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
• $100,000 - $105,000 annually
• Access to Salary Packaging
• 11.5% Superannuation
• Supportive work environment
• Ongoing training and development opportunities

About the Program

In 2018 BDAC began taking on the authorisation of Aboriginal children and their siblings, under Section 18 of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (CYFA). Allowing for all decisions for these children on Child Protection Orders to be made by an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation. The program is known state-wide as Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care (ACAC). Although the implementation of section 18 CYFA is recognised as a historically significant move towards self-determination, the authorisations under section 18 are limited to children already subject to Child Protection Orders, this has excluded the ability for Aboriginal organisations to intervene earlier to slow the rates of Aboriginal families entering further into the system.

The 2020-21 Victorian State Budget provided funding to develop and pilot an Aboriginal organisations response to child protection reports about the safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal children and young people. This new approach will aim to deliver culturally informed investigation of child protection reports and offer culturally appropriate support for families, with the aim of strengthening Aboriginal families and reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal children in child protection and care. Two pilot teams will be established: one at BDAC and the other at Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency. The organisations will hold decision making responsibility under the authority of the CYFA.

About the Position

The Team Leader will lead a team of five staff within the ACAC programs. The ACAC Team Leader will provide high quality supervision and support to a team of staff who work with children, families and community to promote the safety, stability and wellbeing of Aboriginal children under the Children’s Youth and Families Act 2005. The Team Leader will also be working directly with families and manage caseloads.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise a team of staff working from a strengths approach.
• Exercise a wide range of authorities and legal delegations under section 18 of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 and other specific delegations and functions including adherence to relevant practice standards.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships, ongoing communication, and successful negotiations with all key stakeholders both internal and external.
• Monitor and review key performance indicators to ensure effective service delivery with a focus on continual improvement.
• Use and coach staff to use a range of IT/web-based applications to manage workflow, approvals, and collection of information in accordance with guidelines and privacy principles.
• Prepare and oversee the preparation of documentation, present information and make recommendations to the Children’s Court of Victoria and other relevant courts and tribunal processes on decisions and actions in the best interests of the child.
• Be clear about accountability and responsibility for decisions and involve partners in joint problem solving.
• Contribute the body of practice and the development of policies and procedures.
• Maintain the operational level of program development and service delivery.
• Ensure applications are made to ensure all protection orders are current and updated (if required) prior to expiry date. Protection Orders that are close to expiry must be reported to the Program Manager.
• Ability to work after hours and on call (when required)

Desired Skills and Experience

About You

• Understanding of an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) environment and the local Aboriginal Community.
• An understanding of and commitment to strength based practice.
• Highly developed skills and commitment to supervision and performance management.
• Expert knowledge and ability to embed in practice, the Children Youth and Families Act 2005 and the Child Wellbeing Act 2005 particularly relating to Aboriginal children, families.
• Demonstrated self-care and resilience to supporting staff working with children and families in crisis and have experienced trauma.
• Proven skills in decision making in high pressure and time sensitive circumstances.
• Ability to prepare and oversee the preparation of high quality documentation for a range of audiences.
• Social Work Degree or a recognised Diploma of Community Services

Mandatory Education, Experience, and Competencies

• A recognised Social Work degree or a recognised Diploma of Community Services Work, or similar qualification which is studied over a minimum of two academic years of full-time study (or part time equivalent) and includes:
  • A primary focus on child development, human behaviour, family dynamics and/or impacts of trauma
  • Supervised fieldwork placements (ideally completed within the child and family welfare sector) and at least one unit of study in case management, case work practice or counselling

How to Apply

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

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 Children in Aboriginal Care Team Leader enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.