Support Worker Katungul Womens Healing Centre

The Katungul Women's Healing Centre (KWHC) responds to the needs of Aboriginal women and their children who have experienced, or are at risk

KWHC Support Worker – Part Time – 25 hours per week
Katungul Aboriginal Corporation Regional Health and Community Services (Katungul) is an Aboriginal-community controlled health service providing culturally appropriate health care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities on the Far South Coast of NSW. Katungul was founded in 1993 and currently operates clinics in Bega, Batemans Bay and Narooma.
The Katungul Women’s Healing Centre (KWHC) responds to the needs of Aboriginal women and their children who have experienced, or are at risk of experiencing, domestic and family violence and homelessness in the Bega Valley and Eurobodalla Shire region of Southern NSW. KWHC provides a therapeutic and holistic response that supports women on a healing journey to holistically address their safety, accommodation, health, wellbeing, cultural and other needs.
Purpose of the role
The Support Officer, KWHC provides trauma-informed supportive activities such as case management, risk assessment and safety planning. Healing and case management plans are informed by the strengths, knowledge and individuality of each woman and child presenting to KWHC. The role draws on knowledge of gender-based violence prevention. In recognition of the gendered nature of domestic and family violence, Katungul enforces an all-female staffing policy which maximises women’s safety within the centre. Being a woman is a genuine occupational qualification for this position under s.31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW).
The following core attributes, skill sets, knowledge and qualifications are priortised by:

• Membership of the local Aboriginal community in Bega
• Identify as an Aboriginal woman
• If non-Aboriginal, have significant experience working with Aboriginal people, families, communities and organisations and demonstrated cultural competence
• Lived experience of domestic and family violence
• Experience working in women’s crisis accommodation facilities and/or with survivors of domestic and family violence
• Understanding of the nature of domestic and family violence and experience in risk assessment and safety planning
• Graduate certificate/diploma in human services and/or domestic and family violence practice.

Main duties and responsibilities
Service delivery

• Deliver an inclusive and accessible specialist service to Aboriginal people who identify as female, and children, as set out in the KWHC Service Model and Policy & Procedure Manual
• Oversee and participate in day-to-day operations of KWHC
• Conduct comprehensive safety assessments and undertake safety planning to address clients immediate needs
• Assess the client’s social support needs, provide case management and client advocacy
• Facilitate client intake and exit
• Prepare units/rooms for new clients
• Assist with client transport to appointments and other support activities
• Liaise with internal and external agencies and coordinating client referrals
• Engage in community outreach work to build relationships with community members and the services available
• Maintain up to date database of client data
• Support a culturally safe workplace that promotes respect for all colleagues, clients and visitors at the Centre
• Provide and promote cultural activities for clients residing at the Centre, as determined by the program
• Provide an after-hours response to the women and children onsite if required, on a roster basis

Selection Criteria

• A tertiary qualification in community services; social work; psychology or a related discipline
• A minimum of two years’ experience working with survivors of domestic and family violence
• A minimum of two years’ experience working in a similar supportive role in the social welfare space such as mental health, homelessness, AOD and child welfare
• Knowledge and understanding of the issues relating to women and children who have experienced domestic and family violence
• Ability to maintain and support trauma-informed work practices
• Ability to effectively manage and address multiple tasks and priorities
• Experience in developing and maintaining effective and collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders to improve client experience and service outcomes
• Covid vaccination
• This position requires that the worker possess a NSW unrestricted Driver Licence
• A current Working With Children Check and a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (Police Check) clearance
• Must be able to do a pre-employment medical as well as a drug and Alcohol screening test and random testing as per company policy

Katungul considers that being Aboriginal is a genuine occupational qualification for this position under s14 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW).
If you feel you meet the above criteria, please apply for an initial confidential discussion.