Aboriginal Family Preservation - Family Caseworker (Albury)

RivMed is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation committed to improving the health, wellbeing and future of Aboriginal people, families and communities. Through our Aboriginal Family Preservation Program, we work alongside families to keep children safe at home, strengthen family relationships and ensure children remain connected to culture, community and Country.

We're looking for three (3) passionate, values-driven Caseworkers to join our team in Albury. If you're committed to empowering families, advocating for children and delivering culturally safe, family-led support, we'd love to hear from you.

About the Role

As an Aboriginal Family Preservation Caseworker, you'll work directly with Aboriginal children, young people and families who require intensive support to safely remain together or work towards family reunification. Using a child-focused, strengths-based and culturally responsive approach, you'll partner with families to build capacity, address challenges and create lasting change. Working collaboratively with families, the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) and other community services, you'll play a key role in improving outcomes for Aboriginal children and their families.

What You'll Be Doing

• Build strong, respectful and trusting relationships with Aboriginal children, families and community.
• Develop and implement family-led case plans focused on child safety, healing and wellbeing.
• Provide intensive case management, advocacy, practical support and referrals.
• Support families to strengthen parenting capacity, resilience and protective behaviours.
• Facilitate family meetings and strengthen connections to family, culture, community and Country.
• Work collaboratively with DCJ, schools, health providers and other support services to achieve positive outcomes.
• Advocate for children and families while promoting self-determination and family-led decision making.
• Maintain accurate case records, reports and documentation while contributing to continuous quality improvement.

About You (Selection Criteria)

• You'll be passionate about supporting Aboriginal families and committed to delivering high-quality, culturally safe services.
• Diploma of Community Services counselling or related field. Otherwise, you must be currently undertaking and complete a Diploma of Community Services within the first 12 months of employment.
• Demonstrated ability to engage families at the point of initial contact, build relationships of trust and cooperation, promote the change process.
• Working knowledge of issues and experience in working with children and families who are experiencing domestic violence, child protection issues, parent drug and alcohol misuse, parenting skills, child behaviour management, learning difficulties, parental mental health and/or social isolation.
• Knowledge of child protection and family support processes.
• Proven ability to work effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) and/or Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) organizations and communities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience preparing case summaries and completing family reports.
• The ability to obtain and maintain required clearances including Working with Children Check, National Police Check and evidence of COVID-19 vaccination status.
• Recent experience in the social services sector.

We offer an excellent range of benefits including but not limited to:

• Full access to salary sacrifice arrangements up to a grossed-up value of $30,000.
• Access up to $2,650 of pre-tax meal and entertainment expenses.
• Enjoy the benefits of novated leasing, allowing you to save on tax and drive the car of your choice.
• Access to the Community Services Industry Portable Long Service Leave Scheme.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program, with the cost of external counselling sessions paid by the Corporation.
• Excellent training and development opportunities.

Employment conditions

Employment is subject to a clear Working with Children and Criminal Record Check and demonstrate vaccination for Covid-19.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Diploma of Community Services counselling or related field. Otherwise, you must be currently undertaking and complete a Diploma of Community Services within the first 12 months of employment.
• Demonstrated ability to engage families at the point of initial contact, build relationships of trust and cooperation, promote the change process.
• Working knowledge of issues and experience in working with children and families who are experiencing domestic violence, child protection issues, parent drug and alcohol misuse, parenting skills, child behaviour management, learning difficulties, parental mental health and/or social isolation.
• Knowledge of child protection and family support processes.
• Proven ability to work effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) and/or Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) organizations and communities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience preparing case summaries and completing family reports.
• Current Working with Children Check and Driver's Licence.
• Recent experience in the social services sector (desirable).

If you have any queries regarding this position, please contact Dana McLay (Manager Casework) on 0434 036 932 or email dana.mclay@rivmed.org.au.