• Position: Permanent, Full Time
• Location: Werribee
• Salary: $85,120 to $89,588 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 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

The position is responsible for supporting the development, endorsement, implementation, and review of cultural plans for vulnerable Aboriginal children and young people living in out-of-home care. This position will support the development of cultural plans by care teams, assessing and providing support where needed, and recommend cultural plans are endorsed by the Chief Executive Officer. This includes reviewing cultural plans and working with care teams to ensure they are of a suitable standard and address the cultural needs of vulnerable Aboriginal children and young people.

The Advisor works collaboratively as a practitioner with the Chief Executive Officer and senior managers to provide effective service delivery and support to child protection and other agencies.

The position will also support child protection practitioners and contracted case managers in the implementation of contemporary methods, systems and approaches to enhance the capacity of care teams to better respond to Aboriginal children and young people. The Advisor will have a lead role with local child protection and mainstream agencies to increase the awareness of, and participation in Aboriginal cultural activities by Aboriginal children and young people. This will include contributing to the development, implementation, and maintenance of the cultural information portal. 

About You

• Demonstrated commitment and understanding for the values that underpin VACCA’ vision and purpose
• Expert knowledge of the unique history and current circumstances of Aboriginal children, families and community and ability to apply this to Child Protection cultural planning.
• Expert knowledge of Aboriginal cultures and communities, preferably Victorian communities.
• An expert understanding and ability to embed in practice, the core responsibilities and principles underpinning cultural planning for Aboriginal children residing in out-of-home care (Foster Care).
• Expert knowledge of child development, attachment, and trauma theories as they relate to child and family welfare practice.
• Demonstrated ability to work with Aboriginal children and their families in a complex environment to gather and analyse information that promotes development and implementation of their cultural plan.
• Demonstrated ability to build professional networks across a range of organisations and individuals to promote collaborative working groups that focus on meeting the best interests of vulnerable Aboriginal children and young people.
• Experience in delivering results that focuses on the best interests of the child and achieves positive, long-lasting outcomes for children and families at an advanced level
• 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

Please note: This is an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander designated position, classified under Section 12 Special Measures of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. This employment opportunity is only available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

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 Cultural Plan Advisor - Western to download the position description for this role. 

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