Are you a qualified family therapist looking for an opportunity to help young adults and families, including children, reconnect and rebuild their lives?

Do you have a strong understanding of trauma, attachment and the challenges faced by justice-involved young adults?

Are you a confident communicator and enjoy collaboration across multidisciplinary teams?

If you said yes to the above, please read further as we have a role for you!

Position Snapshot

Salary range – $106,388 - $111,091 pro rata Level 6 SCHADS Award 2010+ Superannuation (pay point dependent on qualifications and experience)

Part time (0.4 FTE) fixed-term until 30 June 2026 – flexible workdays.

The position is based in Marngoneet Correctional Centre.

The position may require the incumbent to travel to regional Victoria as part of the service delivery objectives and team development.

Generous not-for-profit salary packaging with employee benefits such as annual leave loading is available.

Position overview

Are you committed to making a real difference in the lives of young adults? We're looking for a compassionate and skilled Family Therapist to join our multidisciplinary team to work within a custodial setting, supporting young men aged 18 to 25 through specialist therapeutic intervention.

In this impactful role, you’ll work with a caseload of up to six clients, providing structured family therapy—up to three appointments per day. Your work will help strengthen relationships, support rehabilitation, and improve long-term outcomes for young men navigating complex life challenges.
Your therapeutic intervention will build upon the foundation established by your Vacro Family Visits colleagues, whose work concentrates on developing skills necessary for meaningful family interactions. This includes understanding each individual's role within the family, improving communication techniques, and setting goals and planning for successful community reintegration through facilitated visits between incarcerated individuals and their family members.

When your caseload isn’t at capacity, you'll play a key role in building internal capability by delivering staff education and training on family dynamics, trauma-informed approaches, and systemic thinking. You’ll also contribute to quarterly reports, providing valuable insights into service delivery and program engagement that shape ongoing development.

About Vacro

Vacro is an independent non-profit organisation working with people caught in the criminal justice system and their families. Founded in 1872, we are Victoria’s oldest and only specialised criminal justice reintegration service. We provide reintegration, family, and employment support that enables people to create new beginnings for themselves and their families.

We value the expertise of people from a wide range of backgrounds. Because of the work we do, we especially value the expertise of First Nations people, people with lived experience of the criminal justice system, and people of diverse cultural backgrounds and identities. We also welcome applications from people with a criminal record. (We do not discriminate based on a person’s criminal record, however in some circumstances, contractual or legislative obligations may limit a person’s eligibility for certain roles. We are happy to have a confidential discussion about how these requirements may affect a candidate).

Many members of our workforce bring invaluable lived experience that enriches our teams with authenticity and diverse insights. These individuals not only possess professional skills, but also a profound understanding of the challenges and complexities that arise from their personal journeys. Their unique perspectives cultivate empathy and spark innovation, enabling us to develop solutions that are not only practical but also meaningful. At Vacro, you’ll be part of a culture that champions inclusivity and values every voice, empowering you to make a real difference in the lives of those we serve.

About You

This role will suit a candidate with the following skills and experience:

Tertiary qualified Family Therapist (e.g. Social work with family therapy training or similar)

Understanding of the complex issues and therapeutic challenges relating to people in prison and their families, and the impact of incarceration of a family member.

Demonstrated experience and knowledge of, and the ability to apply and adapt, therapeutic techniques relevant to this client group (e.g. trauma-informed frameworks, family therapy, etc.)

Knowledge of child development.

Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams.

Knowledge of Family Violence and Child Information Sharing Schemes.

Well-developed administrative and personal organisational skills.

Ability to liaise with a variety of audiences including government bodies, philanthropic funding bodies, professional peers and people with limited education and literacy.

What we offer

Vacro is dedicated to staff wellbeing. We provide extensive on-boarding training and ongoing professional development for staff, amongst other benefits.

Vacro is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. We celebrate and welcome all people regardless of ethnicity, cultural background, age, gender, sexuality, disability or religious affiliation.

Vacro is a Child Safe organisation and is committed to protecting children and young people from harm. Some roles at Vacro require applicants to undergo an extensive screening process prior to appointment.

How to apply

To apply, or for any enquiries regarding the role, kindly email us at [email protected] using the subject line: Family Therapist.

In your application, please include your resume (and or CV), and a cover letter that addresses the key results area in the position description.

Please email your application to [email protected] by 5:00pm on Friday 27 June.

Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and the closing date may be subject to change without notice.

If you require any reasonable adjustments or cultural adjustments during the recruitment process, please email Sarah Charles, Learning Development and Wellbeing Manager at [email protected] as part of your application.