Aboriginal Better Futures Practitioner (Identified)

Bendigo and District Aboriginal Cooperative; Greater Bendigo; On-site; AUD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging

12% Superannuation

Pay aligned with SCHADS Grade 4

Ongoing training and development

Job summary

Bendigo and District Aboriginal Cooperative (BDAC) seeks a Community Connector Practitioner for the Better Futures Program in Bendigo. The role supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youths aged 15+ to 21, helping them transition from care to independent living within a culturally safe framework.

Responsibilities include developing pathways in education, housing, life skills and employment, and building strong ties with families and communities.

Qualifications

• Diploma of Community Services or equivalent.
• Experience working with Aboriginal communities or in Aboriginal organisations is preferred.
• Background checks (Police, references, Working with Children) required before employment.

Responsibilities

• Engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youths aged 15 years 9 months to 21 on protective orders in a culturally safe manner.
• Find new and creative ways to support Aboriginal young people on their journeys and strengthen connections to family, community and culture.
• Assist youths to achieve goals across housing, living skills, education, employment, health and wellbeing, and community connections.
• Adopt an approach based on heal, protect, and connect and empower youths to identify and achieve goals in a self-determined way.
• Engage Aboriginal youths with networks to support their goals within education, housing, living skills, health and wellbeing, employment and community connections.
• Seek and maintain key partnerships with networks and community.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Time management

Problem solving

Education

Diploma of Community Services

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Please note: This is an Aboriginal Designated Position, classified under ‘special measures’ of section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. Only Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply.

About BDAC

BDAC is an ACCO (Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation) registered as a member under the umbrella of VACCHO (Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation) and represented nationally through NACCHO (National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation).

BDAC was founded to represent and provide services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living on Djaara Country.

BDAC has a responsibility to ensure growth of services, development of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, better and improved health outcomes for our people, improved quality of life and be a lead agency in providing self-determination employment and career pathways for Aboriginal people.

What We Are Offering

• Pay Aligned with SCHADS Grade 4
• Access to Salary Packaging
• 12% Superannuation
• Supportive work environment
• Ongoing training and development opportunities

About Position

The Better Futures Program promotes active client participation, and supports a holistic, and planned transition from care to independent living and adulthood, young people are invited to take charge of and play an active role in their own transitioning plan. They do this by articulating their individual needs, goals, and aspirations. The Better Futures service model includes a Community Connection component. This involves building supportive networks, pathways and connections for young people in their local community. They provide opportunities for young people to participate in social, economic and cultural life in their community.

Key Responsibilities

The Better Futures/ Community Connector worker will engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people from 15 years and 9 months to the age of 21 on a range of protective orders in a culturally safe and competent way. The worker will have a sound understanding of the local Aboriginal community.

The Better Futures/Community Connector Practitioner will:

• Find new and creative ways to support Aboriginal young people on their journeys, working in a culturally safe way, to help build positive outcomes for young people including, strengthening connection to their families, community and culture.
• Understand and assist the young person with the day-to-day realities and challenges experienced by young Aboriginal people leaving care, by using the power of culture to ensure there is a feeling of pride and strength of belonging to culture.
• Assist the young person to achieve goals across the life areas of housing and living skills, education, employment, health & wellbeing, and community connections.
• Adopt an approach based on heal, protect, and connect and empower young people to identify and achieve their goals in a holistic, self-determined and Aboriginal-led way.
• Engage Aboriginal young people with networks to support their goals within education, housing, living skills, health and wellbeing, employment and community connection.
• Seek and maintain key partnerships with networks and community.

About You

• Sound understanding of an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health; Organisation (ACCHO) environment and the local Aboriginal Community.
• Demonstrated understanding and experience of the issues related to young Aboriginal people including factors that may have impacted them and their families with a demonstrated success in building relationships with young people.
• Ability to gather information through assessment, formulate findings and make well-reasoned and sound recommendations in the best interests of the individual or family.
• Ability to use problem solving skills and to take initiative to determine appropriate support programs tailored to the individual.
• Strong interpersonal skills including ability to listen, problem solve and make sound decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organisational, time management skills, and ability to be self-directed.
• Proven skills in all aspects of computers including Microsoft Office packages as well as experience with data entry IT systems.

Preferred/ desired Education, Training and/or Competencies

• Diploma of Community Services or equivalent.
• Previous experience working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community members or in an Aboriginal organisation.

Mandatory Requirements

Should an applicant be the preferred candidate, background checks (Police check, reference check and Working with Children's Check) will be completed prior to the candidate’s employment being confirmed.

For more information about this position please see the Position Description which can be accessed via our website www.bdac.com.au or contact our human resources team on(03) 5442 4***orsend an email through to***********@bdac.com.au

Please note: This is an Aboriginal Designated Position, classified under ‘special measures’ of section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. Only Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply.