North Queensland Domestic Violence Resource Service (NQDVRS) has secured further funding to help support victim-survivors of domestic and family violence. This is an important opportunity for experienced and dedicated advanced specialist to join our team and make a positive difference to the lives of victim-survivors in our community. The roles will include specialist DFV work embedded within Police Stations and other partner agencies.

If you are looking for an advanced practice role that will make a difference, apply now.

About us

Our charity has operated for over 30 years in Townsville. Throughout this time, we have been at the forefront of supporting communities with evidence-based, trauma-informed practices. We care deeply for the communities we work with and the rights and safety of victim survivors.

We strongly uphold our values when working with client, stakeholders and each other, our values are: Integrity, Compassion, Advocacy, Innovation and Collaboration. We invest in professional development and provide a supportive culture because we recognise and value our staff working in this sector.

About the role

As an Advanced Specialist DFV Advocate, your role is pivotal both within NQDVRS and as part of our embedded program with QPS and other partner agencies. You'll align with our organisation's practice frameworks and policies to assess DFV risk, craft safety plans, offer information and referrals, assist with shelter needs, provide counselling and advocacy, and guide women through the Specialist DFV and Criminal Courts, including Domestic Violence Protection order applications.

Salary and Benefits

• SCHADS Level 4.1, or 5.1 depending on experience
• Relocation package subject to negotiation
• Salary packaging options up to $15,900 greatly increasing your take home pay (superannuation can be paid in addition to this, subject to any ATO limit where applicable). https://www.smartsalary.com.au/calculator/ 
• Christmas leave granted in addition to 4 weeks annual leave (pro rata basis).
• 17.5% annual leave loading
• Monday to Friday working pattern with only occasional out of hours work.
• Flexible working hours.
• A supportive induction process and in-house training
• Regular external professional supervision.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Annual flu injections.
• Supportive work environment with a commitment to staff wellbeing and professional development and generous training opportunities.

About you

Successful candidates will be future focused, accountable, and able to create a positive culture, lifting others up with an energetic, compassionate, inspiring, and engaging manner.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate they are able to meet the following Selection Criteria:

Required experience & qualifications

• Degree level qualification in a relevant human services discipline (or 5 years’ experience in a similar field will be considered).
• Minimum of 3 years’ full time equivalent professional experience in a relevant human services discipline.
• Advanced experience working with current legislation (Domestic and Family Violence Act 2012, Child Protection Act 1999), Common Risk Assessment Framework and DFV Information Sharing Guidelines.

Required skills and knowledge

• Advanced knowledge of contemporary practice, relevant theoretical models, frameworks, and highly developed counselling and advocacy techniques and case management skills.
• Extensive, nuanced, and current understanding of the service system and other connected systems and can interpret it for each individual client and their diverse needs.
• Highly competent and autonomous with advanced capability in complex decision-making, balancing safety, best practice, resource limitations and desired outcomes.
• Advanced understanding of the cumulative, compounding, and complex impacts of trauma including intergenerational trauma on First Nation’s peoples and how these impact and manifest in the choices people make.

• Demonstrated ability to skilfully and sensitively communicate complex information verbally and in writing, particularly when faced with heightened states of distress.
• Demonstrated understanding of the complex ways in which children are harmed through experiencing violence, and the tactics of control and abuse of power that they experience.
• Capable of providing formal supervision, debriefing and mentoring to a team of practitioners in areas of legislation, standards, and guidelines relevant to the context of practice.
• Ability to produce documents to a high standard such as resources, templates & reports and provide oversight of such documents produced by others.
• Highly competent with technology e.g. Microsoft suite of programs, and the ability to work within various databases.

Required competencies

• Proactive ability to seek out opportunities to maintain current knowledge about emerging evidence and trends and synthesises and translates information for peer learning.
• Able to foster positive community and stakeholder relationships and demonstrates leadership with public, community, and business groups to advocate and educate.
• Advanced ability to engage in critical reflection and support the development of practice accountability across the team and continuous improvement to ensure alignment with practice standards.
• Can modify practice responses to meet the context and experience of First Nations peoples to ensure genuine cultural capability for self, staff, and team.
• Personal values are strongly aligned to organisational values and strategic plan and supports others to remain connected to purpose.
• High-level of ability to manage constant demands, dealing with the unexpected whilst remaining calm and focused, with a positive, can-do, and resourceful approach and supports others to do the same.
• Emotionally intelligent and aware, with a keen sense of critical self-reflection, able to keep a sense of perspective about the stories heard and remain connected as part of a resilient approach.

Required screening:

• Current QLD C Class Driver’s License which must remain current during the term of employment.
• Working with Children Check (Blue Card) which must remain current during the term of employment.
• Australia: National Police Check Clearance – at organisation expense.