• Fixed Term 3 year contract 2022-2025
• 21 or 28 hours per week = 3 or 4 days a week

Position description:

The Aboriginal Caseworker has a number of roles and responsibilities. These include working with the legal staff to assist clients with referrals to other agencies and support services such as counsellors, brokerage services, dv support groups, parenting programs, accommodation and housing providers. The caseworker will also support, liaise and advocate on behalf of the client/s.

The Aboriginal Caseworker will be expected to work as part of a team along with the other Aboriginal staff and legal staff whilst under the supervision of the Coordinator.

The Aboriginal Caseworker will assist with the distribution of resources. She will be expected to work with the community legal education worker to assist with planning and delivery of community legal education information sessions, events and resources.

The caseworker will be required to travel, participate and co-facilitate community legal education sessions (CLE). This travel will involve overnight travel which would usually consist of 1, 2 or 3 nights away from home. Staff will be consulted prior to travel arrangements being made.

The caseworker may be required to participate on the Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service roster (pending COVID), the Family Law Court - Indigenous List support roster and may be expected to attend in person or online. The caseworker will be expected to attend outreach locations. The successful applicant will be expected to attend interagency meetings and participate at other meetings as directed by the Coordinator.

Accountability:

The Aboriginal Caseworker will be directly accountable to the Coordinator and the Governing Committee.

Responsibilities:

• To provide prompt and efficient administrative support, information, referral and non-legal casework.
• To take direction from the Coordinator.
• The caseworker may also be expected to work under the supervision of the Principal Solicitor or the Community Legal Education Worker in the following situations:

• If and when the Coordinator is on leave or unavailable for, or if directed by the Coordinator; or
• when being directed or instructed to record the Centre’s information calls, data; and
• maintaining non-legal client casework notes, and when
• attending community legal education sessions or events.

Case management – roles

• To assist the solicitors with non-legal casework for clients.
• To support clients at court and at meetings.
• To ensure that relevant data is recorded in relation to the Centre’s reporting obligations. This includes recording any information regarding, referrals and support provided.
• To write case notes and support letters for clients.
• To provide follow up.

Community Legal Education CLE and Travel Tasks – training and mentoring will be provided

• To contribute to CLE presentations.
• To assist in arranging travel, accommodation, catering, car hire, speakers, travel and incidentals allowances and venue hire (CLE, conferences, meetings or any other tasks as directed by the Coordinator).
• To organise, consult, attend, facilitate and co-facilitate community legal education sessions held within NSW.
• To attend and participate at events and stalls, as required. (Sometimes on weekdays and weekends).
• To participate in community legal education and community development.
• To advertise and promote community legal education events.
• To assist in packing resources such as: Fact Sheets, promotional items, presentations, banners, laptops and projectors, etc.

Administration Tasks – training will be provided

• Assist with answering the telephones.
• Record keeping and other administrative tasks, as required.
• To assist with the distribution and development of resources and promotional materials.

• To assist with seeking donations and assistance.

• Filing (in relation to casework and office systems).
• To work as part of the team in keeping the reception and common areas tidy.

• To record all information pertaining to information sheets (Fact Sheets), mail-in and out, and emails.
• To assist with programs and projects being developed and delivered by the Centre.

• To liaise with government and non-government agencies and services.
• To mail and distribute legal and non-legal information and resources, where necessary.

• To contribute to the Newsletter, where necessary.
• To participate in external meetings, conferences and training, as required.
• To contribute to law reform and policy work. (Staff will be eased into this process and will not be expected to write any policies or submissions. If you are concerned about this issue or would like more information, please call and speak to us about it.)
• To participate in meetings including Aboriginal interagencies and DV interagency meetings.
• To do any other work as directed by the Coordinator.

Please feel free to give us a call so we can explain any of the tasks listed. We would be happy to talk you through any areas of concern. Please note, we are willing to provide some training and mentoring to assist in areas where you feel you may require additional training or more information. As an Aboriginal organisation for Aboriginal women, we aim to empower other Aboriginal women by providing employment opportunities by assisting in developing their skills and knowledge in a number of these areas.

Required Flexibility: (e.g. Events)

The Aboriginal Caseworker will be expected to work after hours, weekends and /or on public holidays (this does not happen very often). The caseworker will be required to participate and attend community legal education sessions in rural, remote and regional locations across NSW. Travel will be by car, train or possibly by light aircraft/plane. The Centre will endeavour to negotiate travel at a mutually convenient time for both the employee and the Centre.

Any work undertaken outside of ordinary hours will be compensated for this work with the accrual of time in lieu. Time in lieu will be accrued at the shift/penalty rate of the hours as stated in the SCHADS/ Modern Award.

Skills, Ability and Experience:

Selection Criteria (some training will be provided)

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander woman
• Case management experience
• Ability to work effectively in a team
• Time management skills
• Office/administration skills
• Good communication and negotiation skills
• Good customer service skills
• Ability to work under pressure
• Computer and Internet skills
• Able to follow direction and work unsupervised
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality
• Knowledge of Aboriginal issues
• Ability to present and speak in public forums and meetings

Desirable

• Ability to operate a Mac computer
• Experience working with Aboriginal communities, women and children
• Knowledge of domestic violence, Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders, sexual assault, child sexual assault, family law and care and protection. (We can provide training on these issues.)
• Current NSW Drivers Licence – or working towards obtaining one.

Job Status

The Aboriginal caseworker position starting date will be the 4th July 2022, and will cease on the 27th June 2025. The position will be 28 hours per week. The position will cease after this period, unless funding permits.

The caseworker’s role is a part time position and will have a six-month probationary period.

Rate of Pay

The starting rate of pay will be Level 4 Pay Point 1 as per the SCHADS Award. The rate of pay will depend on the successful applicant’s skills and experience. The rate of pay may be negotiated.

Conditions of employment are based on the Policies of the Centre, which are in line with the SCHADS /Modern Award.

Being an Aboriginal woman is a genuine occupational qualification under sections 14 & 31 of the Anti Discrimination Act 1977 NSW.

All applicants may be required to produce proof of Aboriginality.

Please note: Due to our work in prisons and with children the following checks will need to be completed. A relevant criminal history check and a Working with Children Check will need to be conducted for the successful applicant.

For all enquires, please contact Christine Robinson or Shaquille on (02) 9569 3847 or email Christine at: [email protected] using the subject line: Aboriginal Caseworker enquiry via EthicalJobs.