Aboriginal Engagement Worker

Windermere Child and Family Services; Melbourne; Ibrido; AUD 106.000 - 110.000; Tempo pieno

Vantaggi offerti da questo lavoro

Flexible Ways of Working

Above Award Personal Leave

17.5% annual leave loading

Gifted days off

Wellbeing Leave Day

Cultural and Ceremonial Leave

Descrizione del lavoro

Windermere Child and Family Services is seeking an Aboriginal Engagement Worker (AEW) to support Aboriginal victims of crime by providing information, culturally safe services, and localised supports. The AEW works with ACCOs to reduce barriers, increase access to rights and services, and offers collaboration with the VAP team.

The role is a full-time fixed-term contract to 30 June 2028, hybrid from office and home with a weekly collaboration day.

Competenze

• Aboriginal descent and acceptance in the community is required.
• Understanding of Aboriginal culture and issues affecting the Aboriginal community.
• Experience undertaking community engagement and service delivery.
• Willingness to undertake pre-employment screening and checks (Police Check, Working with Children’s check).

Mansioni

• Support Aboriginal victims of crime to access information and culturally safe localised social services.
• Assist to increase confidence of Aboriginal victims about their rights and entitlements and access to services.
• Provide secondary consultation to VAP staff supporting Aboriginal victims who use mainstream services.
• Collaborate with ACCOs to build trust and engagement with communities to address barriers in the justice system.

Conoscenze

Community engagement

Cultural awareness

Relationship building

Computer proficiency

Inclusion awareness

Formazione

Tertiary Qualification in Social Work or related discipline

Descrizione del lavoro

This is an Aboriginal designated position, classified under Section 12 Special Measures of the Equal Opportunity Act (2010).

This employment opportunity is only available to Aboriginal peoples.

Windermere is a community services organisation working for those with varied and complex needs, and we truly believe that everyone is someone in our community.

Join us at Windermere, where we make the effort to understand every individual employee, what matters to them and recognise the value that each person contributes. Empowering them to grow and work in ways that bring out their whole and best self.

We celebrate our diverse range of perspectives, people and ideas and there has never been a better time to join!

About the Team

Our dedicated Victims Assistance Program (VAP) assists individuals with their management of the impact of crime. Through the provision of consumer-focused case management services, we promote recovery and minimise secondary victimisation sometimes experienced in the criminal justice systems. We are experts in this space and we currently support 3,000 consumers each year across many regions throughout Victoria.

About the Opportunity

Full-Time Fixed Term Contract to 30 June 2028, hybrid working from office and home with Tuesday being the team collaboration office day, you are more than welcome to attend the office as often as you like.

The Aboriginal Engagement Worker (AEW):

• Supports Aboriginal victims of crime to access information, provides culturally safe and localised social services and supports
• Assists to increase confidence of Aboriginal victims of crime about their rights and entitlements and access to a range of available services and supports.
• Provides secondary consultation to other Victim Assistance Program staff supporting Aboriginal victims of crime who have chosen to access mainstream services
• Supported by the VAP agency, works together with local Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to build trust and engagement with local communities to address systemic barriers for Aboriginal victims’ participation in the criminal justice system.
• Trauma has been endured by Aboriginal people for generations, as a result of colonisation and the dispossession of land and culture and is deeply rooted in communities. Aboriginal Engagement Workers (AEWs) help to mitigate the impacts of crime on Aboriginal victims and aid their recovery by providing practical assistance and access to therapeutic support. AEWs also provide victims with information and support to engage with the criminal justice system.
• AEWs will be co-located with ACCOs for a minimum of one day per week. In some circumstances (e.g. on advice of the AEW or relevant ACCO), the AEW may also be co-located at other community organisations across the region. As a VAP employee, AEWs will be supported by a Team Leader and will work with management to develop and continuously improve the VAP.

The salary will range from $105,622.37 to $110,407.20. As Windermere is a not-for-profit organisation, employees are able to claim everyday living expenses up to $15,900 against their annual Pre-Tax Salary. Use the salary packaging calculator available here - Salary Packaging Calculator | Accesspay - (https://calculator.accesspay.com.au/salary-packaging-calculator)

Why work for Windermere?

We are an organisation with a big heart; we care about our people and strive for continuous improvement; we are committed to a culture of individualised flexibility and support.

In our May 2026 employee survey - 84.4% of our employees would recommend Windermere as a place to work and 87.7% felt we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, view the results here - https://link.windermere.org.au/Pulse-Survey-May-2026

Staff Benefits and Entitlements

• Flexible Ways of Working – a combination of office, home and outreach
• Above Award Personal Leave and 17.5% annual leave loading
• Gifted days off (between Christmas and New Year)
• Annual Wellbeing Leave Day - no reason needed, it's just for you!
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural and Ceremonial Leave
• Public Holiday Substitution - e.g. work on Australia Day or Good Friday and take leave on another day.
• Flexible Leave Scheme (50/52, 51/52) - Purchase 1-2 weeks additional leave
• Structured performance and 1-on-1 development check-ins
• Secondment and career growth opportunities
• Staff discount program for everyday items e.g. groceries, movie tickets, health insurance and more
• Reward & Recognition Program - become a Windermere All Star!
• End of Year Awards Celebration - different theme each year
• Opportunities for professional development
• Study Leave provisions
• Rostered Days Off or 9 Day Fortnight (subject to approval)
• 6 Weeks Paid Parental Leave, in addition to Government Funded Parental Leave Pay (PLP)
• High quality IT and access to fleet cars

Key Selection Criteria

• Applicants for this position must be of Aboriginal descent through parentage, identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, and be accepted in the community as such.
• Demonstrated understanding of Aboriginal culture and/or issues affecting the Aboriginal community, including the interconnections between, and effects of, violence, social and economic disadvantage, racism, dispossession from land and culture and removal of children on Aboriginal victims.
• Experience undertaking community engagement and service delivery.
• Appropriate professional experience, skills, and training that align with the requirements of a SCHADS Award Level 5.
• Tertiary Qualification in Social Work or other related discipline is desirable but not mandatory.
• Demonstrated a high level of computer proficiency and quick adoption of new technologies, including devices which allow for mobility and working remotely.
• Willingness to promote and support practices that are inclusive, culturally responsive, safe and accessible.
• Willingness to undertake relevant pre-employment screening and checks - including, Police Check, Pre-Employment Medical and Working with Children's check
• Right to Work in Australia e.g. Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or visa holder with full working rights

Personal attributes

• Motivated, enthusiastic and passionate about social justice.
• Self-discipline – Able to maintain a consistent and appropriate pattern of behaviour under pressure. Can recognise own limitations and works with others to ensure plans are achieved.
• Self-confidence - Trusting of own abilities. Seeks feedback as appropriate.
• Relationship Building – Establishes and maintains relationships at all levels. Builds and maintains strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Teamwork – Demonstrates consideration, concern and respect for others. Collaborative with strong interpersonal skills.

You belong at Windermere

At Windermere, we believe that diverse teams build stronger communities. We want every single person who works with us to feel genuinely safe, valued, and celebrated for exactly who they are - regardless of their background, identity or identity expression.

For us, inclusion isn’t a checklist, it is the heartbeat of our culture. We are deeply committed to walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through our Reconciliation Action Plan, and we actively nurture a safe, affirming workplace for our LGBTIQA+, CALD, and disability communities. We welcome unique perspectives and encourage people with varied work and life experiences to apply.