Case Worker First Supports and Reunification

Mallee District Aboriginal Services (MDAS) is a proud Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) committed to healing, supporting, serving and protecting Aboriginal communities across the Mallee region. Guided by our Elders and grounded by Our Lore, MDAS exists to strengthen the resilience, independence and wellbeing of our Mob.

We walk alongside individuals and families through every stage of life – caring, empowering, educating and advocating so people can be their very best selves. Our programs span across health, wellbeing, family services, community support and culture. With deep community roots and strong regional presence, MDAS is moving confidently towards becoming a sector leading ACCO known for its cultural authority and practical life-changing outcomes. Mallee District Aboriginal Services (MDAS) is northwest Victoria's leading service provider for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. More than half of our staff is of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background, and we're committed to providing a resilient workforce with high Aboriginal representation and demonstrated cultural competency for non-Aboriginal employees.

At MDAS, culture guides action and community voice shapes our future.

Role Overview

Make a meaningful difference in the lives of Aboriginal children, families and carers.

As a Caseworker First Supports and Reunification, you will provide culturally safe, practical and strengths-based support to Aboriginal children, kinship and home-based carers, and extended families. You will support the establishment and ongoing stability of care arrangements, including First Supports, Kinship Care, Home-Based Care, Kinship Reunification and Targeted Care Packages for children involved with Child Protection.

Working closely with children, families, carers and partner services, you will help strengthen family and community connections, support carers in their important role and promote safe and stable care arrangements. The role focuses on ensuring Aboriginal children are supported to remain connected to family, culture and community while their safety, wellbeing and developmental needs remain at the centre of all planning and support.

Key Responsibilities

• Actively engage families and their children who are living in Kinship Care and Home-Based Care arrangements, facilitating and leading family decision making, facilitating care teams and the coordination of collaborative practice, participate in and chair case reviews as required,
• Undertake ongoing holistic family and child centered assessments, identifying strengths and risks in line with the Best Interests Case Practice Model Framework, including Looking After Children, and contributing Carer Assessments.
• Make appointment times and arrangements that suit the client family wherever possible,
• Ensure all service provision is inclusive of birth parents and extended family based on child/young person’s best interest, case plan and court orders,
• Ensure familiarity with relevant therapeutic and intervention types relevant to vulnerable children and young people,
• Participate in providing information and advice to carers and professionals through brief sessions.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Experience in the case management of complex children, youth and families and knowledge of the Kinship Care, Kinship Reunification, Residential Care, Out of Home Care system, and Child Protection statutory requirements,
• Demonstrated ability to advocate for client needs, influencing decisions in the client’s best interests,
• Ability to communicate, consult, liaise and negotiate with a broad range of people, both Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal at all levels to achieve broad project objectives and goals,
• Demonstrated ability to fulfill program requirements regarding case notes, reporting, and other data records including the use and maintenance of records on relevant IT systems,
• Ability to take action to provide services that are inclusive of Aboriginal people and engage in learning about other cultures to better establish relationships and improve services,
• Minimum Certificate IV of Community Services or relevant qualification.

Other Requirements

• Current National Police Check.
• Current Employee Working with Children Check
• Current Driver's Licence

MDAS strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and is committed to fostering a culturally safe and inclusive workplace. For a confidential discussion, please contact the hiring manager Kara Merritt on [03 5032 8600](tel:03 5032 8600).