Family Life - Transforming lives for stronger communities

• Make a meaningful impact in your local community – right here in Bayside.
• Enjoy flexible working options and build your career in an ongoing full-time role (38 hours per week).
• 1 x Ongoing & 1 X Fixed Term (12 months)
• Level 5 SCHADS Award $100,766 + Generous Salary Packaging + Super

Join a values-driven organisation recognised as an Employer of Choice that supports a collaborative work culture.

The Opportunity

The Strengthening Families Practitioner will work with a range of clients including where there are complex needs and issues of risk and safety, to provide short and medium-term case management and support to vulnerable children aged 0-17 and their families. The Strengthening Families Practitioner will support families to build their parenting capacity and assist parents to be responsive to their child’s developmental needs, including their understanding of child development and building healthy and positive attachments.

This role is based at our Frankston, Sandringham and Hampton East sites (Bunurong Land).

Key Responsibility Areas

The key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Manage a high‑risk, complex caseload using trauma‑informed, evidence‑based practice.
• Deliver services across intake, assessment, case management, outreach, care teams, and group work.
• Build strong partnerships with key stakeholders (e.g. Child Protection, schools, MCH).
• Support parents to improve child safety, wellbeing and development, and strengthen resilience through community connections.
• Undertake group programs and specialist work to strengthen family functioning and address family violence.
• Assess risk, develop case plans, and deliver safe, collaborative family violence responses.
• Work effectively with diverse communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, CALD communities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disability, and young people with care experience.
• Deliver services in line with quality, legislative and contractual requirements, including accurate documentation.
• Participate in supervision, reflective practice, training, and team activities.
• Contribute to place‑based practice and community engagement.
• Meet service delivery expectations, including 1,314 annual client contact hours (FTE) and facilitation of at least one group per year (including after-hours as required).

Our ideal Candidate

Growth Mindset – You are committed to resilience and continuous improvement, viewing challenges as opportunities to learn and improve. You think creatively, seek feedback, and adapt to changing circumstances.

Curiosity – You proactively seek knowledge, ask “why”, and explore deeper understanding to inform your work.

Proactivity – You positively contribute to team culture, support colleagues, and actively engage in organisational initiatives.

We are seeking a degree-qualified professional (Social Work, Psychology or similar) who embodies the Family Life Way and delivers trauma-informed support to achieve positive client outcomes. You will bring experience working with at-risk families, including infants, children and young people, particularly in areas such as family violence, trauma, mental health and AOD. Strong communication skills and working knowledge of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 are essential.

Who we are

At Family Life, we believe every child deserves to thrive in a safe and healthy family environment. Family Life is a specialist family services provider that has worked with children, families and communities for more than 50 years. Our vision is to work with clients and partners to create capable communities, strong families and thriving children.

We are known for our innovation and whole-of-community collective impact approach. Our teams are committed to transforming the lives of our clients and communities to build resilience and healthy relationships. We are proudly purpose-driven, independent and not for profit. We support our community through our specialist family services, community strengthening programs, a network of op shops, a vibrant engaged volunteer community and passionate skilled staff.

We support our community through our specialist family services, community strengthening programs, a network of op shops, a vibrant engaged volunteer community and passionate skilled staff.

Working at Family Life is more than just a job. It’s the feeling of knowing that your work is contributing to making the community in which you live a better place and working with others who feel the same way.

Additionally, you will have access to:

• Flexible work options and a supportive team culture
• Salary packaging (up to $18,500 tax-free)
• Paid wellbeing and study leave
• Portable long service leave
• End-of-year shutdown leave
• Purchased leave options and RDOs (where applicable)
• Employee Assistance Program

How to Apply

A full position description is attached below.

Please click 'Apply Now' to submit your confidential application including a CV and cover letter addressing the key selection criteria via our Application Portal.

For further information regarding the position please contact Michelle Rowland (Family Services Team Leader) on (03) 8599 5433.

*We will be reviewing applications as they are received, therefore this role may close sooner if we find the right candidate. Please apply now to ensure you do not miss out!

All offers of employment are subject to the Family Life Safety Screening process, including a Working with Children Check and Police Records Check. Any person issued with a negative notice on their Working with Children Check will not be eligible for employment with Family Life.

Family Life values diversity and welcomes applicants who meet the position criteria, irrespective of race and ethnicity, colour, age, gender, gender identity, disability, religion and sexual orientation.

Family Life is a trauma informed organisation and recognises the unique skills, contributions and insights that come from lived experience.

Family Life is a child safe organisation. We value, respect and listen to children and young people. We are committed to the safety of all children and young people. Family Life supports children to meet their potential and thrive. We do not tolerate neglect, mistreatment or abuse of any kind.