About the Role

Reporting to the CEO, the Crisis Accommodation Manager (CAM) manages the people and resources within the refuge to ensure clients who are lone women or women with children in their care receive the best possible care, support, advocacy and advice, right from their first phone contact. As the safety of clients, staff and visitors is our highest priority, the CAM is an expert in risk assessment and risk management, and applies this to a wide variety of situations. They also ensure our client rights and responsibilities are upheld and our Values are embedded in our Advocates work with clients.

Client empowerment, self resilience and validation of their experience is a key theme of our work with clients to ensure they are well prepared to rebuild their lives with confidence and in safety. Harbour are working toward embedding the Safe and Together model across our services and value the importance of Professional Development of our team to ensure they are fully equipped to support women presenting with complex care needs. The CAM will also work closely with the CEO to commission a new refuge facility in mid 2026.

The CAM ensures our programs exceed the expectations of our funders, are consistent with industry best practice, and incorporate the principles of response-based practice, trauma-informed service provision, and perpetrator accountability. The position leads a team of Family and Domestic Violence (FDV) Advocates, including a Child Advocate, and manages routine staffing issues. The position is a member of the Harbour leadership team, ensuring seamless delivery across service areas. The CAM participates in the ‘on call supervisor’ roster, providing phone support to Advocates on duty outside office hours, and in an emergency attending site if required.

As a valued component of a larger service system, Harbour relies on the CAM to maintain and build relationships and communication pathways with other agencies, to help our clients achieve positive outcomes as they rebuild their lives in safety.

About You

The CAM must be both ‘people person’ and task manager. You must be able to balance empathy and rapport, with the ability to hold people accountable, and take charge in a crisis.

Specifically, you must be able to demonstrate:

· Experience in working within a collaborative case management context.

· Problem solving and policy and procedure development.

· Understanding cross cultural issues, and skills to work with women from all backgrounds in a culturally sensitive and appropriate manner

· Effective and cohesive team leadership and management

· Highly developed risk assessment and risk management ability

· Ability to maintain effective personal and professional boundaries, and utmost confidentiality

· Highly developed communication and task management skills

· A relevant four-year degree (health, human services, social sciences), or a lesser qualification with significant related experience.

· Financial management and budgeting skills

· Demonstrated understanding of risk and safety as it pertains to Family and Domestic Violence and ability to respond effectively in a crisis situation

· Knowledge of and experience in working with women or people in crisis and trauma with a focus on family and domestic violence

· Sound organisation, change management and time management skills

Previous experience in a similar role will be highly regarded. Aboriginal and/or Torres Straight Islander people are encouraged to apply.

About Us

South West Refuge Inc T/A Harbour Refuge and Support Services was established by the community, for the community 35 years ago to provide effective local responses to family and domestic violence. Our service area covers nearly 24,000 km in the south west area. We provide safe, confidential support and crisis accommodation to women, and any children in their care, escaping Family and Domestic Violence. As well as the Refuge, we support clients in transitional accommodation (Safe Houses) and in their own homes (Safe at Home) or living in the community who may be homeless Mobile Outreach Program.

Harbour is committed to providing support to women including those with children who are experiencing family and domestic violence. We provide services that protect them from harm and homelessness and we are committed to ensuring all women and children can live free from domestic abuse.

Our Values of Healing, Advocacy, Resilience, Belonging, Optimism, Upliftment and Responsibility (HARBOUR) are important to us in our approach to our work.

To Apply

· Please request the Job Description for more detail about the role, and the full list of selection criteria to be addressed in your application, by email to: [email protected]

· For further information please phone 9791 2008 and ask to speak with Ali White (CEO).

· Applicants must have the right to work and live in Australia and possess a current Driver’s Licence, National Police Clearance, Working With Children Card and Senior First Aid Certificate.

· Applications must include a covering letter, a current CV and a statement addressing the selection criteria contained in the Job Description.

· Applications must be received by Friday 8th August 2025. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.