• Position: Permanent, Full time
• Location: Dandenong
• Salary: $97,377 to $101,787 plus Super and 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

The role provides 1:1 trauma-informed assessment and counselling to Aboriginal women, children and their families who are impacted and/or have experienced family violence. The therapist will:

• Deliver 1:1 therapeutic Counselling Program
• Undertake intake and assessment;
• Develop a family violence healing plan – identifying risks and strategies.
• Support the client with regular review touchpoints .
• Engage with clients both in-service and home-based visits.
• Support individual Aboriginal women, children, adolescents and their family through their individual healing journeys by creating or rebuilding strong positive connections between participants and their culture, land, family and community.
• Co-deliver Culturally therapeutic Family Violence Group Programs
• Co-Develop group programs that are provided in a culturally safe place allowing individuals to build trust, yarn up, open up in their own time and heal through the use of therapeutic interventions.

About You

• A Bachelors qualification in social work, psychology ,counselling, family therapy or a related discipline along with demonstrated experience or willingness to work toward the qualification in line with the mandatory minimum qualifications policy
• Demonstrated understanding of, and commitment to, the values that underpin VACCA’ 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
• Understanding the issues of family violence and the impact on women, children and families in an Aboriginal context
• Demonstrated experience in working and engaging with Aboriginal families and children
• A comprehensive understanding of the dynamics and impact of family violence in Aboriginal families
• A demonstrated ability to work therapeutically and sensitively in a range of healing interventions with Aboriginal women, children, adolescents and families who are impacted and/or have experienced family violence
• Substantial and relevant experience working across Family Violence, Child and Family Welfare Services and the Aboriginal sector.
• 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: Family Violence Therapeutic Counsellor Southern.

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