Please note: This is an Aboriginal Designated Position, classified under ‘special measures’ of section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. Only Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply.

About BDAC

BDAC is an ACCO (Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation) registered as a member under the umbrella of VACCHO (Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation) and represented nationally through NACCHO (National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation).

BDAC was founded to represent and provide services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living on Djaara Country.

BDAC has a responsibility to ensure growth of services, development of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, better and improved health outcomes for our people, improved quality of life and be a lead agency in providing self-determination employment and career pathways for Aboriginal people.

What We Are Offering

• Full time, 38 hours per week
• 12 month contract
• $43.08 per hour
• Access to Salary Packaging
• 11.5% Superannuation
• Supportive work environment
• Ongoing training and development opportunities

About The Program

The Aboriginal Child Specialist Advice and Support Service Case Worker (ACSASS) is responsible for working as a part of a team to assist, support and strengthen Aboriginal families who are in contact with Child Protection.

The ACSASS is a 24/7 service and as such workers are required to provide an after-hours service based on a rotating roster.

About The Position

The Aboriginal Child Specialist Advice and Support Service Case Worker (ACSASS) is responsible for working as a part of a team to assist, support and strengthen Aboriginal families who are in contact with Child Protection. The ACSASS case worker is responsible for providing Child Protection Practitioners advice and support about culturally appropriate intervention and service delivery ACSASS will provide information to the family regarding what their rights and responsibilities are and what services are available to them.

ACSASS are to ensure that Child Protection’s decisions are made in the best interest of the child/children and/or young person and assuring that connection to culture is always upheld. When a child/children and/or young person is at risk of or experiencing emotional/physical abuse, neglect, family violence, intellectual underdevelopment and /or sexual abuse Child Protection may become involved. At this stage ACSASS will become involved also and will remain involved until all goals/tasks have been met. The ACSASS case worker will be required to build, maintain and foster strong relationships with Child Protection and other agencies.

The ACSASS is a 24/7 service and as such workers are required to provide an after-hours service based on a rotating roster.

Some Key Responsibilities

Advisory Support:

• Provide a consultation service to the Department of Human Services Child Protection unit to ensure all cultural needs are and issues are considered in reaching a decision in regards to Aboriginal children.
• Provide specialist information to Aboriginal families regarding child protection services, their rights and obligations.
• Facilitate communication and negotiate between Child Protection services and families.
• Record and maintain accurate case notes for all clients contact including: face to face, phone and email

Direct Service Delivery:

• Attend court, meetings and home visits as required to provide support and advice to Aboriginal families in contact with Child Protection.
• Liaise with families and provide advice and support to ensure all members of the families understand the process of Child Protection involvement.
• Take a holistic approach to service delivery to Aboriginal children, families and communities ensuring areas of need are identified and appropriate strategies implemented to meet the needs
• Develop and maintain an effective workload management process to a timely response to demands of services.
• Ensure that any complaints received within program delivery are dealt with in accordance to BDAC complaints policy and procedures.

Reporting and compliance:

• Contribute to implementation, evaluation and monitoring of the ACSASS program.
• Actively participate in the review and documentation of policies, procedures, standards and practice model/frameworks.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of strategies that address the issues associated with the implementation of new legislations.
• Contribute to the development of internal processes to ensure cross program co-ordination
• Complete monthly progress reports and provide to the team leader demonstrating progress towards set KPI’s

Stakeholder Management:

• Remain in regular contact with Child Protection throughout the duration of service delivery to each child/family.
• Assist the team leader in undertaking high level negotiations with Aboriginal agencies, government bodies and community sector organisations – to enhance service delivery and policy development to Aboriginal children, families and communities.

About You

• Sound Knowledge of local issues and needs of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and the issues that Aboriginal families are facing today
• Ability in convening and mediating outcomes with groups
• A sound understanding of child and adolescent development, intervention techniques and strategies related to the protection of children and young people from abuse and neglect
• Capacity to engage Aboriginal Children and their families in collaborative planning processes
• Demonstrated knowledge of requirements in relation to policies, legislation, program and practices in relation to child welfare
• Experience in preparing written reports including reports with statistical data collected from service delivery reporting and recording accurate case notes
• With strengths based approach, solve problems based on operational knowledge and experience, sourcing useful information, looking for underlying reasons and suggesting alternative actions for clients and staff

Mandatory Education, Training and/or Competencies:

• A tertiary qualification in Social Work and/or Diploma of Community Services or equivalent.

How to Apply

If this role sounds like the role for you then click on the "Apply Now" button and apply by attaching your CV and a cover letter detailing how you suit the role.

Mandatory Requirements

Should an applicant be the preferred candidate, background checks (Police check, reference check and Working with Children's Check) will be completed prior to the candidate’s employment being confirmed.

For more information about this position please see the Position Description which can be accessed via our website www.bdac.com.au or contact our human resources team on (03) 5442 4947 or send an email through to [email protected] using the subject line: Aboriginal Child Specialist Advice and Support Service Case Worker (Identified) - Bendigo enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Please note: This is an Aboriginal Designated Position, classified under ‘special measures’ of section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. Only Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply.