• Melton
• Permanent full time
• Classification – SCHCADS level 5 (dependent on qualifications & experience)

In 2015, The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Victoria provided additional funding to the Brimbank Melton Child FIRST & IFS Alliance (“the Alliance”) to trial a model of service delivery that responds to the increasing demand for support for families with an early intervention approach for identified priority groups, providing outcomes-measured interventions.

The Family Engagement Worker is a part of the IFS team at MacKillop, and one of two Family Engagement Workers for the Melton area – recruited to MacKillop and Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA). This position will provide practical assistance and family strengthening support to families with children in selected early education settings, with an added focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) children and their families to promote the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children, young people and their families.

This position is primarily based in Melton and will work alongside Melton Student Support Services, Teachers or School Counsellor(s), the Koorie Engagement Support Officer, Kirrip Aboriginal Corporations, Babaneek Booboop Early Years Project, and other universal and specialist service providers. The aim is to deliver a collaborative, well integrated response that demonstrates positive outcomes for those children, parents, carers and family members’ most needing support, in a timely and efficient manner.

The Family Engagement Worker will apply their professional knowledge and skills to engage children, parents, and other significant people. With the family, they will be an enabler and developer of a plan that meets the best interest of the children and the parent or carer and builds on the family’s strengths and aspirations.

All outcomes are measured and analysed, with regular reports provided to partner agencies within the Alliance and the host agencies MacKillop and VACCA, are be accountable for the projects to the Executive. It is envisaged that the learnings from this project learnings are shared across the Alliance staff, resulting in practice and system changes that better support the needs of the Melton Community, and in particular, the ASTI Community.

Reporting to the IFS Coordinator, this is an ongoing position that may (along with its partner VACCA position) develop and change over time to be responsive to the service needs of families in the Brimbank Melton catchment and align with DHHS Child Youth and Family strategic directions.

Key Selection Criteria include:

• Tertiary qualification(s) in social work or other relevant fields.
• Proven experience in engaging families and a collaborative approach to needs assessment, goal development and implementing support strategies for children and families.
• Proven case work and case management skills, ideally with at least 5 years’ experience.
• Demonstrated experience and interest in working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
• Experience working with non-English speaking communities.
• Strong understanding of referrals process and services available to families in Melton.
• Sound knowledge of the Children, Youth and Families Act (2005) and polices relating to child welfare, family services and Child Protection services.
• A knowledge of child development and ability and experience in developing and delivering individual and group work sessions to children and parents.
• A knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal culture and values and an awareness of the current issues faced by Aboriginal children, young people, and their families.
• Eligibility for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) or Australian Psychological Society (APA) (desirable).
• Experience of working within an early education or school environment (desirable).

For a full listing, please review the attached position description.

For more information, please contact Robyn Davis, Integrated Family Services Coordinator Melton on 03 8746 0541, 0408 337 972, or [email protected], using the subject line: Family Engagement Worker enquiry via EthicalJobs.

How to Apply:

Click Apply Now where you will be redirected to the Family Engagement Worker vacancy within MacKillop's careers page. On this page please refer to the How to Apply section at the bottom, this will take you to our recruitment portal.

Please address the selection criteria as outlined in the PD in your cover letter, as part of your application.

View the position description HERE.