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 program

The Loddon region is the location for an exciting and innovative partnership to provide early intensive supports and intervention to young people entering care for the first time. The program aims to support reunification and/or stabilising placements.

The Loddon Care Hub is being funded by Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. This trial 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 Position

The aim of the Aboriginal Family Worker’s role within the Loddon Care Hub is to provide quality in-home and community interventions, with high intensity and flexible service delivery hours.

The service and support are delivered in a child centred, family focused way and works alongside families to address the changes that may need to occur for their child/ren or young person to be safe at home.

The Loddon Care Hub program will be led by Anglicare Victoria in partnership with BDAC and be delivered by a consortium of partners with resources, experience and expertise is care.

Some of the Key Responsibilities:

• To provide intensive outreach to families (including outside normal business hours) with a focus on reunification and the safety and wellbeing of children and young people within the family home. 
• Provides education and practical support to families to enhance parenting skills and capacity.
• Provides coaching and role modelling to enhance parenting skill development and capacity. 
• Works to strengthen the family unit, and the relationship between the child or young person and family.   
• To undertake regular risk and needs assessments and case management; utilising the Best Interest Framework and other contemporary frameworks and theories; across the Loddon region. Focusing on the safety, stability and wellbeing of children and young people in their family home. 
• To actively engage (including outreach visits) children, young people and families, including those who may be resistant, by being flexible, responsive, strengths-focused and creative.
• Contributes to a consolidated assessment and plan and participates in care teams. 
• To 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.
• To develop good working relationships with consortium partners including Aboriginal services to ensure cultural safety in our practice; to promote best outcomes for children, young people and their families. 
• To work within a collaborative care team approach with consortium members and relevant stakeholders, including Child Protection to promote best outcomes for client. 
• To 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 or program manager.

Ideally the preferred candidate will have the following skills and/or experiences:                

• Identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
• Knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal Culture and the ACCHO environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of the Children’s, Youth and Families Act 2005.
• Resilience to work with and support clients who have been exposed to 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 ability to use a range of active engagement strategies with vulnerable and at risk children, young people and their families, and be flexible and creative in meeting their needs. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication, time management and organisational skills.
• 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.

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.

*If you don’t meet these requirements but strongly believe and are able to demonstrate you have the knowledge and capacity to fulfill this role, please contact us*

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.

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 or contact our human resources team on (03) 5442 4947 or send an email through to [email protected] using the subject line: Aboriginal Family Worker - Loddon Care Hub enquiry via EthicalJobs.