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Putting Families First (PFF) is a new initiative to be implemented in the Brimbank Melton region in 2022. In partnership with the Victorian Government and a consortium of diverse community services providers, OzChild will lead a partnership consisting of the Australian African Foundation for Retention and Opportunity (AAFRO), Charis Youth and Community, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) and the Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS) to deliver this innovative project.

The consortium partners have come together with a shared vision of achieving better outcomes for young people and their families by utilising the collective expertise, skills, knowledge, and cultural wisdom of each partner agency. PFF will intensively support people who come into contact with both the Child Protection and Justice systems to enable sustained positive changes in their lives. The PFF partnership will seek to work with people from a diverse range of backgrounds including new, emerging, and established communities across the region.

This is an opportunity to be part of this new program from the start. This role is part of an interdisciplinary team in a multi-agency program. At OzChild you are respected and championed on your journey of growth as an individual and team player. Leave your mark in the most impressionable way, show us your dedication, drive, and energy for the cause & bring others along to do the same. Strive for amazing team outcomes!

About the role

The Lead Family Practitioner is responsible for complex care coordination of children, young people and their families from diverse communities who are often subject to entrenched disadvantage and who have come into contact with the Child Protection and Justice systems. The impacts of this disadvantage and adverse outcomes include higher incidences of family violence, offending behaviour, contact with child protection, and other harmful experiences, as well as sustained contact with the service system.

About the program

The Putting Families First program will provide an intensive integrated service to families where there has been involvement with the justice and/or child protection systems in the past 12 months, either with women or young people. The service will be highly responsive and flexible to each family’s needs. Service responses are led by a team of Lead Family Practitioners and Community Connectors, backed by an integrated interdisciplinary team who are employed across the partner agencies. Putting Families First aims to keep families together safely by improving relationships, connecting in with community and empowering children, young people and families to reach their full potential. (Please refer to Position Description for full details of the role.)

OzChild offers:

• A permanent full-time position
• Unique training and professional development journey
• Salary packaging up to $15,900
• A unique culture promoting diversity, cultural competence and shared values
• A collaborative and cohesive working culture
• Hybrid working
• Ex gratia days Easter & Christmas

How to apply

You can apply for the role today by clicking 'APPLY NOW'.

Please submit a resume addressing the key selection criteria with a cover letter that describes your passion, values and commitment to working with vulnerable young people and families.

A position description is attached.

Successful candidates will be required to undergo a police check, provide a WWCC card for Victoria and provide evidence of vaccination status.

For more information, a confidential discussion about the role or simply to ask a question, contact Jonathan Finch, Director Prevention and Strengthening Families on 03 9212 5639 or email [email protected] using the subject line: Lead Family Practitioner enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Please do not delay your application if you are interested.

OzChild is committed to the employment of Aboriginal people and providing a work environment in which Aboriginal peoples' cultures, beliefs and values are acknowledged and respected, and in which the individual career goals and personal aims of Aboriginal staff are identified, promoted and achieved. OzChild is an equal opportunity employer and encourages individuals of diverse backgrounds to apply. This includes, but is not limited to, those from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse and LGBTIQ+ communities.