• Position: Full Time, Fixed Term Contract (12 months)
• Salary: $77580.86- $83476.06 plus Super (based on skills and experience) and Attractive Salary Packaging option
• Location: Chirnside Park

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 Aboriginality distinguishes us from other community organisations and we are proud of our friendly, supportive and inclusive organisational culture. We want everyone to feel welcome at VACCA. It is why we are able to deliver positive outcomes that lead to ongoing change.

Our strength lies with our people.

About the role

Targeted Care Packages (TCP) as a program is an initiative of the Department of Families, Fairness and Health in response to the State Government priority to reduce the number of children/young people residing in residential care- the priority group being Aboriginal children and under 12s.

The Key Worker (Case Manager) is the person

a) providing intensive case management services to the particular TCP client/s

b) delivering the TCP.

The Key Worker has a pivotal role in the achievement of better outcomes for the client/s, consistent with the case plan directions and any cultural support plan for the children and young people receiving a TCP whom they are supporting.

Working intensely with a small caseload, the Key Worker will directly engage and work with the child, their family, carers and others to facilitate changes that support achievement of the child’s case plan and the outcomes sought for the child or young person.

Key Workers must possess an ability to work outside traditional program boundaries and will be supported by VACCA to do this. They will need to be culturally sensitive and make sure that all Aboriginal children whom they support are provided with appropriate cultural supports in line with their cultural support plan.

The Key Worker will be responsible for delivering the TCP i.e. setting up services and ongoing payments; reporting and monitoring the impact of the child’s package throughout their role in the child’s care. It is through this monitoring that the child’s care can be improved and then adapted to changes in the child’s assessed need.

About You

• 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
• Demonstrated experience in working and engaging with Aboriginal families and children / Demonstrated experience in child and family sector
• Demonstrated experience with Child development, attachment and trauma and the ability to use this knowledge to guide practice with Aboriginal children, families and carers
• Ability to undertake complex casework with families and children who have experienced trauma and may present with challenging behaviours, including using culturally safe therapeutic approaches to heal and build resilience
• Ability to complete assessments, including assessments of risk
• Well-developed written and computer skills with the ability to prepare reports (including court reports) and maintain client records to a high standard
• Minimum qualification required- Diploma of Community Services or equivalent
• Requirement: 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 Drivers Licence

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.

We encourage applicants to view the Position Description prior to applying. Please click here to view the position description.

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.