About Us

Boorndawan Willam Aboriginal Healing Service (BWAHS) are the lead specialists in Aboriginal specific family violence services across the Eastern Metropolitan Region of Melbourne. The organisation has developed an excellent record of providing high quality family violence and trauma informed intensive case management, integrated family service responses, AOD support services and evidence based therapeutic programs to individuals and groups for a whole family approach.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

• Full Time
• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicants strongly encouraged to apply.

The role of the Boorndawan Willam Aboriginal Healing Service’s (BWAHS’s) Men’s Therapeutic Coordinator (MTC) is to develop and guide the Men’s Family Violence Services team to deliver quality service responses to Aboriginal men and their families who are experiencing family violence. They will have extensive skills in risk assessment and mitigation, case management and sound knowledge and experience of the family violence sector (or similar) and are able to communicate this knowledge to the team, through supervision and coaching, to deliver quality services and innovative case management and therapeutic program responses.

The MTC will have an understanding of data collection requirements and will be able to use this data to draft reports and understand trends in the sector. The Men’s Therapeutic Coordinator is a key member of the Leadership Team and as a result provides modelling for a positive and inclusive organisational culture. They will be a strong advocate for Aboriginal centered service delivery, Men’s Behaviour Change Programs and will have an understanding of the impacts of multigenerational trauma.

The Men’s Therapeutic Coordinator will be responsible (in conjunction with the Men’s Program Facilitator and Therapeutic Team) for the development and delivery of therapeutic and cultural programs which promote safety, respectful relationships and will support cultural connections for Aboriginal men who use violence and/or have experienced family violence.

This role will provide supervision and support to the Men’s Family Violence Team which includes Men’s Case Managers, Men’s Behaviour Change Practitioner and the Men’s Program Facilitator. The focus of the work the Men’s Family Violence Team is to ensure that Aboriginal men who use violence are provided with every opportunity to be linked into supports that will assist them to understand the harm caused to family and community when they choose to use violence in the home, and support to assist them to take responsibility for their behaviour, heal and make meaningful changes.

The Men’s Therapeutic Coordinator is required to maintain effective networks with other Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), Stakeholders and other family violence agencies to facilitate access for all Aboriginal men who live in the Eastern Metropolitan Region.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

Leadership and Supervision

• Provide support and supervision to ensure that the Men’s Family Violence Team have the resources to deliver high level supports and behaviour change to Aboriginal men who are users of violence or have been impacted by family violence.
• Provide support to staff to facilitate the development and delivery of Men’s therapeutic groups and Men’s behaviour change programs.

• Evaluate the Men’s Family Violence service delivery and staff practice in order to ensure quality practice and identify barriers to quality client services.

Program Development, Planning and Delivery

• The development and coordination of the men’s programs including Men’s Behaviour Change, Therapeutic Programs, and educational and cultural programs.

• Ensure that the activities of the team align with the funding activity guidelines.
• Work collaboratively with BWAHS staff, ACCO’s and community to develop and plan culturally appropriate therapeutic programs.

• Conduct thorough evaluations of all programs.

Men’s Shed

• Manage the booking system for the Men’s Shed including liaising with booking agencies.

• Ensure that the Men’s shed meets all compliance requirements for bookings and funding agencies.

Intake, Assessment and Referral

• Coordination of intake, including the MARAM risk assessment and risk management plans.
• Ensure that internal and external stakeholders understand the referral process and eligibility criteria for each program.

Administration and Data

• Maintain records including case notes, reports, plans and statistics within required timelines, including data reports required to meet BWAHS contractual obligations.
• Ensure that client records are kept in accordance with BWAHS quality/audit requirements.
• Collect and enter data into the IRIS platform and ensure the Men’s Team are compliant with data input processes in a timely manner.

Partnerships

• Build and maintain effective networks with ACCO’s, Stakeholders and other family violence agencies to facilitate access for all Aboriginal men who live in the Eastern Metropolitan Region.

Safety and Risk

• Always maintain the safety of families and the accountability of violence.
• Provide an escalation point for high-risk cases and assist in the development and implementation of risk management plans for these cases.
• Ensure that the Child Safe Standards and Reportable Conduct Policies and Procedures are adhered to.

Workplace Culture

• Contribute to a positive and culturally safe workplace.
• Represent BWAHS at appropriate forums, meetings and community gatherings.
• Participate in BWAHS overall development and strategic direction as required.

Inclusive Practice

• Provide informed and safe support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families who identify as LGBTQIA+.
• Contribute to a positive and safe workplace for people who identify as LGBTQIA+.
• Provide informed and safe support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families who are living with a disability.
• Contribute to a positive and safe workplace for people who are living with a disability.

Training and Professional Development

• Participate in regular supervision with the Men’s Service’s Leader.
• Undertake such training as required and as identified with the Men’s Services Leader and noted in the Individual’s work plan.
• Provide leadership and coaching to the team in order to ensure that they deliver consistent and quality services to the clients.
• Provide advocacy and advice with regard to the training and development needs of the team in order to guide the development of training opportunities and materials, and support access to professional development opportunities.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA:

• An understanding of contemporary Aboriginal culture and the history of intergenerational trauma.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in social work (or equivalent) or willingness to work toward the qualification in line with legislative requirements for minimum qualifications.
• Experience working in the family violence sector or related areas.
• Theoretical understanding of the issues underpinning family violence in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities and an understanding of family violence interventions including risk and needs assessments, Men’s and Children’s interventions and trauma informed practice.
• Demonstrated practical experience in working with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
• Demonstrated experience working with men and children presenting with complex needs and behaviours and experience working with high-risk clients.
• Ability to engage with internal and external stakeholders to structure and provide services and programs for Aboriginal men and their families.
• Knowledge of referral services in the Eastern Metropolitan Region of Melbourne.
• Basic computer skills including Outlook, Word and data reporting applications (such as IRIS).
• Ability to work both independently and flexibly as part of a small team.
• Willingness to embrace opportunities for professional development where appropriate.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• An understanding of child safe standards and the Children, Youth and Families Act 1995 (Vic), and its application in practice.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills and critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Current Victorian Driver’s Licence.
• Willingness to obtain a Police Check and a Working with Children’s Check.
• Current basic first aid qualification or the willingness to obtain the qualification.
• This position is designated under the Multiagency Risk Assessment and Management framework (MARAM) Comprehensive (Tier 1) level which requires mandated MARAM Family Violence Comprehensive Risk Assessment training and responsibilities.
• A degree in social work, transcripts to be provided (or an equivalent qualification) or a commitment to meeting the mandatory minimum qualifications in accordance with Recommendation 209.

Applicants will be short listed and may be interviewed upon receipt of application, and the position may be filled before the closing date.

Please contact Jida McCartney at [email protected] using the subject line: Men's Therapeutic Coordinator enquiry via EthicalJobs for further information or a copy of the position description.