Cultural practitioner

Tradewind; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Tradewind Australia is seeking a Cultural Practitioner to provide day-to-day support within a correctional setting, delivering culturally responsive therapeutic, wellbeing and rehabilitation programs. The role focuses on collaboration with staff, Elders and community partners to ensure safe, evidence-based service delivery.

The role emphasizes staff development, culturally safe practice and strong engagement with participants to support rehabilitation, healing and positive outcomes within the

Qualifications

• Experienced practitioner with focus on rehabilitation, empowerment and self-determination.
• Ability to work across justice, health, and community services to support culturally safe practice.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed and culturally responsive practice.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, mentoring and operational support to a multidisciplinary therapeutic team.
• Promote culturally safe, trauma-informed and person-centred practice across all service delivery.
• Coordinate therapeutic and healing programs within a correctional setting.
• Support case planning, advocacy and culturally appropriate engagement with participants.
• Build strong working relationships with custodial staff, community organisations, Elders and external service providers.
• Monitor program quality, outcomes and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure accurate documentation, reporting and compliance with organisational and legislative requirements.
• Support staff through supervision, coaching and professional development.
• Assist with service planning, stakeholder engagement and operational priorities.
• Contribute to a positive team culture focused on rehabilitation, cultural connection and participant outcomes.

Skills

Trauma-informed practice

Case management

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Leadership

Communication

Quality & risk management

Education

Social Work / Community Services / Psychology or related discipline

Job description

Work within a passionate multidisciplinary team delivering culturally safe, trauma-informed therapeutic programs for Aboriginal women within a correctional environment. This is an opportunity to make a genuine impact by supporting rehabilitation, strengthening cultural identity, and improving long-term outcomes for women involved in the justice system.

What's on Offer

• Work within a highly experienced therapeutic team within a specialist corrections setting
• Opportunity to shape culturally safe, trauma-informed service delivery
• Work alongside Elders, multidisciplinary professionals and community partners
• Ongoing professional development and leadership support
• Meaningful role focused on rehabilitation, healing and positive change

The Role

As Cultural Practitioner, you will provide day-to-day support to a team delivering culturally responsive therapeutic, wellbeing and rehabilitation programs within a correctional environment. You will support staff to deliver high-quality, evidence-based services while fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement and culturally safe practice. Working closely with internal stakeholders, custodial staff, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and community partners, you will ensure programs are delivered consistently, safely and in line with best practice.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, mentoring and operational support to a multidisciplinary therapeutic team
• Promote culturally safe, trauma-informed and person-centred practice across all service delivery
• Coordinate therapeutic and healing programs within a correctional setting
• Support case planning, advocacy and culturally appropriate engagement with participants
• Build strong working relationships with custodial staff, community organisations, Elders and external service providers
• Monitor program quality, outcomes and continuous improvement initiatives
• Ensure accurate documentation, reporting and compliance with organisational and legislative requirements
• Support staff through supervision, coaching and professional development
• Assist with service planning, stakeholder engagement and operational priorities
• Contribute to a positive team culture focused on rehabilitation, cultural connection and participant outcomes

About You

You are an experienced practitioner with a background in community services, justice, Aboriginal health, alcohol and other drugs, mental health or related human services. You are passionate about culturally safe practice and understand the importance of rehabilitation, empowerment and self-determination.

You will ideally bring

• Strong understanding of trauma-informed and culturally responsive practice
• Experience supporting complex clients through case management or therapeutic programs
• Ability to build strong relationships across multidisciplinary teams and external stakeholders
• Excellent communication, leadership and organisational skills
• Experience working within quality, compliance and risk management frameworks
• Relevant qualification in Social Work, Community Services, Psychology or a related discipline (or equivalent experience)
• Knowledge of the challenges experienced by people involved in the justice system
• Understanding of alcohol and other drugs, mental health and social and emotional wellbeing is highly regarded

Special Requirements

This position is a Special Measure under the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 and is open to female applicants only. Preference will be given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants in recognition of the cultural knowledge and lived experience essential to the role.

Equal Opportunity and Diversity

Tradewind Australia is committed to providing equal opportunities for all applicants, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ communities and people with lived experience. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and are committed to creating inclusive workplaces.