Practitioner – Aboriginal Family Preservation and Reunification    

  • Base/Location:Family Services Unit
  • Reports To:Team Leader Family Services
  • Hours:Full-time (37.5 hour week)
  • Award:SHADS Level 3 pp 1
  • Position Scope:

    The principal role of the Aboriginal Family Preservation and Reunification Response Practitioners is to engage Aboriginal families with children and young people in three ages cohorts: pre-birth, 0-5 and 10-15 years of age to support safe and healthy family functioning, prevent removal of children and support children recently placed in out of home care being reunified with their family. The position will be part of a small team that works as a cohesive whole reporting to the Team Leader-Family Service Team or Manager Family Service.

Organisational 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

Responsibilities of the Practitioner include:

  • Providing and innovative, intensive wrap around outreach family support service to approximately 6 children or young people and
  • Engaging and supporting their families and the children themselves via creative strengths-based evidence informed intervention strategies,
  • Conducting outreach and home visits,
  • Contributing to risk assessments and
  • Facilitating referrals to other Njernda programs or external agencies as required.
  • Maintaining both electronic and written case management systems in line with DFFS legislative and Njernda policy requirements.
  • Liaising with a range of Njernda programs, Child Protection, external service providers and Community Service Organisations

Develop plans and engage appropriate support for clients.

Key Selection Criteria

Applicants must possess:
  • Demonstrated understanding of, and commitment to, the values that underpin vision and purpose and the capacity to take a leadership role in championing these internally and externally
  • Demonstrated awareness and appreciation of Aboriginal societies and cultures, and commitment to continually build knowledge of such, along with a high level of awareness of the key issues which impact upon Aboriginal communities
  • An ability to work in a culturally respectful and competent manner, with Aboriginal young people, their families, and communities, to ensure that cultural connections are fostered and maintained
  • Work experience in a relevant field that supports an understanding of child development and family functioning including theories of attachment, intergenerational and personal trauma as well as relevant risk assessment frameworks, service responses and interventions in working with vulnerable families.
  • A well-developed understanding of issues that impact on Aboriginal families, children, and young people, particularly those who are involved with Child Protection
  • Sound knowledge of and experience with implementing strengths-based interventions
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to support families, children, and young people to set goals and work towards achieving goals.
  • Sound organisational and planning skills including the ability to work independently and within a small team and maintain up to date case notes.
  • Ability to develop and maintain relationships with services and support families to access services and supports as required.
  • Ability to work out of hours and on weekends as required by the role.
  • Ability to mentor other case workers and experience in supporting parents and their children through complex issues and crises and understanding the evidence informed practice approaches requirements of the program.
  • Capacity to assist the Team Leader Family Service with duties as directed.
 Qualifications & Experience
  • Bachelor’s degree in social work, Child Development, Psychology or a related subject area preferred, or
  • A Diploma level relevant qualification with significant professional experience
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 are 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.

Written applications should include a covering letter.  Please include the names and telephone contacts of at least two referees.

To be eligible for an interview 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

84 Hare Street,

Echuca Vic 3564

(PO Box 201)

Echuca Vic 3564

Email             jobs@njernda.com.au

All applications close:    Wednesday 12th January 2021

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). Applications may be posted, emailed or hand delivered.

All applications close: 12th Jan 2022