• Position: Ongoing, Full time
• Location: Dandenong
• Salary: $85,120.36 - $91,586.56 plus Super & Benefits

The Organisation

The Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) is an Aboriginal Community-Controlled organisation that supports and advocates for the Aboriginal Community and is the largest organisation of its kind in Australia. The VACCA team is committed to the organisation’s visions and values, passionately providing support, service and advocacy for our children and other vulnerable members of the community.

Our strength lies with our people.

About the role

This role will work with young people between the ages of 15 – 21 and are/were living in out of home care.  As the key worker the role will be the main contact of leaving care support, taking on case management support when the young person leaves care with the view to be achieving life and independent living skills development whist focusing on economic, personal, social and housing outcomes.

The role will involve some after hours and weekend work as required.

About You

• Qualifications in Community Services and/or Youth work (or willing to obtain) or less formal qualifications with significant industry experience.
• Demonstrated commitment and understanding for the values that underpin VACCA’ vision and purpose.
• Demonstrated experience in working and engaging with Aboriginal families and children and/or experience in the child and family sector
• A sound understanding of Aboriginal culture, values, protocols, inter-generational factors and complex kinship systems, as well as the issues facing vulnerable Aboriginal people today.
• A demonstrated knowledge and understanding of issues surrounding Youth, homelessness, adolescent out-of-home care, the Child Protection and Youth Justice systems and available resources and services in the Southern and Bayside regions of Melbourne.
• Previous experience and skills in assertive outreach, assessment and case management.
• Demonstrated ability to engage young people in out-of-home care including Residential Care, Kinship Care and Home-Based Care.
• Requirements: Current COVID-19 vaccination (including booster dose, as applicable), a Working with Children’s Check for a paid employee (or willingness to obtain) and a Victorian Driver Licence.

What we can offer you

• A supportive environment that includes comprehensive induction
• The support of regular internal supervision
• Professional development and training opportunities 
• Attractive salary packaging to increase your take-home pay
• 17.5%  loading on annual leave
• Access to agency vehicles for all work-related travel 
• Access to Employee support and wellbeing programs 
• Paid parental leave after 12 months of ongoing employment
• Opportunity to work and build connection with the Aboriginal Community and culture
• Fitness Passport - allowing you (and your family) access to any of the facilities available on this program 

 We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people to apply

Applications should include a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria and current resume.

We encourage applicants to view the Position Description prior to applying.

Please click here to download the position description for this role. Better Futures Youth Worker 2023.pdf

We are committed to Aboriginal self-determination and supporting strong, safe, thriving Aboriginal communities and aim to ensure every individual is treated with dignity, honouring all cultural backgrounds, abilities, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities and spiritual beliefs.

VACCA is a child-safe organisation and is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and young people with zero tolerance for child abuse. All successful applicants will be required to undertake a National Police Record Check and Working with Children Check prior to commencement of employment and periodically following commencement.

VACCA is an equal opportunity employer and has a smoke-free workplace policy