Family Services Reform Worker

Job description

Support Families. Lead Reform. Keep Decision-Making in Community Hands.

Njernda Aboriginal Corporation is seeking a Family Services Reform Worker to deliver the Aboriginal Restoring Families Coordination and Aboriginal Family Group Conferencing functions within our Families, Healing and Support Services team. This dual-function role connects Aboriginal families across the Echuca/Moama region to the right programs and facilitates culturally grounded, family-led conferences that place families at the centre of decision-making.

About the role

You'll work closely with DFFH, the area-based Restoring Families Coordinator, the Orange Door, Child Protection, Youth Justice and community services to strengthen system-wide responses for Aboriginal families.

• Act as Njernda's central contact point for Restoring Families referrals, triaging and prioritising Aboriginal families in a culturally informed way
  
• Participate in area-based prioritisation and allocation activities alongside the RFC, Alliance facilitator, Child Protection navigators and Youth Justice contacts
  
• Plan, prepare and facilitate culturally grounded Aboriginal Family Group Conferences, including pre-conference engagement with extended family, kin and professionals
  
• Support implementation and monitoring of family plans following conference
  
• Build capacity across Njernda's workforce to identify families suitable for conferencing and support family readiness
  
• Maintain accurate, compliant records in IRIS, CSNet and SAMS, and contribute data to quarterly reporting
  
• Engage with Njernda's cultural governance structures, including the Elders Advisory Group

Selection Criteria - these must be addressed

To be considered, your application must include a separate document responding to each of the numbered criteria below.

1. A Degree or Diploma in Social Work, Community Services or a related discipline, plus relevant specialist family violence qualifications and/or lived experience/knowledge
   
2. A minimum of 4 years' experience in a coordinator role or similar
   
3. Demonstrated ability to work with Aboriginal families and communities in a culturally appropriate, trauma-aware and strengths-based manner, including an understanding of cultural governance structures and the needs of Aboriginal families in the Echuca/Moama region
   
4. Demonstrated experience in program coordination, service triage and area-based collaboration within a multi-agency environment
   
5. Demonstrated experience in facilitating or co-facilitating family group conferences, or willingness to complete FGC facilitation training prior to service commencement
   
6. Knowledge or experience of Family Group Conferencing principles and methodology, including conference phases, mandatory private family time requirements and post-conference plan support
   
7. Ability to maintain clear functional separation between the coordination and facilitation roles, preserving family authority and conferencing integrity
   
8. Thorough understanding of family violence systems, legislation and risk management frameworks, including MARAM, FVISS, CISS and Aboriginal-specific practice responses
   
9. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear case notes, quarterly reports and data submissions, and strong knowledge or experience of DFFH reporting and accountability systems
   
10. Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities across dual functions
    
11. Good negotiation skills and demonstrated ability to build and maintain collaborative partnerships with external parties
    
12. Well-developed computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel and case management/data systems
    

Desirable: Experience working in an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) and in rural Victoria.

How to apply

Applying is simple — just click the Apply button and complete the online form.

Your application must include:

1. An up-to-date CV
2. A cover letter
3. A separate response addressing each numbered Selection Criterion above
4. Contact details for at least two professional referees

Before applying, please ensure you meet the following requirements:

• Current and valid Victorian Working with Children Check
• National Police Check
• Current and valid full Victorian Driver's Licence
• Eligibility to work in Australia
• Vaccination status disclosure and negative alcohol and drug screening, in line with Njernda policy

Please note, late applications and incomplete applications without key selection criteria responses, will not be considered.