Defence Social Worker

Defence Australia; City Of Rockingham; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Defence Australia is seeking a dedicated Social Worker to deliver assessments, counselling and case planning for Defence Command, its personnel and families. You will operate autonomously and as part of a multidisciplinary team to support resilience across the Navy, Army and Air Force, including coordinating with Defence Family support networks.

The role emphasizes professional practice, psychosocial assessments, brief interventions and high‑quality reports.

Qualifications

• Applies professional expertise in social work.
• Operates within organisational processes to provide brief interventions and psychosocial assessments.
• Builds and sustains positive relationships with team members, stakeholders and clients.

Responsibilities

• Conduct quality assessments and write reports to assist decision making processes.
• Provide complex social work services in a generalist practice framework, including comprehensive assessments, bereavement support, brief intervention and referrals.
• Provide support to Defence families to manage the military lifestyle.
• Provide training to Defence members and Command; psychosocial programs to Defence families.
• Assist Defence families engage with their communities and local services.
• Deliver DMFS’s suite of national programs - partner employment, education and critical incidents to Defence families.
• Operate within the boundaries of organisational processes and policies providing brief interventions, critical incident management, psychosocial assessments, social work reports, and works across the multidisciplinary team supporting community capacity building.

Skills

Assessment

Counselling

Case planning

Report writing

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Professional social work

Time management

Education

Social Work degree

Job description

Defence Social Workers deliver a broad range of support services and programs to Defence Command, members and families, plus undertake critical assessments to assist Commanders in making decisions that impact Defence families and Defence capability such as:

• Conduct quality assessments and write reports to assist in decision making processes;
• Provide complex social work services in a generalist practice framework, including comprehensive assessments, bereavement support, brief intervention and referrals to enhance the social functioning of Australian Defence Force personnel and their families;
• Provide support to Defence families to manage the military lifestyle;
• Provide training to Defence members and Command; psychosocial programs to Defence families;
• Assist Defence families engage with their communities and local services;
• Deliver DMFS’s suite of national programs - partner employment, education and critical incidents to Defence families;
• Operate within the boundaries of organisational processes and policies providing brief interventions, critical incident management, psychosocial assessments, social work reports, and works across the multidisciplinary team supporting community capacity building.

About our Team

Bring your skills and ambition to our team! Defence Member and Family Support (DMFS) Branch is a diverse and inclusive workplace which offers a broad range of programs and services to help Commanders, Australian Defence Force members and their families manage the military lifestyle. DMFS supports Defence families’ self-reliance and capacity to engage with community agencies.

Defence Social Workers provide support to all three services - Navy, Army and Air Force. The role requires working both autonomously and collaboratively within a dynamic multi-disciplinary environment with Military Support Officers, Defence Social Workers, Family Liaison Officers, an Educational Liaison Officer and a Business Support Officer.

You will have a Social Worker peer network across Australia. You will directly assist members and their families adapt to the requirements of a mobile military lifestyle.

Our Ideal Candidate

You will demonstrate strong assessment, counselling, case planning, report writing and community capacity building knowledge and skills. You will possess the ability to work within multi-disciplinary teams and be part of an organisation where professionalism, innovation and the ability to find creative solutions to challenges is highly regarded.

Our Ideal Candidate:

• Applies professional expertise in social work;
• Operates within the boundaries of organisational processes and policies to provide brief interventions, critical incident management, psychosocial assessments and social work reports;
• Uses judgement to identify and resolve problems objectively;
• Builds and sustains positive relationships with team members, stakeholders and clients;
• Possesses an ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and meet deadlines;
• Be able to participate in some after hours and weekend work including travel to Exmouth and Karratha and remain overnight.

Application Closing Date: Thursday 12 November 2026

For further information please review the job information pack, reference DPG/06121/26 on https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=5B86692A-DC75-FDA5-1507-ED662C510D27