About the business

Since 1991, Yorganop has been Western Australia’s first Aboriginal foster care agency. Yorganop works in partnership with government agencies, Aboriginal families, and our community of carers to provide safe and secure care for Aboriginal children. For 32 years Yorganop has been providing essential services for the increasing high number of vulnerable Aboriginal children in Out-of-Home Care.

Yorganop’s key driver for over 32 years is to enable children, in particular, Aboriginal children in out-of-home care to fulfil their potential and thrive in life (culturally, socially, and emotionally). We achieve this by providing culturally safe, secure, stable, caring homes with carers who understand Aboriginal ways of being and doing. Yorganop carers are supported in providing culturally safe placements through Yorganop’s ongoing cultural training, and immersion in Yorganop’s carer community.

In order to achieve these goals Yorganop needs the best team in place, and is currently recruiting for a Cultural Lead Assessment Team to join our amazing team.

For this position, Aboriginality is considered essential.

About the role

Yorganop empowers Aboriginal children, families and young people to grow strong in themselves, their culture, and their future. As the Cultural Lead Assessment Team you will collaborate with the Cultural Unit to lead and support the Assessment and Review team to provide culturally safe services to children, young people, carers, families, communities and stakeholders.

What you will do

You will be responsible for:

• Assessment of potential foster carers and kinship carers from the initial Expression of Interest (EOI) through to their carer registration and training.
• ensuring culturally secure, trauma informed practices are understood across the organisation.
• actively seeking opportunities to provide cultural consultations across the organisation to ensure culture is at the forefront of decision-making.
• providing information and advice that supports Yorganop’s Cultural Framework to be embedded across the organisation.
• actively seeking opportunities to enhance culture across the organisation and improve the organisation’s cultural fitness.
• supporting the development of Life Story Books for all children and young people, focusing on the cultural aspects of the Life Story Book. This includes cultural connections, language, and community information.
• assistance with the annual carer reviews and support the Foster Carer Placement Officer with advice on potential placements.
• Your approach will be trauma informed and culturally secure. You will ensure the right to self-determination drives your practice, while promoting the wellbeing of children.

Yorganop holds a strong importance on cultural security and development, so that the children in care can feel valued, respected, comfortable and safe. Interview and assess young people who have been referred to Home Stretch to build a holistic understanding of their support needs.

What you will need

Essential:

• Aboriginality is a genuine requirement for this position as defined under Section 50 (d) of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal culture and the ability to work with communities, families, children and young people.
• Demonstrated high-level organisation skills, communication skills, writing skills and an ability to positively interact with Yorganop staff, clients, sector representatives and community.
• Proven experience delivering high standards of service and achieving strong client satisfaction.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal Islander and ability to work with culturally and linguistically diverse communities, families, children, and young people.
• Capacity to assist with carer assessments and reviews.
• Experience in writing high quality reports and other documentation.
• Awareness of trauma informed care of children.
• High level of interpersonal skills.
• Strong time management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a team member and contribute to the team achieving its required outcomes.

Desirable:

• Experience in Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, or Non-for-profit, or government roles.
• Demonstrated experience in the child protection and out of home care area or equivalent.

Qualifications and Licenses:

• A tertiary qualification in Social Work, Behavioural Sciences, Community Services, Youth Service and/or a Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a similar role.
• Satisfactory National Police Clearance
• Satisfactory Working with Children (WWC) Check
• Satisfactory Department of Communities (DoC) Departmental Check (Departmental Record Check & Criminal Record Check)
• Current Drivers Licence and the ability to travel in response to organisational needs.

Importance notes for applicants

Applicants must include a one page covering letter to address the essential criteria plus a concise CV which clearly outlines relevant qualifications and experience. Submit via the "Apply Now" button.

We reserve the right to close the applications and appoint prior to the advertised closing date. Being suitable for the position does not guarantee an Offer of Employment.

For more information on Yorganop or the position, please visit www.yorganop.org.au or send email enquiries to [email protected] using the subject line: Cultural Lead, Assessment Team (Identified Position) enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.