Berry Street is one of the largest independent agencies within Australia, providing diverse programs to over 35,000 young people, children and families across Victoria each year. We pride ourselves on our ingenuity, evidence based and multi-dimensional thinking to provide the best outcomes for our young people.

We believe children, young people and families should be safe, thriving and hopeful and strive to make this happen each day!

The Opportunity

Our Western Specialist Family Violence Service (WFVS) team are the lead provider for the integrated family violence service system in the Northern Metropolitan sub-region. The WFVS provides support services to victim survivors of family violence including children, inclusive of cisgender heterosexual women; and people from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer Community (LGBTIQ+). 

The service aims to support victim survivors and their children to remain safely within their community and maintain a life free of violence while also addressing the emotional and practical needs and issues arising from the violence. 

What does a Specialist Family Violence Practitioner do?

• Complete comprehensive risk assessment with victim survivor’s adult and child in accordance with Victoria’s Multi Agency Risk assessment and Management (MARAM) framework.
• In consultation with victim survivors identify the victim survivor’s specialist family violence goals.
• Be willing to meet victim survivor’s face to face in an office setting and settings in the community assessed as appropriate and safe for both practitioner and victim survivor
• Support victim survivors to navigate complex service system responses.

Crisis/Intake Response

In this position you will provide brief to intermediate specialist family violence responses to victim survivors and their children (victim survivors in their own right) experiencing high-risk violence receiving a response from RAMP/Crisis/High Risk and Intake.

Active Holding

This position is a case management role working directly with victim survivors in a short-term capacity until they are allocated a primary case manager. The role provides psychosocial education, advocacy, supports and referrals to other services as required.

Brief, Intermediate and Intensive

In this role you will work with victim survivors throughout different points in their journey to provide thorough consultation and identify victim survivor’s goals.

What skills and training do you need?

The successful candidate will hold a minimum Bachelor level qualification in Social Work, equivalent qualifications or have recent employment in the family violence sector or equivalency met through the Rec 209 7 Equivalency Principles in line with the minimum mandatory qualification requirements.

Please see https://www.vic.gov.au/mandatory-minimum-qualificationsspecialist-family-violence-practitioners for further information. You will also have experience in working with women and children from diverse backgrounds who have experienced family violence and the ability and experience to undertake comprehensive risk assessments (CRAF or TRAM).

The Benefits

• Regular reflective supervision 
• A culture that values and support professional development  
• $15,900.00 pa (pro rata) Salary Packaging + Additional Salary Packaging for meals/accommodation 
• 10 weeks paid parental leave + other generous leave conditions! 
• Access to the Employee Assistance Program, with access for staff's immediate family 
• Leave loading 17.5% 

How to Apply

Click Apply Now to submit your application. 

Applications including resume and cover letter addressing your suitability for the position to be submitted ASAP as we are reviewing applications as we receive them.

Queries to Tracey Golder: Program Manager - Family Violence 0448 639 315.

A position description is attached.

Please Note; the successful applicant will be subject to comprehensive reference and background checking prior to employment, including a Working with Children Check and National and International Police check if required and Victorian Carer Register clearance if applicable.

Berry Street is committed to being a child safe, child friendly and child empowering organisation. In everything we do we seek to protect children. We are committed to the cultural safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children; children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds; children with a disability; children who identify as LGBTQIA+. We aim to ensure every individual is treated with dignity and respect regardless of their cultural background, ability, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, spirituality or religion.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; people from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds and people with a disability are encouraged to apply.