About the Opportunity

This position is offered on a part time fixed-term basis working the following 3 days/ week; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday until June 2023 (with likely extension).

We are currently seeking an experienced and dedicated Family Worker to join our Newpin team in Doonside.

As a Family Worker your role will be to coordinate, implement and evaluate parent education groups, therapeutic parent support groups and provide individual support to parents. This role requires a passionate and sensitive professional to work collaboratively within our team to build parenting capacity. You need to have a sound understanding of child protection, assessment skills, strong communication and the ability to build positive working relationships. You will be working with parents to ensure their homes are safe, supportive and nurturing.  

Experience and understanding of the role of fathers in family structures along with the developmental needs of children will be highly regarded.

Who are we?

The Newpin program specialises in the development of emotional maturity and well-being of parents who have children in care due to child protection concerns. Newpin works to strengthen the skills that parents need to manage the practical and emotional challenges in the parenting of their child/ren; as well as increasing the elements of safety within the family so that children may return safely to their parents’ care.

What you need to succeed:

• Must hold a minimum Bachelor level qualification in areas such as social sciences or welfare which is relevant to the role.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience working with parents using a strengths-based approach.
• Must hold a current WWCC and Drivers licence 
• Demonstrated skills and experience facilitating therapeutic support and psycho-educational group work programs
• Demonstrated ability engaging with families in crisis and working in partnership with them to achieve their goals
• Demonstrated assessment ability
• Experience developing strategies to encourage parents from a range of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds to participate in family-related programs and activities (desirable)
• Experience of working with diversity including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally and linguistically diverse families.
• Believe in positive team spirit and embrace working in a diverse team

Aboriginal children and families are overrepresented in this program and within the child protection system. Appropriate cultural knowledge and understanding is important to deliver effectively in this role. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.

Working to inspire people, enliven communities and confront injustice brings its own rewards, but there’s more.

Work you’ll be proud of

• You’ll have access to a range of support and opportunities including:
  • Salary-packaging options
  • Wellbeing programs 
  • Learning and development opportunities 
  • Diverse and inclusive workplace
  • Flexible working arrangements
  • Regular supervision, support and team meetings

If you want to become a part of our positive and respected team, do not hesitate to apply now. To be considered for this position please upload your resume as well as a Cover Letter responding to the two Targeted Questions below (2 A4 page max):

1. Demonstrated ability to encourage parents from a range of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds to participate in family-related programs, activities and working in partnership with them to achieve their goals.
2. Demonstrated skills and experience facilitating therapeutic support and psycho-educational group work programs.

Should you have any questions, please contact Alex Sullivan from Uniting’s Talent Acquisition Team on; 0466 801 937 / [email protected], using the subject line: Newpin Doonside Family Worker enquiry via EthicalJobs, for more information.

Employment with Uniting is subject to satisfactory background checks, which include National Police Checks, Working with Children Checks and Reference Checks.  

 At Uniting we believe vaccination to be the best way to keep our employees and clients safe from COVID-19.  We require all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.