Aboriginal Family Practitioner

Department For Child Protection; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 74,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Paid Parental and Partner Leave

Salary Packaging

Professional Development Allowance

Health and Fitness Perks via Fitness-P

Wellbeing Support

Job summary

The Department for Child Protection in South Australia is seeking an Aboriginal Family Practitioner to join the Inner South Office. You will work with Aboriginal children, families and communities to promote child safety and culturally responsive practice, manage cases, and co-work on assessments.

The role emphasizes bringing cultural knowledge into practice and connecting families with appropriate supports, ensuring services are respectful and responsive to Aboriginal needs.

Qualifications

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent is required.
• Current Working With Children Check is mandatory.
• Eligibility for full membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.

Responsibilities

• Respond to child protection notifications, assess risk and review decisions as new information emerges.
• Work with families to identify concerns, strengths and pathways to support.
• Connect families with community services that address their needs.
• Develop trusted relationships with Aboriginal communities and key stakeholders.
• Share culturally informed advice and contribute to responsive service delivery.

Skills

Cultural knowledge

Community engagement

Risk assessment

Child protection knowledge

Education

Social Work degree with eligibility for AASW

Job description

Bring culture, community and connection to your work and help create stronger outcomes for Aboriginal children and families.

• Full-time temporary vacancy available until 30 July 2027
• Use your cultural knowledge to inform your work
• Child Protection Allowance in addition to annual salary.

Role Status: Full-time temporary vacancy available until 30 July 2027

Remuneration: AHP1 ($73,710 - $89,981) plus 12% superannuation

This position is only open to applicants of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent pursuant to Section 56 (2) of the Equal Opportunity Act, 1984.

Our Inner South Office is seeking an Aboriginal Family Practitioner to join the team and work alongside Aboriginal children, families and communities to promote child safety and culturally responsive practice. You will manage cases, co-work on child protection assessments and connect families with culturally appropriate support.

This role provides the opportunity to contribute to better outcomes for Aboriginal children and families by bringing cultural knowledge into child protection work. You can help ensure services are respectful, relevant and responsive to the needs of Aboriginal families.

In this role, you will:

• Respond to child protection notifications, assess risk and review decisions as new information emerges
• Work with families to identify concerns, strengths and pathways to support
• Connect families with community services that address their needs
• Develop trusted relationships with Aboriginal communities and key stakeholders
• Share culturally informed advice and contribute to responsive service delivery.

About you:

• You establish and maintain strong community networks and partnerships
• You understand culturally sensitive child protection practice within a statutory environment
• You manage competing priorities and organise your work effectively
• You use sound judgement to solve problems and develop practical solutions
• You bring knowledge of child development, counselling and crisis intervention.

We welcome applications from people who want to put culture, family and community at the centre of their work.

Desirable Qualification:

• A degree level qualification in Social Work which gives eligibility for full membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.

Persons of Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, who have the appropriate background and skills but do not have the essential qualification, may apply for and be engaged/assigned to the role of Social Worker and will be entitled to apply for any Allied Health Professional roles requiring a qualification in Social Work within the Department for Child Protection (DCP).

Salary and benefits:

AHP1: $73,710 - $89,981 + 12% super

+4% child protection allowance

+Professional Development Allowance

+Qualification Allowance may apply if you hold an additional qualification relevant to the role.

What’s in it for you – Perks That Matter:

At DCP, these are just some of the benefits you’ll enjoy:

• A collaborative team environment, working alongside people who are committed to best practice and making a meaningful impact
• Flexible working options with tailored arrangements to help you balance work and life
• Paid Parental and Partner Leave – additional paid time to support you and your growing family
• Recognition and Growth – we celebrate your achievements and open doors to development across DCP
• Salary Packaging – reduce your taxable income with a range of pre-tax benefits
• Health and Fitness Perks – free flu vaccination plus access to more than 1,700 gyms, fitness centres and pools across Australia through our Fitness Passport program for you and your family
• Wellbeing Support - confidential Employee Assistance Program services for you and your family.

See our full list of benefits.

About DCP

The Department for Child Protection (DCP) plays a key role in the protection of children, young people and their families within South Australia. The department provides support to vulnerable children and young people to be safe, strong and connected.

Special Conditions:

For the purpose of this advertisement and links provided, the term Aboriginal is used to refer to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within South Australia. This is not intended to exclude Torres Strait Islander people, or people that identify as being of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent.

Essential:

• You must have a current Working With Children Check.

For a successful application you will need to respond to all points listed under the your capabilities section of the attached role description. Please also note any special conditions that may be listed.

Want to know more?

Contact Amy Woodhouse - Practice Leader for a confidential discussion

Via tel: [phone] or email: [e-mail].

Our workplace reflects the diverse communities we serve, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. This includes women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, LGBTQIA+ communities, and those from culturally diverse backgrounds. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, safe, and respectful workplace where everyone feels supported.

Applications close: 20 September 2026, 11:00 PM