• Position : Full Time, Fixed term position
• Salary : Salary package full time equivalent up to $100,000 pa, inclusive of superannuation
• Location : Frankston & Dandenong

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 Victorian Aboriginal Family Preservation and Reunification Response (the Response), co-designed with representatives from the Aboriginal child and family services sector, will be implemented by VACCA in Western Metro, Eastern Metro, Southern Metro, Ovens Murray and Inner Gippsland.

This Response includes an initial intensive intervention phase, delivered through a mobile and integrated approach, followed by a sustained service support phase, aimed at preventing at-risk Aboriginal children entering or re- entering care. This new Response will link to, align with, existing child and family services within the broader service system, providing an enhanced continuum of care across the state. It will be evaluated and continuously developed to enhance the Aboriginal Family Preservation and Reunification (FPR) evidence-base for Aboriginal child and family services and programs in Victoria (including Child Protection)

The principle role of the Aboriginal Family Preservation and Reunification Response Practitioners is to engage Aboriginal families with children and young people in three age cohorts: pre-birth, 0-5 and 10-15 years of age to support safe and healthy family functioning, prevent removal of children and support children recently placed in out of home care being reunified with their family. The position will be part of a small that works as a cohesive whole reporting to the AFPR response Team Leader.

About You

• An ability to work in a culturally respectful and competent manner, with Aboriginal young people, their families and communities, to ensure that cultural connections are fostered and maintained
• Work experience in a relevant field that supports an understanding of child development and family functioning including theories of attachment, intergenerational and personal trauma as well as relevant risk assessment frameworks, service responses and interventions in working with vulnerable families.
• A well-developed understanding of issues that impact on Aboriginal families, children and young people, particularly those who are involved with Child Protection
• Sound knowledge of and experience with implementing strengths-based interventions

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 addressing the key selection criteria and current resume.

A position description is attached. 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.