About us

Boorndawan Willam is a phrase from Wathaurong and Woiwurrung languages meaning "safe house," with Boorndawan meaning 'safe' and Willam meaning 'house'.

Boorndawan Willam Aboriginal Healing Service (BWAHS) is the lead Aboriginal‑specific family violence service for the eastern metropolitan region of Melbourne. Established in 2006 and transitioning to an independent Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation in 2019, BWAHS delivers trauma‑informed, culturally grounded responses to individuals, families and Community experiencing, or at risk of, family violence.

We provide a wide range of services to Community and our engagement and support for our communities’ healing journey are vital – wholly underpinned and guided by culture.

All employees must have:

• Commitment to BWAHS Vision, Mission, Values and Principles.
• Capacity for self-assessment, reflection and emotional intelligence.
• Ethical and culturally aware practice.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Accountability and adherence to professional standards.
• Willingness to contribute to projects and tasks outside of core role to support the wider BWAHS team.
• Compliance with Workplace Health & Safety and Privacy requirements.

About the role

As a Child, Youth and Families Counsellor-Advocate, you will be required to provide assessment and counselling interventions to members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, using a range of developmentally appropriate, culturally and trauma informed evidence-based modalities.

These may include individual and family-based approaches to meet the complex therapeutic needs of children, young people and families in the community.

You will also be required to provide client-centred advocacy through liaison with relevant education, health, legal and other services, and the facilitation of referrals to support access to those services.

This role works in collaboration with the Therapeutic Group program, and at times you will be called upon to provide therapeutic input into the development of group programs, as well as to provide support with group facilitation.

Your therapeutic interventions and advocacy will be carried out at a combination of locations including onsite at BWAHS Bayswater/Lilydale offices, as well as in educational environments and other community settings.

Key responsibilities include:

• Comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments and risk assessments
• Risk management and safety planning
• Therapeutic interventions promoting healing and recovery from family violence and other experiences of trauma
• Enhancing parent/carer self determination & confidence
• Providing trauma-informed input into the development of therapeutic group work
• Advocacy and support to access external service providers
• Secondary consultations
• Participation in supervision and training
• Record keeping and report writing

This role a fixed term maternity leave cover with an initial 12 months engagement. 

About you

You have direct experience working both with families and with children in a counselling/therapy capacity.

You understand the impact of family violence on Aboriginal women, children, families and communities, and you understand the issues underpinning family violence and therapeutic interventions within an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural context.

You are degree qualified in social work, psychology, family therapy or similar and provide trauma-informed, culturally safe approaches to support safety and healing including to those who have multiple and complex needs.

You are engaging – and this is obvious in your interactions with children, young people, parents/carers, your team and the wider organisation.

Not only do you have your own experience and knowledge, you’re willing to contribute that where needed and learn from others as well. You’re also happy working collaboratively with wider stakeholders, DFFH, the Education Department, other agencies and Community

If you already have knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and/or mainstream services in the Eastern Metropolitan Region of Melbourne/Naarm that would be a bonus. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who meet the qualification and experience criteria are strongly encouraged to apply.

next steps

To submit your application, please click ‘Apply Now’ by the closing date.

A position description is attached.