AHW - Senior Aboriginal Health Worker

Durri ACMS; Kempsey; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Durri ACMS seeks an Aboriginal Health Worker to deliver culturally responsive, family-led care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. The role emphasizes home visiting, outreach, and community-based services to improve health and development outcomes.

Work with families and multidisciplinary teams to strengthen parenting, coordinate wraparound services, and promote cultural identity. Leadership and mentoring within the Aboriginal Health Worker workforce are key components.

Qualifications

• Experience working with Aboriginal children, families and communities.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed, strengths-based and family-led models of care.
• Demonstrated leadership, mentoring and workforce development experience.

Responsibilities

• Deliver culturally safe, family-centred care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families from pregnancy through to early childhood.
• Collaborate with families, Child and Family Health Nurses, and multidisciplinary teams to build strong therapeutic relationships.
• Coordinate wraparound support and facilitate access to health and community services.
• Promote cultural identity and connection and contribute to Closing the Gap outcomes.
• Support development and mentoring of Aboriginal Health Worker workforce.

Skills

Communication

Advocacy

Relationship-building

Education

Diploma or higher in Aboriginal Primary Health Care

Certificate IV in Aboriginal Health Care (Practice)

AHPRA registration or eligibility

Tools

Microsoft Office

Communicare

Job description

Durri Aboriginal Corporation Medical Service (ACMS) is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Primary Health Service. For over 40 years, Durri ACMS has provided essential and culturally appropriate health care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people located in Kempsey, Nambucca Heads, and surrounding communities.

Our primary health service site in Kempsey is located on the traditional lands of the Dunghutti people, extending from the eastern extremity of the Mid North Coast to the Northern Tablelands.

Our Nambucca clinic sits in the homeland of the Gumbaynggirr people, with the Nambucca Valley being the southern gateway to subtropical Australia.

Durri services range across a number of both clinical and non-clinical services. From primary health care, chronic disease, dental, women’s health, perinatal to postnatal services as well as programs ranging from social emotional wellbeing services being built within an all-encompassing health setting means a comprehensive health approach can be undertaken.

Durri ACMS acknowledges the impact of past trauma, dispossession, separation of families, child removal, ongoing social disadvantage, racism and other historical, political, social and cultural issues that impact on the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and their communities.

About the role

The primary objective of this position is to improve the health, wellbeing, and developmental outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children by delivering culturally responsive, family-led care through home visiting, outreach, and community-based services.

The Aboriginal Health Worker partners with families, Child and Family Health Nurses, and the multidisciplinary team to build strong therapeutic relationships, strengthen parenting capacity, facilitate access to health and community services, coordinate wraparound support, promote cultural identity and connection, and contribute to Closing the Gap by ensuring every child has the best possible start in life.

Primary Objective

The keyobjectivesof the role include:

Provide cultural leadership across all components of the First Steps Together Model of Care.

Ensure Aboriginal voices, perspectives and cultural knowledge inform program development, delivery and evaluation.

Deliver culturally safe, family-centred care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families from pregnancy through to early childhood through, outreach, clinic-based services, and community engagement.

Build trusting, respectful, and therapeutic relationships with children, parents, carers, and extended family, promoting engagement with health services and supporting families to achieve their own health and wellbeing goals.

Support the growth and capability of the Aboriginal Health Worker workforce through mentoring, supervision and professional development.

Strengthen cultural safety and cultural responsiveness across the multidisciplinary team.

Promote family-centred, community-led approaches that improve maternal, child and family health outcomes.

Strengthen community trust, engagement and participation in services.

Support achievement of Closing the Gap outcomes and organisational strategic priorities.

Contribute to evaluation, reporting and continuous quality improvement activities.

Work collaboratively with internal programs, external service providers, and community organisations to strengthen integrated service delivery and contribute to Closing the Gap outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person. (This is an identified position under Section 14D of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act 1977.)

Certificate IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care (Practice) or higher qualification.

Registration as an Aboriginal Health Practitioner with AHPRA or eligibility to obtain registration (where applicable).

Demonstrated experience working with Aboriginal children, families and communities.

Demonstrated leadership, mentoring and workforce development experience.

Strong understanding of Aboriginal culture, kinship systems and community protocols.

Demonstrated understanding of culturally safe, trauma-informed and family-centred practice.

Experience working within maternal, child and family health, community health or primary health care settings.

Experience participating in multidisciplinary care planning and care coordination.

Excellent communication, advocacy and relationship-building skills.

Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with government, non-government and community stakeholders.

Sound computer literacy, including Microsoft Office and electronic client management systems (Communicare experience desirable).

Well-developed organisational and time management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities.

Ability to maintain accurate clinical documentation, data collection and reporting requirements.

Current immunisations or willingness to participate in staff immunisation program including COVID-19 vaccinations

Ability to hold all relevant security clearances including National Police Check and Working with Children clearance

Current valid driver’s license, minimum of Class “C” or equivalent

Current First Aid Certificate, or ability to obtain

Diploma or higher qualification in Aboriginal Primary Health Care, Child and Family Health, Community Services or a related discipline.

Registration as an Aboriginal Health Practitioner.

Experience working within Child and Family Health, Maternal Health, First 2000 Days, Early Childhood or home visiting programs.

Experience coordinating paediatric clinics, specialist outreach clinics or multidisciplinary case conferences.

Knowledge and experience using ASQ-TRAK, developmental screening tools or child development programs.

Experience facilitating parenting groups, yarning circles and community education programs.

Knowledge of trauma-informed, strengths-based and family-led models of care.

Understanding of the Closing the Gap Priority Reforms and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service model.

Experience working with vulnerable families experiencing complex social and health needs.

Demonstrated experience participating in quality improvement activities, service planning and program evaluation.

Experience in program monitoring, evaluation and reporting.

Knowledge of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and governance structures.

Core Competencies –

Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with the local community

Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to demonstrate empathy when required.

Ability to build relationships with all levels of the organisation

To enquire about the role please call Paula Skinner on 04151

Job Applications closing date is Tuesday 27 October 2026 5.00pm - No late applications will be accepted.