DVAC works with individuals and communities to eliminate, prevent and respond to domestic and family violence, and sexual violence by:

• Collaboratively providing quality support services
• Challenging social norms and structures that enable people to use violence/enable the use of violence
• Building awareness and capacity within the community
• Encouraging egalitarian relationships

Position summary

• The DFV Specialist is primarily based in the Toowoomba regional area and is required
• To provide a holistic domestic violence response to clients who have experienced or are experiencing gender-based violence using a trauma informed, case management approach
• Work collaboratively with clients to identify current needs and develop a plan for ongoing support and referral as needed.
• To work with clients to improve and increase their safety and that of their children.

key responsibilities and outcomes

Service Delivery

• To practice with a strong understanding of issues relating to domestic, family or sexual violence;
• Provide phone or face to face comprehensive and ongoing risk assessments, safety planning, crisis support, advocacy, information, referrals to additional services and supporting clients to navigate the service systems;
• Provide trauma-informed domestic and family violence counselling which best meets the needs of clients;
• Undertake and/or participate in case coordination and case management of clients;
• Excellent communication skills, particularly in negotiation, advocacy and conflict resolution:
• Provide a flexible service and have the ability see clients off site. This could include clients living in regional areas such as Warwick, Stanthorpe, Goondiwindi, Chinchilla, Dalby and Oakey.
• It will be important for the DFV Specialist to be able to work autonomously, ethically and with limited direction at times;
• To assesses women’s eligibility for Safety Upgrades brokerage as a function of the overall assessment, undertake home safety audits and refer eligible clients for brokerage where appropriate in collaboration with the member of staff that oversees the brokerage program;
• To carry out the role using sound organisational, administrative and management skills;
• Establish and maintain professional working relationships with key stakeholders;
• To understand and have a willingness to work from a feminist framework;
• Play an active role in keeping perpetrators of family violence in view and holding them accountable through gathering and sharing information with key agencies;
• Provide face to face court support and advocacy services to women at the designated Magistrate’s courts contained within the DVAC catchment as required;
• Provide group work services to individuals who have experienced domestic violence in collaboration other workers or external co-facilitators;
• Work within allocated portfolios, taking on focus areas such as intake & assessment, Child Safety, Health, outreach to designated rural areas, mobile on-call roster, LGBTQIA+, CALD, ATSI, etc. This will differ between sites.

preferred qualifications and experience

• Possession of relevant tertiary qualifications in the human services field;
• Strong experience and skills in gender-based violence risk assessment, trauma informed practice, safety planning, crisis support, DFV counselling, system advocacy and case management;
• Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills;
• A working knowledge of or the ability to acquire understanding of the Domestic & Family Violence Protection Act 2012 and knowledge of court and legislative proceedings as they relate to the Act;
• Current driver’s licence and Blue Card; and
• All DVAC staff are required to complete a National Police Check upon successful offer of position.

Please see attached Position Description for further details and information surrounding the role and DVAC.

selection criteria

Applications that do not address the Selection Criteria cannot be considered.

1. Outline your practice framework and experience in providing risk assessment, supportive counselling and support, case management and advocacy work with women who have experienced gender-based violence (Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) & Sexual Violence (SV)).

2. Outline your experience in building and maintaining positive working relationships and partnerships with clients, colleagues and stakeholders.

3. What strategies and skills do you employ to work autonomously and to prioritise competing demands, and in what contexts have you had to apply these strategies?

4. Utilising a feminist perspective, what is your knowledge of the issues affecting women, children and young people experiencing domestic and family violence and sexual violence.

5. Outline your knowledge, experience and skills in administrative functions in a community-based organisation. Please include reference to computer skills, data management, and written assessment, case-noting and report-writing