• Position : Full time, 12 month fixed term position
• Location : Dandenong
• Salary : $86,528 to $92,434, plus super (based on skills & experience)

The Organisation

Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) is the largest organisation of its kind in Australia, employing more than 600 employees and delivering more than 70 programs across Victoria. VACCA is an Aboriginal community-controlled organisation that supports and advocates for the Aboriginal community. Our strength lies with our people. Our team is committed to the organisation's vision and values; advocates for our children and other vulnerable community members; and shows respect for, observance and compliance with Aboriginal cultural protocols, practice and ceremony. Our Aboriginality is what distinguishes us from mainstream services and what enables us to deliver the positive outcomes we achieve for our people.

About the role:

VACCA is delivering a pilot program of the newly established Aboriginal Sexual Assault Support Service (ASASS) in the Southern Melbourne Area. This specialist therapeutic service, funded through Family Safety Victoria (FSV), is nested in VACCA’s broader suite of Family Violence (FV) services. The program will also work closely with Gatehouse Centre (Gatehouse), and the South East Centre Against Sexual Assault (SECASA).

ASASS is a unique therapeutic and healing service responsive to the diverse needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, women, and men who are victims/survivors of sexual assault. ASSAS’ distinctive feature is the integration of a specialist sexual assault service within an Aboriginal cultural healing context. The service will be accessible to Aboriginal children, young people, and adults residing in the Southern Melbourne Area.

The Senior Aboriginal Cultural Healing Therapist (the Therapist) will have diverse experience with and understanding of the Aboriginal community in the Southern Melbourne Area. Drawing from cultural practice, trauma, and self-determination theories, the Therapist will deliver culturally safe and holistic therapeutic services to the Aboriginal community. They will work seamlessly with the Senior Sexual Assault Healing Therapist providing appropriate interventions for Aboriginal children, young people, and adult victims/survivors of sexual assault and their family members. The service will focus on the healing needs of Aboriginal community, including children, young people, and adults by supporting them and their families throughout their healing journey

About You:

• A tertiary qualification or relevant experience working in a therapeutic or cultural healing context.
• An understanding of relevant legislation and professional guidelines, MARAM.
• An understanding of child development and the impact of trauma and sexual assault on children and young people.
• Knowledge of family-focused approaches to healing and responding to trauma.
• Ability to support victims/survivors and families to develop and monitor ongoing Cultural Safety Plans

What we can offer you!!

• Professional support and training via in-house learning and development training modules
• Attractive salary packaging to increase your take home pay
• Great career development opportunities.
• Access to Employee support and wellbeing program(s)
• Opportunity to work and build connection with the Aboriginal Community and culture

Please note: This is an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander designated position, classified under Section 12 Special Measures of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. This employment opportunity is only available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Applications should include a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria and current resume.

We encourage applicants to view the Position Description prior to applying. Please click here to view the position description or see attached.

We are committed to Aboriginal self-determination and supporting strong, safe, thriving Aboriginal communities and aim to ensure every individual is treated with dignity, honouring all cultural backgrounds, abilities, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities and spiritual beliefs.

VACCA is a child-safe organisation and is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and young people with zero tolerance for child abuse. All successful applicants will be required to undertake a National Police Record Check and Working with Children Check prior to commencement of employment and periodically following commencement.

VACCA is an equal opportunity employer and has a smoke-free workplace policy