• Duration: 12 months
• First Nations People, LGBTIQ+ people, people with disability, people of colour, public housing residents or people with a lived experience are encouraged to apply.
• DSS is committed to child safety and strictly adheres to the Reportable Conduct Scheme for organisations. The safeguarding and wellbeing of our clients is our core focus. All staff must undergo thorough recruitment process including screening and providing evidence of current Working With Children Check and National Police Check.

BICULTURAL WORKER SUPPORTING THOSE EXPECTING A BABY AND IN BABY’S FIRST 2 YEARS OF LIFE

Drummond Street Services has an opportunity for an experienced Bicultural Mental Health Family Worker to provide high quality parenting education and support to a families who are finding becoming a parent challenging and to promote their mental health and the wellbeing of the infant. The worker will resource colleagues and lived experience peer workers on the Ready Steady Family team as they navigate the transition to parenthood, managing problems like peri natal anxiety and depression and related issues. This role will provide developmentally and culturally appropriate, trauma informed support to children and families in a range of disadvantaged settings such as housing estates and communities - operating across various sites in the North and West of Melbourne. 

The hours of work are flexible and will add up to 2 days per week. The work will be based at the Ready Steady Family Carlton office with occasional requirements to work from other Melbourne sites such as Wyndham and Coburg, in addition to outreach work. The role is a 12 month position initially.

The specific responsibilities of the role:

• Provide consultation to colleagues around cultural issues, and mentor Peer Workers in a practical way (they will be supervised by another person)
• Support the design, delivery and implementation of evidence based and intentional family-based programs across the North and West of Melbourne, including and the public housing estates with a focus on inclusive intersectional work
• Visit clients in their home to provide parent coaching as negotiated with Drummond Street
• Conduct child and family need and risk assessments on a regular basis in addition to Family Action Plans
• Strengthen family connections by promoting positive bonding, good communication, overcoming isolation and assisting with emotional and cultural growth as a family
• Take part in group work and presenting to community about our programs as negotiated with colleagues
• Other duties as required. 

Networking and Partnerships

• Assist as required with marketing and promotion of programs, including networking with CALD organisations
• Represent the organisation positively with a range of external health, social services and other relevant providers for the purpose of making appropriate client referrals, providing conjoint support where required, and marketing and promoting the agency programs.

Application Process

• All applications will be directed to our careers portal – Bicultural Mental Health Family Worker
• All applicants must include a resume and prepare a cover letter for the position (maximum of one page). Use this letter to outline: 

1. Your interest/commitment to those experiencing perinatal mental health from CALD backgrounds.
2. Your demonstrated ability to facilitate discussions and deliver activities and with individuals and groups of parents and infants. 

If you would like to discuss this position further, please contact Helen Rimington on 0439 207 277 or [email protected] using the subject line: Bicultural Mental Health Family Worker enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Suitable applicants that apply before the closing date will be offered an interview

A position description is attached.