About Putting Families First

The exciting consortium of The Bridge Youth Service, Rumbalara, Family Care, and OzChild has been chosen to lead and deliver the innovative Putting Families First (PFF) program in the Goulburn area. 

The consortium has come together with a shared vision of achieving better outcomes for young people and their families and in recognition and respect of each agency's breadth and depth of skills, knowledge, expertise and cultural match. PFF aims to intensively support people who come into contact with both the Child Protection and the Justice systems to make sustained change in their family’s lives. In Goulburn the people PFF will be working with come from a diverse range of communities.

about the bridge youth service

The Bridge Youth Service (TBYS) plays a key role across the Goulburn Valley in youth support and advocacy.

With offices located in Shepparton, Seymour and Wallan, TBYS delivers services and supports to young people and their families with a particular focus on those from marginalised and/or disadvantaged backgrounds but with a philosophy that includes the provision of services to all young people. TBYS offers a range of programs funded by government, private foundations and the local community.

Programs focus on a diversity of issues and services include placement prevention, family reconciliation, family mediation, antenatal, parenting, housing support, mentoring and education support. For more information visit our website: thebridge.org.au.

Staff at TBYS are supported by fortnightly supervision, generous salary packaging, ongoing professional development, and paid leave between Christmas and New Year.

The Bridge Youth Service commits to protecting the safety and security of children and young people and has zero tolerance for child abuse or discrimination. We are committed to promoting the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and young people, cultural safety of children from diverse culturally and/or linguistically backgrounds, and to providing a safe environment for children and young people with a disability or who are part of the LGBTIQ+ community.

The Bridge Youth Service actively works to listen and empower children and young people and has systems to protect them from abuse.

The Bridge Youth Service will take all allegations seriously and will respond to them in line with the Victorian Child Safe Standards, DFFH Human Service Standards mandatory reporting and our organisation’s internal policies and procedures.

about the role

The position is based in Shepparton working full time, 37.5 hours per week.

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.

PFF offers an opportunity to divert these families from avoidable use of tertiary services by intervening earlier and providing holistic support that addresses the risk factors that increase the likelihood of future contact with the system. Utilising evidence informed interventions the Lead Family Practitioner will work in collaboration with other members of the integrated interdisciplinary team to provide holistic support to families and extended family members.

How to apply

To be considered for this role you must hold a minimum Diploma level qualification in Community Services or a related discipline.

This position is subject to a successful Police Check and ongoing employment is subject to a six-month probationary period. You will also be required to hold a current Working with Children Check.

Applications will be considered as they are received. As such, a suitable applicant may be appointed prior to the closing date.

A position description is attached.