• Position: Fixed Term, Full Time for 12 months beginning 1st June 2024
• Location: Chirnside Park
• Salary: Between $102,46 to $107.074 plus superannuation and salary packaging options

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 it’s 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 Therapeutic Life Story Work program (TLSW) is an evidenced based, trauma recovery model of focused on healing from past painful events and histories through making meaning and integrating their past experience, their present world and future moving forward. TLSW enables children and young people to reflect and develop compassion for themselves and move forward in healthier ways.

It is designed to introduce the past as markers for the present. Once these are understood, the child is supported in considering how to move on to make significant changes, because of a far deeper understanding and awareness of how their history may be impacting their present. Therapeutic Life Story Work supports a child to make meaning as well as celebrate significant relationships, culture and events in their life.

About You

• Demonstrated commitment and understanding for the values that underpin VACCA’ vision and purpose
• 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.
• A strong understanding of the Therapeutic Life Story model
• Demonstrated understanding of the importance of identity and cultural connections in the healing process for Aboriginal children and ability to work in culturally informed and respectful way.
• Demonstrated experience in engaging and working flexibly with vulnerable young Aboriginal people, their Carers and family, in out of home care.
• Demonstrated understanding the impact of trauma arising from abuse, neglect and attachment disturbance, and the behaviours associated with these, specifically for Aboriginal children and families.
• Strong ability to conduct assessment, investigations and maintaining accurate and comprehensive records to gather information and develop life histories of young people in care.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively with both internal and external key stakeholders.
• High level interpersonal and relationship managment skills demonstrated in written and oral communication (including public speaking, presentations, and facilitation)
• An understanding of the complexity of the service system and issues involved in providing services to statutory clients.
• Demonstrated ability to flexibly manage competing priorities and during periods of high demand, monitoring own stress levels and practising and promoting self-care strategies.

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 see here: Position Description, to download the role description for this opportunity.

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