About BDAC

Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative provides a range of health, wellbeing and family and community services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members on Dja Dja Wurrung Country.

The Position

Reporting to the Program Manager and supported by senior staff, Case Managers will lead investigations and make assessments if a child is in need of protection. If the child is found to need protection the Case Manager will work directly with children, families and community to ensure the child’s safety and well-being. Where this is unable to be achieved voluntarily, it may include initiating legal proceedings and all work associated with making protection applications.

What we are offering

• Competitive salary (commensurate with skills and qualifications)
• Full Time, 38hrs (Mon-Fri)
• 12 Month Contract (extension possible)
• Access to Salary Packaging
• 10.0% Superannuation

Key Responsibilities

Supported by the Team Leader and senior program staff, the Case Manager will:

• Lead investigations into reports of harm received by child protection about Aboriginal children and young people, this will include interviews with children and families and documentation of investigation.
• Conduct outreach visits to family homes and manage conflicts as they arise.
• Make assessment and recommendations if the child or young person needs protection.
• Engage families on a voluntary basis, working with children, families, and community to ensure the child’s safety and well-being, working from a strengths approach.
• Provide case management, including ongoing assessment and leading a care team.
• Refer children and or families to appropriate services, work with services to ensure that referrals are responded to in a way that acknowledges the needs.
• Complete written records and reports using the Client Relationship Information System and keep files in line with program requirements.
• Actively participate in teamwork in a manner that ensures a co-ordinated approach to service delivery.
• Lead and attend meetings to support the work with families and advocate for children and families as required.
• Make applications, prepare documentation, give evidence, and make recommendations to the Children’s Court on decisions and actions in the best interests of the child.
• Travel to meet with families and for training, some overnight and interstate travel may be required.

Your skills and experience

• A recognised Social Work degree or a similar welfare or behavioural related degree which includes: (a) a primary focus on child development, human behaviour, family dynamics and/or impacts of trauma; and preferably (b) a practical component such as counselling or case work practice

or

• A recognised Diploma of Community Services Work, or similar qualification which is studied over a minimum of two academic years of full-time study (or part time equivalent) and includes: (a) a primary focus on child development, human behaviour, family dynamics and/or impacts of trauma (b) supervised fieldwork placements (ideally completed within the child and family welfare sector) and at least one unit of study in case management, case work practice or counselling

*If you don’t meet these requirements but strongly believe and are able to demonstrate you have the knowledge and capacity to fulfil this role, please contact us.

Mandatory Requirements

Should an applicant be the preferred candidate, background checks (Police check, reference check and Working with Children's Check) will be completed prior to the candidate’s employment being confirmed.

You must also be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to work at BDAC.

For more information about this position please see the Position Description available at bdac.com.au or contact our human resources team on (03) 5442 4947 or send an email through to [email protected] using the subject line: Case Manager - Wartaka Program - North Bendigo enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

A position description is attached.