• Position: Full Time, Ongoing
• Location: Preston
• Salary: Between $82,059 - $91,170 plus superannuation and salary packaging options

The Organisation

The Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) is an Aboriginal Community-Controlled organisation that supports and advocates for the Aboriginal Community and is the largest organisation of it’s 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

Reporting to the Team Leader and supported by senior staff, Case Managers will hold a mixed caseload of children authorised to VACCA as well as undertaking investigations into new child protection reports and making assessments and recommendations if a child is in need of protection. If the child is found to be in need of protection the Case Manager will work directly with children, families and community to ensure the child’s safety and wellbeing.

As with all of VACCA’s work this will be guided by cultural values aiming to wrap our service response around the family and community as a whole in order to restore circles of care that is at the heart of the Aboriginal Way of protecting children.

This role will have the opportunity to make a real-life difference in the lives of Aboriginal Children and families involved in the early stages of the child protection system.

About You

• Demonstrated understanding of, and commitment to, the values that underpin VACCA’s vision and purpose and the capacity to take a leadership role in championing these internally and externally.
• Demonstrated awareness and appreciation of Aboriginal societies and cultures, and commitment to continually build knowledge of such, along with a high level of awareness of the key issues which impact upon Aboriginal communities.
• Proven ability to effectively communicate and negotiate with Aboriginal children and families, demonstrating effective and culturally appropriate interpersonal skills e.g. active listening, empathy in all verbal and non-verbal communications.
• Demonstrated ability to undertake complex work with children and families who have experienced trauma and may present with challenging behaviours, using culturally safe therapeutic approaches to heal and build resilience.
• Demonstrated understanding of child development, attachment, and trauma as they relate to Aboriginal children.
• Understanding of the legislations, policy and practice requirements relating to Aboriginal children, families, and communities
• Experience or detailed understanding of completing investigations, interview strategies and documenting evidence.
• Ability to make assessments, including assessments of risks and the development, implementation, and review of plans for children and young people.
• Proven experience in preparing accurate documents and reports e.g., case notes, incident reports, court reports, that meet audience needs.
• Ability to collaborate with other service providers, stakeholders such as police and courts to achieve outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a complex, fast paced team, and to demonstrate resilience in managing competing demands. Commitment to self-care and of support of the team. 

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.

A position description is attached.

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