Aboriginal Child Protection Caseworker - Mid North Coast

NSW Department of Communities and Justice; Taree; On-site; AUD 93,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellbeing

Training and development

Flexible work environment

Competitive pay

Job summary

The NSW Department of Communities and Justice in regional New South Wales seeks an Aboriginal Child Protection Caseworker to support families and children, provide case management, and work with high-risk situations across multiple communities.

The role emphasizes safety, wellbeing, and cultural connection, with collaboration across agencies and courts, offering development within a supportive, community-focused environment.

Qualifications

• 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 and strong communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Work sensitively and respectfully with parents, family members, children or young people.
• Partner with other agencies and engage in complex problem solving.
• Walk with families to set goals, address safety and well-being, and provide home-visit assistance.
• Develop safety plans and complete risk assessments.
• Manage cases and high-risk situations involving families.
• Be involved in court processes and prepare court documents.
• Participate in supervision for individuals and groups.
• Engage in Aboriginal cultural supervision.

Skills

Cultural competence

Communication

Driver's licence

Experience with vulnerable children

Aboriginal identity verification

Education

Diploma or degree preferred

Job description

We are currently recruiting for vacancies and talent pool inclusions for Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Taree

Employment type: Ongoing

Salary: $92,632 – $120,478 pa plus superannuation and annual leave loading

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

Your role

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) is about working in partnership with families and communities to thrive. We walk alongside families, children, and communities, working together with other agencies and partners to build on strengths and create lasting change. Our focus is on breaking cycles of disadvantage and supporting strong futures. This is work that truly matters.

At DCJ, we believe families are the heart of our work and your cultural knowledge would be invaluable to this work. Our priority is always the safety, wellbeing, and cultural connection of children and young people. We know that when we have more Aboriginal caseworkers, our kids are more likely to grow up strong, safe, and connected to mob.

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

Being an Aboriginal Child Protection Caseworker can be difficult. Sometimes, you may have to make tough decisions with families to help them overcome hardships in order to be able to care for their children and develop safe and loving homes.

What We’re Looking For

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

The Essential Requirements Include

• 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

As an Identified role, this position is open only to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons.

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.

Role

There are two alternatives to confirming your Aboriginality, one of which must be uploaded to be considered for the role as follows. Either will be accepted:

• Confirmation of Aboriginality form
• Written confirmation from 2-3 Aboriginal organisations within the community in which you live/work, which addresses the three criteria listed below:
  • is of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, and
  • identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, and
  • is accepted as a such by the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

What We Offer

We offer a variety of benefits, including:

• 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.

Want more information? Visit our website to see more information on Working for us.

We do work that really matters

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It’s work that really matters.

Got a question?

If you’ve got a question about applying or would benefit from an adjustment in the recruitment process to help you perform at your best (including an alternate method submission of the application), please call Gen Lanuzo on 02 9765 3513 or via [e-mail].

Visit Recruitment adjustments on the DCJ website to learn more.

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience, and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers, and other diversity groups.

To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit Inclusion and diversity on the DCJ website.

Other Information

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

For more information visit Applying for DCJ jobs on the DCJ website.

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

To keep up with recruitment opportunities at DCJ, follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CareersatDCJ/

The Welcome Experience

Thinking about moving to regional NSW? Get free, personalised support with housing, schools, jobs, and settling in. Learn more: www.nsw.gov.au/welcomeexperience

The careers site currently promotes this service on the ‘Discover roles with DCJ in regional NSW’ page.