About Us

Sydney Aboriginal Family Support Service (SAFSS) is a proudly Aboriginal-owned and operated organisation dedicated to supporting Aboriginal children, young people, and families involved in the child protection and out-of-home care system. As a fully accredited provider, SAFSS operates across Greater Sydney, Dubbo, and regional NSW with a strong focus on cultural safety, trauma-informed practice, and community-led healing.

We are currently seeking an experienced and dynamic Programs Manager to lead the day-to-day delivery of our diverse service streams, including Emergency Care Arrangements (ECA), Casework Support Services (CSS), Individual Placement Arrangements (IPA), and Aboriginal cultural camps. This leadership role is crucial to ensuring operational excellence, staff performance, and quality outcomes for Aboriginal children in care.

About the Role

As the Programs Manager, you will report directly to the CEO and be responsible for:

Leading and overseeing multiple program areas including ECA, CSS, IPA, and cultural initiatives.

Managing a team of Casework Managers, Program Coordinators, House Leaders, and frontline workers.

Ensuring compliance with DCJ contracts, Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) standards, and internal governance frameworks.

Supporting the development and implementation of culturally appropriate service models that embed trauma-informed and child-centered practice.

Monitoring service performance through KPIs, audits, compliance checks, and quality assurance processes.

Collaborating with Aboriginal communities, DCJ, health services, and sector stakeholders to strengthen service integration and outcomes.

Driving innovation, continuous improvement, and growth across program areas.

Supporting recruitment, training, mentoring, and professional development for staff.

Participating in strategic planning, reporting, and contributing to the long-term sustainability of SAFSS.

About You

You are an experienced leader with:

A degree in Social Work, Human Services, Psychology, or related field.

Minimum 5 years’ experience in program or operations management within child protection, OOHC, or Aboriginal community services.

Demonstrated understanding of the needs and rights of Aboriginal children and families within the care system.

Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and complex service environments.

Strong knowledge of OCG, DCJ, and PSP requirements and sector reforms.

Proven ability to lead in a culturally safe and strengths-based manner.

Excellent communication, leadership, crisis management, and organisational skills.

Current NSW Working with Children Check, Police Check, and Driver’s Licence.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

What We Offer

Competitive salary of $140,000 per annum.

Generous salary packaging benefits.

Supportive and culturally safe work environment.

Professional development and leadership opportunities.

The opportunity to influence real change for Aboriginal children and communities across NSW.

How to Apply

Please forward your resume and a cover letter addressing the selection criteria to [email protected]. For more information, contact us on 0477 353 869.