About the Role

• Full-time, Permanent
• Based in Hastings, VIC
• SCHADS Level 5 ~ $99,324.83 plus super and salary packaging

Role Purpose

The Specialist Family Violence Practitioner (SFVP) is an integral member of the Family Violence Team and delivers high quality short to longer term intensive case management services to women and children who are or have experienced family violence, including women who choose to remain in the relationship. The role contributes extensive knowledge and understanding of family violence in the provision of case management. This role supports clients living in the community or other form of accommodation including emergency accommodation and transitional housing.

The position provides client-centred casework, utilising the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management Framework (MARAM) and a comprehensive risk and needs assessment of women and children through trauma informed, systems and developmental frameworks. The SFVP will develop agreed case plans with women and children with multiple and complex needs, bringing about outcomes which promote safety, stability and recovery from family violence through a coordinated care team approach.

As part of the Family Violence Team, participation in a crisis response roster, duty work roster and community-based outreach are some of the requirements of this role. This client-facing role will also involve intensively working with women and children in emergency accommodation after they have escaped family violence to assist them into securing safe accommodation. The SFVP will also be requested to provide support as required to the Family Violence Program.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver high quality outreach case management services to women and children who are experiencing or have experienced family violence through trauma informed, systems and developmental frameworks
• Facilitate a multi-disciplinary team approach, providing a collaborative and holistic response for women and young people impacted by family violence, working toward identified goals
• Undertake MARAM comprehensive risk assessment and mitigation, needs assessment, safety planning and case planning with women and children
• Coordinate referrals for support and liaise with specialist services as required
• Support victim survivors accommodated in different type of accommodation settings including emergency accommodation
• Work in partnership with families to develop and regularly review individual case and safety plans, ensuring clients are actively engaged in all decision making and planning
• Provide advocacy on the client’s behalf to link in with other relevant supports
• Participate in the duty and crisis response roster

About You

• Appropriate tertiary qualification in Social Work, Psychology, or a related tertiary discipline meeting Recommendation 209 or Graduate Certificate in Family Violence ESSENTIAL
• Demonstrated capacity to provide outreach case management including the ability to carry out comprehensive risk and needs assessments and respond appropriately
• Experience working in the family violence sector
• Demonstrated experience working with women and children presenting with complex needs and behaviours (e.g. trauma, substance abuse, mental health, parenting issues, disability) and/or from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) or indigenous backgrounds
• Demonstrated knowledge of the impacts of family violence and the capacity to apply appropriate theoretical frameworks to practice
• Demonstrated experience in preparing written reports, maintaining records, including case notes and data base reporting
• Ability to apply protective behaviours techniques which reduce children’s vulnerability
• Demonstrated commitment to personal professional development including knowledge of the Royal Commission into Family Violence Recommendations and the broader impact of the current reforms on the family violence sector
• A current Full Australian Driver’s License

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:

1. are considered EXEMPT under the policy

OR

1. hold a Bachelor of Social Work or other equivalent qualification

OR

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

OR

1. 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 [email protected] to discuss this further.

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 parental leave
• Gifted leave at Christmas and Easter
• Employee Assistance Program, a free and confidential counselling service
• + more

How to Apply

Please click 'Apply' to complete your application. Please upload your resume and a brief cover letter. Please apply as soon as possible, applications are considered as they are received.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 24th March 2025

To view the position description click here or visit our website (https://goodshep.org.au/careers-with-us/)

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 Australia. We are committed to ensuring that our team is reflective of the diverse community we serve and to supporting a culture of equity, inclusion and diversity.

Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand is a Child Safe employer. Employment is subject to satisfactory referee checks, a current employment working with Children Check, National Criminal History check and proof of the right to work in Australia.