• Position: Permanent, Full time
• Location: Dandenong
• Salary: $82,045 - $88,277 Based on Skills & Experience, Plus Super & Benefits mentioned below.

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 Aboriginal Kinship Care Program works with Aboriginal children and families, providing Kinship Case Contracted Services which involves VACCA assuming full case management of children on protective orders and who is placed long-term with their extended families. 

The Kinship Care Caseworker is expected to provide all aspects of case management and provide ongoing support to carers and children involved in statutory kinship care placements. Visit the children in kinship care placements and identify the training and support needs of kinship carers, particularly non-Aboriginal kinship carers in terms of their cultural competence and connection to the Aboriginal community.

About You

• 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 knowledge and practice experience in the child welfare field.
• Demonstrated experience in identifying risks in case management/work practice and implements
• procedures to minimise/eliminate negative outcomes and improve practice.
• Demonstrated experience in preparing accurate documents and reports e.g., case notes, incidents
• reports, court reports, work reports that meet audience needs.
• Demonstrated ability to advocate/negotiate for children and families in ways which advance
• organisational objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clear, culturally appropriate, respectful, and consistent messages to clients and community members and other staff.
• Demonstrates ability to listen respectively, facilitates the resolution of clients and colleagues’ problems in a culturally respectful ways and works towards the resolution.

QUALIFICATION

•  Certificate, Diploma or Degree qualification in Community Services, Social Worker and/or substantial experience in the field.
• Where a degree is commenced but not completed, salary will be fixed at Award Level 3 until successful completion.

REQUIREMENTS 

• You must have and continue to hold a full Victorian Driver’s Licence and a current employment Working with Children Check card.
• COVID 19 Vaccination

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.

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.