Aboriginal Child Protection Caseworker - Northern NSW

Aboriginal Child Protection Caseworker - Northern NSW

 

We are currently recruiting for vacancies and talent pool inclusions for Ballina, Lismore, Tweed Heads, Clarence Valley

 

Employment type: Ongoing

Salary: $89,934 – $116,969 pa plus superannuation and annual leave loading 

 

This position is open to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples only

Your role

 

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) is about working in partnership with families and communities to thrive. We walk alongside families, children, and communities, working together with other agencies and partners to build on strengths and create lasting change. Our focus is on breaking cycles of disadvantage and supporting strong futures. This is work that truly matters.

 

At DCJ, we believe families are the heart of our work and your cultural knowledge would be invaluable to this work. Our priority is always the safety, wellbeing, and cultural connection of children and young people. We know that when we have more Aboriginal caseworkers, our kids are more likely to grow up strong, safe, and connected to mob. 

 

What you’ll do

 

• Work sensitively and respectfully with parents, family members, children or young people  
• Work in partnership with other agencies and engage in complex problem solving 
• Walk alongside families to set goals that build on their strengths, addressing safety and well-being concerns, and provide appropriate assistance through home visits   
• Develop safety plans and complete risk assessments   
• Manage cases and situations including working with high needs and high-risk clients and their families  
• Be involved in court processes, including the preparation of court documents and attending court  
• Participate in individual and group supervision 
• Participate in Aboriginal cultural supervision

 

Being an Aboriginal Child Protection Caseworker can be difficult. Sometimes, you may have to make tough decisions with families to help them overcome hardships in order to be able to care for their children and develop safe and loving homes.  

 

What we’re looking for

 

To succeed as an Aboriginal Child Protection Caseworker, you bring courage, curiosity, and cultural strength. You can stand strong in challenging situations, listen deeply, and walk alongside families and communities with respect and integrity.

The essential requirements include:

• A relevant diploma or degree qualification is preferred
• Applicants without a relevant qualification require at least two years’ experience working with vulnerable children, young people and their families  
• The ability to build positive working relationships with the Aboriginal community, supported by excellent verbal and written communication skills 
• A valid driver’s licence  
• A paid working with children clearance number  
• Documented verification of Aboriginality - confirming that you are an Aboriginal person of Aboriginal descent and that you identify as being Aboriginal

 

As an Identified role, this position is open only to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons.

Where a position is identified, an applicant’s race is a genuine occupational qualification under the exception in Section 14(d) of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977.

There are two alternatives to confirming your Aboriginality, one of which must be uploaded to be considered for the role as follows. Either will be accepted:

Confirmation of Aboriginality form

OR

Written confirmation from 2-3 Aboriginal organisations within the community in which you live/work, which addresses the three criteria listed below:

• is of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, and
• identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, and