Specialist Family Violence Practitioner

About The Role

• Part time (0.9 FTE) 
• Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre in Keilor Downs
• SCHADS 6.1 

The Specialist Family Violence Practitioner will work within the Brimbank Melton (IFS) team and the Family Service Alliance to support mentor and ensure services are well coordinated, and Family Services caseworkers have the skills needed for high quality support to families who experience, at risk of or have experienced Family Violence.

The role will support families where there have been incidents of Family Violence to make appropriate plans around safety and develop parents’ capacity to meet their children’s needs in line with the Children’s Youth and Families Act 2005. assessments, safety planning and case planning with families in accordance with the MARAM framework and the Information Sharing Scheme.

The Specialist Family Violence Practitioner will play an active role as part of the Family Services Response to Family Violence project across the Brimbank Melton Alliance. The role provides secondary consultation across the alliance supporting workers in identifying and responding to Family Violence. In partnership with the alliance, the role will plan and facilitate education and training sessions to enhance knowledge and practice by building capacity. The role involves collaborating with established partnerships as well as seeking and developing new opportunities across the sector.

Key Responsibilities

• To provide secondary consultations and guidance to experienced case managers around MARAM assessment and safety planning for families where there is Family Violence risk internally and externally across Brimbank Melton.
• To carry a case load of up to six families who need supports and planning
• To undertake comprehensive MARAM assessments and share information as required to ensure women and children’s safety and planning and support
• To play a key role in the Communities of Practice including, Safe and Together community of practice & MARAM community of practice and other relevant liaison and networks
• Take a lead role and attendance at Family Violence & Family Services working group meetings
• Knowledge of Safety Planning and the needs of families to access FSP application process
• Collaborate with partner agencies to enrich learning and strengthen practice across the Alliance

About You

Employment is subject to:

• A degree level qualification in Social Work, Psychology, or a related discipline is essential as well as significant experience in direct Family Violence case management in accordance with REC 209 is essential
• Relevant experience in the Family Violence sector and experience working with families presenting with complex needs and behavior’s (e.g. substance abuse, mental health, parenting issues, disability, relationship issues) and/or from CALD or indigenous backgrounds is highly desirable
• MARAM comprehensive training
• A satisfactory Police Check
• A current Working with Children’s Check (WWCC)
• A current Drivers License
• Proof of the right to work in Australia

The above requirements will need to be supplied and verified prior to commencement 

Family Violence Minimum Mandatory Qualifications under Recommendation 209

As per the minimum mandatory qualifications requirements via;

https://www.vic.gov.au/mandatory-minimum-qualifications-specialist-family-violence-practitioners :

All candidates wishing to apply for this role must be able to demonstrate that they:

• Are considered EXEMPT under the policy

OR

• Hold a Bachelor of Social Work or other equivalent qualification

OR

• Have minimum 5 years relevant professional experience, OR a related qualification as per the mandatory minimum qualification requirements.

OR

• Hold significant cultural knowledge and experience or lived experience, and have faced barriers to educational pathways

Please note that candidates wishing to enter the Specialist Family Violence workforce via a related qualification or 5 years related professional experience pathway, OR the significant cultural knowledge and experience or lived experience pathways will be required to work towards an equivalent qualification within specified timeframes (as per the mandatory minimum qualifications policy). If you believe these pathways may apply to you and would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact ***********@goodshep.org.au to discuss this further.

Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand (GSANZ)

Our 2023-2027 strategy outlines the world we want to see and our role in advancing it. We aspire for all women, girls, and families to be safe, well, strong, and connected. We strive for equity, dignity and social justice for women, girls and families by collaborating globally and acting locally, supporting our communities in Australia and New Zealand to thrive. 

We want women, girls and families to live full and dignified lives, have dignified income and enjoy financial wellbeing.  We aim to provide place-based, people-centred, holistic services while working at the system level to achieve bold and audacious reform. We currently offer microfinance programs and products, financial counselling and coaching, family and domestic violence support services, family and youth programs, playgroups, education programs and community houses. These services are complemented by research and strong advocacy to address the underlying structural causes of injustice, exclusion, and inequality.  

Good Shepherd employees are committed to inclusive practice that responds to the specific needs, context, and circumstances of service participants. We embrace the diversity and intersectionality of individuals and recognise a person’s right to a unique identity comprising culture, language, ability, community, gender, sex, sexual orientation and lived experience.

ABOUT US

Our 2023-2027 strategy outlines the world we want to see and our role in advancing it. We aspire for all women, girls, and families to be safe, well, strong, and connected. We strive for equity, dignity and social justice for women, girls and families by collaborating globally and acting locally, supporting our communities in Australia and New Zealand to thrive.

We want women, girls and families to live full and dignified lives, have dignified income and enjoy financial wellbeing.  We aim to provide place-based, people-centred, holistic services while working at the system level to achieve bold and audacious reform. We currently offer microfinance programs and products, financial counselling and coaching, family and domestic violence support services, family and youth programs, playgroups, education programs and community houses. These services are complemented by research and strong advocacy to address the underlying structural causes of injustice, exclusion, and inequality.   

Good Shepherd employees are committed to inclusive practice that responds to the specific needs, context, and circumstances of service participants. We embrace the diversity and intersectionality of individuals and recognise a person’s right to a unique identity comprising culture, language, ability, community, gender, sex, sexual orientation and lived experience.

Benefits

• Salary packaging (which can add up to $15,900 in tax-free pay per year)
• Paid study leave
• Paid parental leave
• Gifted leave at Christmas and Easter
• Additional purchased annual leave
• Flexible work hours/working from home where possible
• Long service leave due after 10 years, with access after seven
• Employee Assistance Program, a free and confidential counselling service

How to apply

To apply please submit a short covering letter outlining your relevant skills and experience along with your CV.  Please apply as soon as possible, applications are considered as they are received.  

Personal data held by Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand relating to employment applications will be used in accordance with our Privacy Statement, which is available on our website.

We recognise the rich diversity of people across Au