About the Role

• Full-time, Maximum term contract (until 05/12/2025)
• Based in Somerville/Hastings, VIC
• SCHADS Level 6 ~ 108,515.60 plus super and salary packaging

Role Purpose

The Alexis Family Violence Response Model (A-FVRM) aims to reduce family violence for women and children and to achieve responsibility and accountability amongst FV offenders. The A-FVRM also seeks to reduce secondary victimisation and decrease the incidence of family violence through interagency cooperation and collaboration.

This aim is achieved by providing a coordinated cross sectorial, multi-agency integrated response to victim survivors who are having repeated contact with Police and services due to family violence. In this manner, the A-FVRM aims to identify and respond to family violence as soon as possible after an incident. Furthermore, the A-FVRM provides a whole of family response that works towards reducing risk to women and children and holding perpetrators of family violence to account. The Family Violence Senior Practitioner will be embedded within the Somerville Family Violence Investigation Unit.

This position will provide a specialist response to repeat and chronic issues of family violence, as identified through police L17s from within police Division 4 or identified by the Family Violence Investigation Unit. The Senior Practitioner will have an understanding of compounding issues and complexities of family violence including mental health, drug and alcohol, identification of child abuse and/or neglect, housing insecurity etc. and will understand the referral pathways into appropriate services. The role involves adopting a holistic approach to addressing family violence, including liaising, and coordinating family violence responses with the Alexis Respondent (Men’s) Worker.

This role involves providing assertive outreach support to victim survivors while applying the MARAM framework, strength-based theory, trauma-informed theory and intersectionality theory amongst others. 

Due to the nature of this role, there will be a requirement to work flexible hours as required.

About You

• Appropriate tertiary qualification in Social Work, Psychology, or a related tertiary discipline meeting Recommendation 209 or Graduate Certificate in Family Violence ESSENTIAL
• Demonstrated understanding of family violence principles including risk assessment and safety planning, including the ability to assess and respond to the risk and impact of family violence, neglect and abuse of child victim survivors
• Demonstrated ability to pro-actively engage victim survivors of family violence who have barriers to engaging with, and/or are reluctant to engage with support services
• Demonstrated professional work ethic with proven ability to be reliable, punctual and flexible
• Demonstrated experience in managing complex presentations, case planning and development including the provision of crisis responses
• Ability to keep accurate, contemporaneous records, file notes and electronic records in accordance with Good Shepherd policy and DFFH standards
• Ability to build positive and effective relationships with key stakeholders
• Demonstrated capacity to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team and to adapt to dynamic sector reforms
• Demonstrated ability to manage time and competing priorities, to take initiative, exercise sound professional judgment and to work independently
• Capacity to work flexible hours if needed
• A satisfactory Police Check including any additional security checks required for a position located within the Victoria Police Somerville Police Complex
• A Victorian Driving Licence
• A current Employee Working with Children’s Check (WWCC)
• Evidence of Covid-19 vaccination, or medical exemption

Family Violence Minimum Mandatory Qualifications under Recommendation 209

As per the minimum mandatory qualifications requirements via vic.gov.au/mandatory-minimum-qualifications-specialist-family-violence-practitioners:

All candidates wishing to apply for this role must be able to demonstrate that they:

• are considered EXEMPT under the policy

OR

• hold a Bachelor of Social Work or other equivalent qualification

OR

• have minimum 5 years relevant professional experience, OR a related qualification as per the mandatory minimum qualification requirements.

OR

• hold significant cultural knowledge and experience or lived experience, and have faced barriers to educational pathways

Please note that candidates wishing to enter the specialist family violence workforce via a related qualification or 5 years related professional experience pathway, OR the significant cultural knowledge and experience or lived experience pathways will be required to work towards an equivalent qualification within specified timeframes (as per the mandatory minimum qualifications policy). If you believe these pathways may apply to you and would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact [email protected] to discuss this further, using the subject line: Senior Specialist Family Violence Practitioner - Alexis Response Model enquiry via EthicalJobs.

About Us

Our 2023-2027 strategy outlines the world we want to see and our role in advancing it. We aspire for all women, girls, and families to be safe, well, strong, and connected. We strive for equity, dignity and social justice for women, girls and families by collaborating globally and acting locally, supporting our communities in Australia and New Zealand to thrive.

We want women, girls and families to live full and dignified lives, have dignified income and enjoy financial wellbeing.  We aim to provide place-based, people-centred, holistic services while working at the system level to achieve bold and audacious reform. We currently offer microfinance programs and products, financial counselling and coaching, family and domestic violence support services, family and youth programs, playgroups, education programs and community houses. These services are complemented by research and strong advocacy to address the underlying structural causes of injustice, exclusion, and inequality.  

Good Shepherd employees are committed to inclusive practice that responds to the specific needs, context, and circumstances of service participants. We embrace the diversity and intersectionality of individuals and recognise a person’s right to a unique identity comprising culture, language, ability, community, gender, sex, sexual orientation and lived experience.

Benefits

• Salary packaging (which can add up to $15,900 in tax-free pay per year)
• Paid parental leave
• Gifted leave at Christmas and Easter
• Employee Assistance Program, a free and confidential counselling service
• & more

How to Apply

Please click 'Apply Now' to complete your application. Please upload your resume and a brief cover letter.  Please apply as soon as possible, applications are considered as they are received.

To view the position description click here or visit our website (goodshep.org.au/careers-with-us)

Personal data held by Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand relating to employment applications will be used in accordance with our Privacy Statement, which is available on our website.

We recognise the rich diversity of people across Australia. We are committed to ensuring that our team is reflective of the diverse community we serve and to supporting a culture of equity, inclusion and diversity.

Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand is a Child Safe employer. Employment is subject to satisfactory referee checks, a current employment working with Children Check, National Criminal History check and proof of the right to work in Australia.