda is recognised for leadership in family service programs in partnership with its other services related to childcare and education, health and aged care, youth, and cultural healing. Family Services provides quality services under DFFH accreditation.
    We have a strong history of successfully planning, implementing, and evaluating a range of family services
    programs interlinked to our other health and healing services. Njernda employs approx. 150 staff.

**This is an “Indigenous Only” role under Special Measures of the EEO Act 2010, Section 12.

The Director is responsible for the overall management of the Family Services Unit and is responsible to oversee early intervention, prevention, support and strengthening families including assistance for relationship breakdown and family safety programs and services. This position will, under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer lead the operational management of these programs with the support of team managers and their teams.

Programs under this role include:

FAMILY SERVICES
Family Violence Worker (Male and Female)
Orange Door Practitioner
Intensive Family Services
Care Hub-Family Worker
Integrated Family Services
Care Hub-Community Worker
Intensive Early Years Family Services
Yakapna
Integrated Early Years Family Services
SAAP (housing support)
Aboriginal Family Preservation and Reunification
PRAT/Crises Accommodation Worker (housing
support)

OUT OF HOME CARE

Kinship Care & Case Contracting

Keeping Children Safe in Culture

Kinship Placement and Support

Kinship First Supports

Aboriginal Family Led Decision Making (AFLDM)

Wala Yarka (Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care)

AFLDM Diversion Program

Berry Street Practitioner (weekly)

Foster Care Recruitment, Assessment and Training

Therapeutic Counsellors

Home Based Care

Aboriginal Children Specialist Advice Support Service

 

Organizational Values

Respect
Establishing relationships based on respect and trust
Accountability
Taking ownership and initiative of Njernda values to ensure trusted collaborations are formed
Resilience
Encouraging cultural and spiritual growth to enable personal growth
Advocacy
Working to transform the disadvantage and challenge that causes impact on our community
Cultural Sensitivity
Welcoming and serving our community with understanding and without judgement

 

Key Responsibilities

This position will, under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer lead the strategic and operational management of Family Services programs. It is an expectation that the incumbent will contribute to a constructive workplace culture which engages and develops the talents of staff and provides an excellent service to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait community.

-The position requires leadership capabilities to foster a culture of growth and development.

-The director ensures the organisational culture, image and branding is maintained by strong corporate ethics, personally and professionally throughout the organisation. The director should ensure managers operate in accordance with the vision and philosophy of the organisation and develop policy and programs to that end.

-Directors take a top level view of workflows, budgets, and regulating expenses, and is responsible for monitoring the operations and enhancing productivity.

-The directors are responsible for ensuring the operation has the funds, equipment, and other resources necessary to deliver the operational outcomes.

-Directors are responsible for future looking responsibilities like research and development keeping a pulse on trends and advancement in family and child protection activities.

-Previous leadership success, including demonstrated commitment to the use of evidence, and achievement through influence and fostering of innovation.

-Provide a structure that ensures managers conduct professional supervision and support for staff to include ongoing training and development.

-The position requires hiring, supervising, and reviewing managers, as well as motivating staff.

-Assist the CEO in developing policies and programs, and developing briefings, according to best practice for Family Services and its programs.

-Prepare submissions to federal and state governments and other bodies.

-Assist managers to develop, manage, analyse data, programs and continually improve their programs and services.

-Foster a strong team spirit within the organization.

-Organize with the CEO, community meetings to gain feedback from the community on programs and services.

-Represent the organization and/or community in forums outside the agency (e.g., on panels, on Committees etc).

-Significant experience in a senior role, preferable in the child and family sector or relevant field is desirable.

-Other duties as directed by the CEO

 

Key Selection Criteria

Applicants must possess:
• Awareness and appreciation of Aboriginal societies and understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal people in contemporary Australia and the circumstances of Aboriginal people.
• Comprehensive understanding of relevant funding, policies, regulations for state and federal funded early intervention, prevention, support and strengthening families including assistance for relationship breakdown and family safety.
• Previous leadership success, including demonstrated commitment to the use of evidence, achievement through influence and fostering of innovation.
• High level conceptual thinking demonstrated through analysis of complex issues and implementation of effective solutions.
• High level verbal communication skills to influence others to achieve organisational outcomes.
• Demonstrated excellence in collaboration with others, team building, communication, leading through influence and execution of multifaceted decisions.
• Proven ability to meet deadlines in a busy working environment.
• Sound understanding of information, communications, and information technology as it relates to family service-related programs.
• Strong organizational development skills and the capacity to identify and manage risk.
• Proven ability to embed the rights of children in all Njernda programs

Commitment to Safety All children have the right to be children and live free of abuse and neglect, so they can grow, learn, and develop. Everyone within Njernda is responsible for ensuring a culture of child safety; preventing child abuse and abiding by the Child Safety Principles

 

Other Relevant Information

• The successful applicant will be required to undergo satisfactory pre-employment checks, including providing at least two professional referees, completion of a medical declaration, Police Records Check, Working With Children Check, Victorian Driver’s License, and proof of identify and qualifications
• Commitment to equal opportunity and occupational health and safety principles and practices is required
• You will need to disclose any pre-existing illness or injury you know about which could be affected by the described work duties. Under section 82 (7) of the Accident Compensation Act, failure to disclose such a pre-existing illness or injury will mean that, if employed, you will not be paid compensation for that condition.
• Njernda is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
• All Njernda sites are smoke free workplaces.
• Njernda- is committed to employing people from diverse backgrounds and providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment.
• Njernda has a commitment to environmental sustainability

 

To be Eligible for an Interview

The Applicant MUST address the Key Selection Criteria and include a recent resume.
Address your application marked: “Private & Confidential”
To: Corporate Services Manager
Njernda Aboriginal Corporation
P.O. Box 21 Echuca Vic 3564
Email trishaw@njernda.com.au
All applications close: 16th August 2022
➢ Written applications should include a covering letter. Please include the names and telephone contacts of at least two referees.
➢ Please check the closing date to ensure your application is received within the specified time. Applications may be posted, emailed, hand delivered or faxed (provided that a hard copy is posted on the same day).

All applications close: 16th Aug 2022