Are you looking for the next step in your career, where you can support and mentor front-line staff providing support and advocacy for at risk children and youth in a beautiful area of QLD?

The Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety currently have a permanent First Nations Senior Team Leader opportunity available based out of our Townsville Child Safety Service Centre.

In this diverse leadership role, you’ll manage a small team of First Nations Intake Officers to ensure the delivery of high-quality intake services in accordance with legislation and practice guidelines to children, young people, families, and communities serviced by the Regional Intake Service.

What Does Being a First Nations Senior Team Leader Mean?

You will use your passion for child protection to foster a culture of excellent frontline service delivery and collaborative team engagement. As a First Nations Senior Team Leader modelling the QLD Public Service Leadership competencies for QLD (LCQ) is essential. These are: leading strategically, making insightful decisions, building enduring relationships, driving accountability and outcomes, demonstrating sound governance, and demonstrating a healthy and inclusive workplace.

You will:

Lead and support staff to deliver accountable and collaborative integrated child protection services that respect the culture and context of each child, young person, family and community in accordance with departmental policies and procedures, statutory responsibilities, the child protection practice framework and the Child Placement Principle.

Provide leadership to a team to undertake high quality strengths-based child protection practice in regional intake services for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and families, in consultation with other agencies where appropriate.

Oversee and ensure First Nations Intake Officers contribute productively as team members to form culturally appropriate, professional working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and other service providers.

Support the team to foster a culture and philosophy of quality frontline service delivery based on collaboration, cooperation, cultural safety and commitment to excellence and professional ethics.

Ensure quality case records are maintained in accordance with departmental case management requirements.

Participate and contribute to a culture of continuous learning, training and professional development, to ensure practice knowledge and skills are contemporary and evidence based.

To see more about this role’s responsibilities, please click here.

What you get for Becoming a First Nations Senior Team Leader

This is a vital role where each day you will walk away with the reward of knowing that you’re making a tangible difference to the safety of children in Queensland.

You will receive:

An attractive salary in line with PO5 circa $129,098 - $138,273

12.75% superannuation

Flexible leave and TOIL options

Further leadership professional development opportunities

What you Need to be a First Nations Senior Team Leader

When you join our team, you will be part of a team of passionate and dedicated advocates across Queensland. While this role is incredibly rewarding and important, it is a challenging frontline role.

You will have:

Extensive experience in providing frontline support to children and families with comprehensive knowledge of the full child protection continuum;

Passion for supporting Child Safety Officers (CSOs) and protecting children and young people;

Proven experience in staff development and team leadership;

Exceptional communication skills with demonstrated ability to build lasting stakeholder relationships and rapport in challenging situations; and

Extensive experience in complex case management, supporting team caseloads, and advising on complex cases.

It is an occupational requirement for this position to be undertaken by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person. One referee listed in your resume should be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person who can attest to your ability to work safely and competently with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, families and communities.

With strong cultural capability, you will recognise the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and have the capacity to consult and negotiate according to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander protocols, and you will be extensively familiar with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Placement Principles. You know about and understand the issues impacting cultures in contemporary society.

You lead people to understand and achieve the values of the framework for practice.

In addition to your experience and values, you will also have:

Possession of a degree in accordance with the Qualification Requirements. Fact sheet available at: Qualifications - CSO careers (cyjma.qld.gov.au)

An Australian Driver’s License, either Open or P2

A positive Blue Card or ability to obtain a positive Blue Card prior to commencing in this role

Life in Townsville

North Queensland is a beautiful region of Australia, known for its natural resources, farming and mining. The people in this region are hard workers, passionate about what they do. When you join our Townsville team, you’ll have the opportunity to work across some of North Queensland’s most beautiful areas, and this can include Ayr, Burdekin, Magnetic Island, Ingham, Hinchinbrook, Charters Towers, Hughenden, and even Palm Island. You may even travel overnight to some of these areas as part of your role.

You’ll be based in the bustling regional hub of Townsville with a diverse economy driven by industries such as retail, healthcare, education, government, defence, construction, mining, and manufacturing. It serves as a key transport hub for mining and agriculture through Queensland Rail and the Port of Townsville, hosting major facilities like the Xstrata Copper Refinery and Townsville University Hospital. Townsville offers a rich blend of natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef, Magnetic Island, and Castle Hill. The city also features vibrant cafes, galleries, and beachside promenades, as well as being home to the North Queensland Cowboys. And best of all, there’s over 300 sunny days per year!

Join us in Townsville and make an impact while enjoying the charm of this vibrant community.

Every child needs someone. So does every family. What if it’s you? Progress your leadership career in Child Safety - click Apply Now!