Aboriginal Child Protection Caseworker - Far West

NSW Department of Communities and Justice; Broken Hill; On-site; AUD 89,934 - 116,969; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work environment

Health & Wellbeing Programs

Training and development opportunities

Job summary

NSW Department of Communities and Justice is recruiting an Aboriginal Child Protection Caseworker for locations in Dareton, Broken Hill, and Wilcannia. This ongoing position offers a salary ranging from $89,934 to $116,969 per annum. The role involves partnering with families to initiate lasting change, creating safety plans, and managing cases for vulnerable clients. Aboriginal applicants are strongly encouraged, and relevant experience or qualifications are required. A supportive and flexible work environment with development opportunities is provided.

Qualifications

• Courage, curiosity, and cultural strength are essential.
• Experience must include working with vulnerable children, young people, and their families.
• Aboriginality verification is required.

Responsibilities

• Work sensitively and respectfully with families and children.
• Engage with other agencies for complex problem solving.
• Develop safety plans and risk assessments.
• Manage high-needs and high-risk clients.

Skills

Building positive working relationships

Effective communication skills

Cultural strength

Problem solving

Education

Relevant diploma or degree qualification

2+ years experience with vulnerable children

Tools

Driver's licence

Working with children clearance

Job description

Job Summary

We are recruiting Aboriginal Child Protection Caseworker positions in Dareton, Broken Hill, and Wilcannia. Employment type is ongoing. Salary ranges from $89,934 to $116,969 per annum, plus superannuation and annual leave loading.

Eligibility

This position is open to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples only.

Your role

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) involves partnering with families and communities to thrive. As an Aboriginal Child Protection Caseworker you will walk alongside families, children and communities, build on strengths, and create lasting change.

What You’ll Do

• Work sensitively and respectfully with parents, family members, children or young people
• Work in partnership with other agencies and engage in complex problem solving
• Walk alongside families to set goals that build on their strengths, addressing safety and well‑being concerns, and provide appropriate assistance through home visits
• Develop safety plans and complete risk assessments
• Manage cases and situations including working with high‑needs and high‑risk clients and their families
• Be involved in court processes, including the preparation of court documents and attending court
• Participate in individual and group supervision
• Participate in Aboriginal cultural supervision

What We’re Looking For

To succeed as an Aboriginal Child Protection Caseworker you need courage, curiosity, and cultural strength. You should be able to stand strong in challenging situations, listen deeply, and walk alongside families and communities with respect and integrity.

• A relevant diploma or degree qualification is preferred
• Applicants without a relevant qualification require at least two years’ experience working with vulnerable children, young people and their families
• The ability to build positive working relationships with the Aboriginal community, supported by excellent verbal and written communication skills
• A valid driver’s licence
• A paid working with children clearance number
• Documented verification of Aboriginality – confirming that you are an Aboriginal person of Aboriginal descent and that you identify as being Aboriginal

What We Offer

• A challenging and rewarding career
• Flexible, autonomous work environment
• Competitive pay and conditions
• Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities
• Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs

Equal Opportunity

Where a position is identified, an applicant’s race is a genuine occupational qualification under the exception in Section 14(d) of the Anti‑Discrimination Act 1977. Applicants must confirm Aboriginality via one of the accepted methods. DCJ is committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce, including people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, women, LGBTIQ+, and culturally and linguistically diverse individuals.