TARGETED VACANCY

The First Nations Intake Officer role undertakes the Child Safety Officer intake role for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander families. The DFSDSCS recognises that the over-representation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children begins at intake and has agreed to trial a new way of working for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander families who come to the attention of the DFSDSCS. As a First Nations Intake Officer, you will be an authorised officer delegated under the Child Protection Act 1999 to make decisions for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and families. The First Nations Intake Officer will have strong ties to culture and community and work closely with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander family support agencies to ensure that Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander families receive timely, safe and supportive intervention to prevent children entering the child protection system. The First Nations Intake Officer will assess risk and ensure that children who are reasonably suspected of being in need of protection are provided statutory support.

The First Nations Intake Officer key responsibilities are:

• 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, and the child protection practiceframework.
• As part of a multi-disciplinary team (which may include representation from other agencies), undertake high quality strengths-based child protection practice in regional intake services for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and families.
• Participate and contribute productively as a team member to form culturally appropriate, professional working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), and other service providers.
• Foster a culture and philosophy of quality frontline service delivery based on collaboration, cooperation, commitment to excellence and professional ethics.
• Maintain quality case records 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.
• Draw on demonstrated provisional expertise in one or more disciplinary areas in order to undertake more complex and/or demanding workloads and/or provide coaching, advice and support to less experienced Child Safety Officers (when appropriate).

Delegations

First Nations Intake Senior Team Leaders have a range of statutory delegations and are authorised officers under the Child Protection Act 1999 including the Child Protection Reform Amendment Act 2017.

Job Ad Reference: QLD/659812/25

Closing Date: Thursday, 25th September 2025