• Position: Full time, 12 month fixed term contract
• Salary: $74,169.08 plus Super and Salary Packaging (based on skills and experience)
• Location: Preston

The Organisation

Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) is the largest organisation of its kind in Australia, employing more than 600 employees and delivering more than 70 programs across Victoria. VACCA is an Aboriginal community-controlled organisation that supports and advocates for the Aboriginal community. Our strength lies with our people. Our team is committed to the organisation's vision and values; advocates for our children and other vulnerable community members; and shows respect for, observance and compliance with Aboriginal cultural protocols, practice and ceremony. Our Aboriginality is what distinguishes us from mainstream services and what enables us to deliver the positive outcomes we achieve for our people.

About the role

The Lakidjeka Aboriginal Child Specialist Advise Support Service (ACSASS) is a state-wide service, except for the Mallee Area, established to ensure the child protection system that comes into contact with Aboriginal children, young people and families is culturally competent and achieves the intent of the VACCA/DHS Protocol (2002).

The role of ACSASS is further strengthened through the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005.

In this role you will be responsible to :

• Provide specialist cultural advise to Child Protection in respects of all reports regarding the alleged abuse of Aboriginal Children and Young People.
• Provide independent advice which informs the assessment and planning undertaken by Child Protection at the point of Intake.
• Provide advice which includes the importance of strong connection to Aboriginal culture, community and family when making decisions in the best interest of the child.
• Advocate for fair and just treatment for Aboriginal children and young people (and their families)

About You

• A relevant welfare qualification or/and experience in the community services sector is desirable
• A proven ability to advocate on behalf of children, young people and their families.
• The capacity to gather information and develop risk assessments.
• The capacity to engage Child Protection workers and to develop good working relationships

What we can offer you!!

• Professional support and training via in-house learning and development training modules
• Attractive salary packaging to increase your take home pay
• Great career development opportunities.
• Access to Employee support and wellbeing program(s)
• Opportunity to work and build connection with the Aboriginal Community and culture

We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people to apply

Applications should include a cover letter, addressed 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