• Position: Permanent, Full Time
• Location: Preston
• Salary: $128,106 - $140,940 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 Senior Program Manager of Nugel and Care Services is responsible for the leadership, direction, and operational oversight of various client services that sit within Northern VACCA’s Nugel and Care Services programs. The operational oversight would include staff, budgets, liaison and partnerships with departments, compliance, administration of the programs. 

The Nugel program aims to reduce the overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in care, collaborating with Government and sector partners to improve services and to facilitate the transition home, which proves better outcomes for children and families. VACCA’s approach is based on Cultural Therapeutic Ways, which centres around culture and integrating with self-determination and trauma theories.

Care Services includes VACCA’s Northern Targeted Care Packages (TCP), Kinship Care (including First Supports), and Foster Care teams. These programs ensure Aboriginal children have the support/resources to stay with their families or remain connected with culture and community in either Foster Care or Kinship Care. 

About You

• An 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.
• 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
• Experience in working in the child and family welfare sector with ability to advocate for and engage with Aboriginal families and children.
• Demonstrated experience and delivery of statutory child protection and out-of-home-care services, and home-based care, including expertise in relevant legislation, policies, processes, standards.
• High-level management, leadership, problem solving and decision-making demonstrated through professional supervision, team development, program implementation, and service planning
• Sound knowledge and ability to develop innovative strategies for continuous quality improvement for complex service systems - Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with internal and external stakeholders e.g. clients, staff, other services providers
• Extensive case management experience including complex risk assessments, delivering therapeutic approaches and usage of client data systems (CRIS and CRISP)
• Sound analytical skills with experience reviewing reports and data, preparing briefings, and presenting clear and well-reasoned recommendations
• Mandatory: Tertiary qualifications in the field of social work, psychology or community services or equivalent demonstrated knowledge and experience and extensive years’ experience working in the child, youth and families’ 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

• 5 weeks annual leave
• Access to child protection and VACCA training programs
• Extensive support and training from VACCA’s in house legal service
• A supportive environment that includes comprehensive induction and regular internal supervision
• Professional development and training opportunities 
• Attractive salary packaging to increase your take home pay
• Fitness Passport - allowing you (and your family) access to any of the facilities available on this program 
• 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

 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. 

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.