• Position: Permanent - Full Time
• Location: Wangaratta

The Organisation

The Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) is an Aboriginal Community-Controlled organisation that supports and advocates for the Aboriginal Community and is the largest organisation of its kind in Australia. The VACCA team is committed to the organisation’s visions and values, passionately providing support, service and advocacy for our children and other vulnerable members of the community.

Our strength lies with our people.

About the Aboriginal Children’s Healing Team

Take the next step in your career as a Therapeutic Practitioner with VACCA’s Aboriginal Children’s Healing Team. We are a dedicated, enthusiastic, and professional multidisciplinary team who are motivated to improve long term cultural and clinical outcomes for Aboriginal children. We use an integrated culturally led model informed by clinical mental health and Aboriginal social emotional wellbeing. You will be part of a supportive team, you will be exposed to professionally stimulating work and access to fortnightly clinical supervision, consultation with our Culture and Healing Practice Leader, partake in multidisciplinary reviews chaired by our Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, consultation and co working opportunities with our OT, Speech Pathologist, and other colleagues in the team.

About the role

The Aboriginal Children’s Healing Team (ACHT) provides therapeutic support and advise for young people and families supported by VACCA. You will be providing healing services by way of secondary consultations, multidisciplinary reviews, therapeutic assessments, healing plans and therapy where appropriate. You will also co-facilitate group programs, and training and education sessions for VACCA staff.  You will work closely with senior staff to provide these services which involve working directly with families, carers and young people and growing your skills in a warm and friendly team. 

About You

• Tertiary qualification in a relevant field, including Social Work, Psychology, Occupational Therapy or Family Therapy, or significant relevant experience.
• Demonstrated understanding of, and commitment to, the values that underpin VACCA’s vision and purpose and the capacity to take a leadership role in championing these internally and externally.
• Culturally strong understandings of child development, the impact of trauma and the ability to respond therapeutically to Aboriginal children’s pain-based behaviours.
• Experience providing social emotional well-being assessment and goal focused therapeutic work with children 0 - 18.
• Skills or willingness to develop skills in primary and secondary consultation.
• Ability to work collaboratively to achieve mutually agreed client and community outcomes.
• To confidently expresses consistent and accurate messages when engaged in high level communications and advocacy on behalf of clients and on behalf of the organisation.
• Requirements: Current COVID-19 vaccination (including booster dose, as applicable), a Working with Children’s Check for a paid employee (or willingness to obtain) and a Victorian Driver Licence.

What we can offer you

• A supportive environment that includes comprehensive induction
• The support of regular internal supervision
• Professional development and training opportunities 
• Attractive salary packaging to increase your take-home pay
• 17.5% loading on annual leave
• Access to agency vehicles for all work-related travel 
• Access to Employee support and wellbeing programs 
• Paid parental leave after 12 months of ongoing employment
• Opportunity to work and build connection with the Aboriginal Community and culture
• Fitness Passport - allowing you (and your family) access to any of the facilities available on this program 

 We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people to apply.

Click "Apply now" to submit your application.

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.

A position description is attached.

Application close on listed date.

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.