First Nations Victim Support Officer

Bring your case management experience in supporting the healing and recovery needs of First Nations people to our team. Join a trauma informed organisation, supporting the rights, needs and interests of victims of crime.  

Our workplace environment is one where we care for and about each other and embrace life-long learning. We create opportunities for you to grow professionally in a flexible, supportive and culturally safe space. 

Position Title:                      First Nations Victim Support Officer *  

Remuneration:                    SCHADS Award Level 5, Salary sacrifice is available

Type of Position:                Full time   

Purpose of the Role:         Provide effective, timely and culturally safe services to victims of crime.

Reports to:                           Victim Support Team Program Manager

* Under S25 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991, there is a genuine occupational requirement for the incumbent to be recognised as a First Nations person within our community.  You may be asked to provide confirmation of your First Nations heritage. 

Organisational Environment:

Victims of Crime NT Inc. (VoCNT) is a community organisation, established in 1995 to support victims across the Northern Territory who are affected by crime. Our aim is to assist people to recover, restore and grow through the provision of a range of practical and emotional support services, and prevention activities. VoCNT advocates for and promotes public and government awareness of the needs, rights, and interests of victims of crime. 

VoCNT operates in accordance with its mission and vision statements, organisational values, and policy framework. Our team commits to a Code of Conduct, Privacy and Confidentiality requirements, and actively participates in organisational planning and development.  VoCNT has offices in Darwin and Alice Springs, and regularly visits Tennant Creek, Katherine and Nhulunbuy to deliver services. Our work in remote communities is ongoing and is planned and prioritised annually. Some travel to regional and remote communities may be required. 

The First Nations Victim Support Officer reports to the Victim Support Programs Manager. This position can be based at the VoCNT Darwin or Alice Springs office. 

The organisation is committed to reconciliation and is about to begin our second Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan. We understand the intergenerational impacts that colonisation has had on First Nations people and recognise their over representation within the criminal justice system. We are striving to provide culturally appropriate services to support First Nations people in their experiences of criminal victimisation. 

VoCNT promotes a supportive, collaborative, and accountable team environment and is committed to the development of our staff. We have a life-long learning and continuous improvement philosophy, and all staff have a learning and development plan. Flexible workplace practices are in place where possible to support our workforce. 

VoCNT is an inclusive organisation and supports victims of crime across the diversity spectrum within the Northern Territory. We believe our employees should emulate the diversity within our communities.   

VoCNT adopts the Sanctuary model for the whole of the organisation. Sanctuary helps us to build a trauma informed community that acknowledges adversity as a human experience, and creates safety for healing, recovery, and growth to occur. VoCNT is working towards accreditation as the first Sanctuary provider in the NT. Our 8 Sanctuary commitments provide the backdrop for this approach: 

Growth and Change - We acknowledge loss, are open to new ideas and are hopeful for the future

Open Communication - We are honest and say what we mean with kindness

Democracy - All voices and views are heard and respected

Non-violence - We use unconditional care to stay safe and allow others to feel    safe

Emotional Intelligence - We manage our feelings so we don't hurt ourselves or   others

Social Responsibility - We help each other and take responsibility for our actions

Social Learning - We are curious and learn from each other and our challenges

Cultural Humility - We accept and engage with cultural differences and do our best to reduce power imbalances 

A new role for the organisation:

If you are interested in this position, we encourage you to apply even if you feel you are not strong in the individual selection criteria.  In assessing suitability and merit, the selection panel will take into consideration past performance relative to opportunity.  We recognise that people have a range of personal and professional experiences, and their own commitment to cultural safety may have challenged the traditional ideas of an organisation or their team member/s. For example, in the past you have prioritised having respectful and purposeful difficult conversations to improve the quality of outcomes for First Nations people, instead of simply seeking to maintain the status quo. We welcome those hard conversations that will help us learn and grow in cultural humility and improve services to clients. 

At VoCNT, we are taking purposeful steps towards becoming a more culturally safe organisation for First Nations Australians and other diverse groups.  We are open and flexible to learning and change. We want the successful candidate to support the way we can increase cultural safety in our service delivery and across our organisation.  This challenge will need to consider the Sanctuary Model Principles (for which you will receive training), and any changes will be incremental. Our eighth Sanctuary Commitment is Cultural Humility which confirms our dedication to embrace cultural difference and reduce power imbalances.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide information, advocacy and support to victims of crime through case management and supporting victims participating in youth justice victim/offender conferences.
• To complete intake, triage, and data management processes in close consultation with the Victim Support Programs Manager. 
• Collaborative participation in processes, meetings, training, and evaluations to improve service delivery and shape a positive team and organisation culture. 
• Maintain a continuous effort to implement the Sanctuary model into daily practice

Duties

• Build effective relationships with key stakeholders. 
• Promote VoCNT programs to clients and stakeholders. 
• Disseminate informative resources to the public, community groups and other service providers on the support available to victims of crime.
• Provide ancillary support to Victims of Crime Peer Support Groups as needed.  
• Hold ongoing case management responsibilities for clients.
• Provide in person and phone support to victims of crime across the NT within a person-centred framework, that includes:
  • Information
  • crisis support, including counselling.
  • referral to other agencies
  • assistance in preparing victim impact statements.
  • court support for victims who are participating in, or observing, court proceedings in relation to the crimes that have affected them.
• Provide support for victims participating in youth justice victim/offender conferences.
• Represent and advocate for victims who chose to have VoCNT represent them at victim/offender Conferences.
• Assist victims’ complete applications to Crimes Victims Services Unit where appropriate.
• Monitor incoming referral systems and follow up with clients as needed.  
• Enter and maintain accurate client data on case management system in a prompt manner.
• Initiate contact with clients to assess the nature of their support needs.
• Escalate critical risks or issues to Victim Support Manager and recommend viable solutions.
• Apply your knowledge of trauma theory to all interactions with clients, colleagues, and external stakeholders
• Utilise the S.E.L.F (Safety, Emotions, Loss, Future) framework for problem solving, teamwork and critical thinking
• Practice the 8 Sanctuary commitments with purpose and intention
• Embed regular opportunities with the team to explore the implementation of the Sanctuary Toolkit with clients to build safety, strengthen relationships and promote growth and change 

Qualifications, Professional Memberships, Experience:

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in human service support roles including case management, preferably in the community sector. 
• Tertiary qualification and or equivalent lived experience or training in a relevant field.

Desirable:  

• Knowledge and/or experience with Restorative Justice processes
• Case management experience

Other Requirements:

• Driver’s license
• Ochre card and Police check

Key Selection Criteria:

1. Awareness and understanding of the rights, needs and interests of First nations people impacted by crime in the Territory
2. Ability to hold a positive perspective, mindset, and attitude.
3. Demonstrated ability to apply culturally safe and responsive case management processes to support First Nations and other clients. 
4. Understanding of the Criminal Justice System and its application to victims.
5. Basic understanding of Trauma Theory, understanding of intergenerational trauma and its effects on First Nations people
6. Ability to plan and organise competing priorities. 
7. Hold an approachable manner and sensitive communication skills that build safety and positive relationships. 
8. Commitment to working as part of a team to deliver client centred services within a small team.

Please apply by including a short (2 pages maximum) cover letter outlining your suitability for the role in consideration of the selection criteria.

Enquiries to:

Gerard McGeough, Victim Support Programs Manager - 08 8941 09************@victimsofcrime.org.au

or Mel Fleming, Chief Executive Officer 0429 188 *** ***@victimsofcrime.org.au.