Aboriginal Child Protection Caseworker - Nepean Blue Mountains

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

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible, autonomous work environment

Competitive pay and conditions

Training and development opportunities

Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assist

Job summary

NSW Department of Communities and Justice is recruiting for an Aboriginal Child Protection Caseworker across Hawkesbury, Lithgow, Penrith, St Marys and Blue Mountains. This ongoing role offers salary between $92,632 and $120,478 per year plus superannuation and annual leave loading.

You will work with families and communities to ensure safety, wellbeing and cultural connection of children, including risk assessments, home visits and involvement in court processes.

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, 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.

Responsibilities

• 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

Skills

Courage

Curiosity

Cultural strength

Education

Diploma or degree qualification

Job description

Aboriginal Child Protection Caseworker - Nepean Blue Mountains

We are currently recruiting for vacancies and talent pool inclusions for Hawkesbury, Lithgow, Penrith, St Marys, and Blue Mountains.

Employment type: Ongoing | Salary: $92,632 - $120,478 pa plus superannuation and annual leave loading.

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

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.

• 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

Verification of Aboriginality

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. 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 OR 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
• identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person
• is accepted as a such by the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community

Benefits

• 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.

Inclusion and Diversity

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.

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