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 

• Fixed Term 12 months
• Full-Time 38 hours per week
• $43.08 per hour
• Access to Salary Packaging
• 11.5% Superannuation
• Supportive work environment
• Ongoing training and development opportunities

About the Position

The Loddon Care Hub is funded by Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.

The Loddon Care Hub is led by Anglicare Victoria and is a consortia arrangement in partnership with BDAC, amongst other agencies within the Loddon region. The program aims to support reunification and/or stabilising placements.

The model brings together placement options, family services and outreach support to minimise the time a child or young person spends in care, and maximise the likelihood of successful reunification with family, by coordinating and enhancing:

• Placement options (foster and residential care);
• Therapeutic and cultural support;
• Family work and outreach support;
• Mental health and alcohol and other drugs support.

The Aboriginal Community Worker will provide early assessment, planning and wrap around supports alongside an integrated team (formed from a consortium of organisations) for children and young people who are first time entrants into care.

The aim of Aboriginal Community Worker is to provide place-based support to children and young people in the outreach component of the hub, strengthening the child/ren or young people’s connection to community supports. The role will focus on working across different settings to support the child/ren or young people in promoting life skills, and engagement in education and/or or employment.

Key Responsibilities

• The Aboriginal Community Worker, Loddon Care Hub will engage with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and young people in a culturally safe and competent way. This includes engaging in regular consultation with the programs, Team Leader/Cultural Support Worker.
• Demonstrate ability to work with Aboriginal children, young people and families with complex trauma needs
• Undertake regular risk and needs assessments and case management; utilising the Best Interest Framework and other contemporary frameworks and theories; across the Dja Dja Wurrung area.  Focusing on the safety, stability and wellbeing of children and young people in their family home.
• Actively engage (including outreach visits) children, young people and families, including those who may be resistant, by being flexible, responsive, strengths-focused and creative.
• Make an active commitment to the development and maintenance of a learning environment and cohesive multi-disciplinary team across the consortium; through staff meetings, team meetings, staff development, supervision and reflective practice
• Work within a collaborative care team approach with external agencies and other relevant stakeholders, including Child Protection to promote the best outcomes for the client.
• Fulfil the program obligation regarding case load requirements, targets, case recording, statistics and other data collection.
• The willingness to adhere to program guidelines and/or funding expectations, including the delivery of flexible service hours [outside normal business hours] where required.
• Other duties as requested by the Team Leader / Cultural Support Worker or Program Manager.

About You

• Knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal Culture and the ACCO environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of the Children’s, Youth and Families Act 2005.
• Demonstrated experience in undertaking case work with families and children who have experienced trauma
• Demonstrated ability to conduct comprehensive safety and wellbeing assessments and work within the Best Interest Principles as outlined within the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005
• Sound understanding of the Child Protection and welfare system, and experience in collaboration with a range of professionals in a care team approach.
• Demonstrated experience referring to and collaborating with local service networks.
• Excellent time management skills with the ability to meet deadlines, targets and key deliverables of the program
• Strong computer skills, Ability to use a range of software and IT based reporting systems.
• Ability to prepare plans, letters, emails and reports using clear, concise and grammatically correct language. Ensure written communications contain necessary information to achieve their purpose

Preferred / Desired / Mandatory Education, Training and/or Competencies.

• A recognised Social Work degree or a similar welfare or behavioural related degree which includes: (a) a primary focus on child development, human behaviour, family dynamics and/or impacts of trauma; and preferably (b) a practical component such as counselling or case work practice

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) a primary focus on child development, human behaviour, family dynamics and/or impacts of trauma (b) 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 on the Apply Now link below 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.