DFV Case Manager

St Vincent's Health Australia; Newcastle City Council; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Open Support is seeking an early childhood professional to lead and implement a child and family support framework within the DFV service. You will apply trauma-informed, child-centred approaches while delivering individual and group interventions and guiding service delivery with strong risk management and cross-agency collaboration.

The role requires a tertiary qualification in a related field, NSW credentials, and the ability to work autonomously within a small team, including on-call duties.

Qualifications

• Minimum tertiary qualification in Early Childhood Education, Social Work, Psychology, Occupational Therapy or similar qualification
• Experience supporting children and/or families affected by DFV with trauma-informed approaches
• Understanding of early childhood development and play-based approaches in a DFV setting
• Knowledge of issues facing traumatised children and impacts on development
• Ability to create, implement and evaluate evidence-based programs of support
• Current NSW Drivers Licence, Working With Children Check and NSW Police Check clearance
• Current First Aid Certificate & Mental Health First Aid Certificate or willingness to work toward same
• Willingness to participate in an on call roster 1 week every 5

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of a child and family support framework for Open Support DFV service
• Utilise practical skills to work directly with children and families and manage programs
• Develop and deliver individual and group interventions
• Ensure best practice is embedded into the service delivery framework
• Apply knowledge of child protection standards and National Principles for Child Safe Organisations

Skills

Trauma-informed approach

Child and family support

Communication & networking

On-call roster management

Autonomy in small teams

Education

Tertiary qualification in Early Childhood Education or related field

Job description

Job Description: Open Support DFV Child and Family Advocate

Time Type: Full Time

Award & Classification: SCHADS Award – SACS Level 5

Location: Liverpool Area

About Open Support

Open Support is a community service organisation committed to providing assistance to families in need across New South Wales. Open Support offers services that are professional, flexible and responsive to emerging community needs. As one of our key service areas, we provide crisis accommodation, transitional accommodation support, case management and child specific case support to CALD and migrant women and children who have experienced and are escaping family violence. In addition to our crisis facility, support is also offered to clients who are transitioning or have transitioned from crisis accommodation to longer-term housing and in an outreach capacity. The Open Support DFV Program aims to ensure that women and children are supported in ways that leave them empowered to make choices that prioritise their own safety & wellbeing and that lead them to experience and increased sense of control and hope for their futures.

The Role

An exciting opportunity exists for a motivated early childhood professional to lead the development and implementation of a child and family support framework for Open Support Domestic & Family Violence Service. Your knowledge and experience in working with children and families who have experienced trauma will help to guide service delivery and drive the provision of high-quality, child centred, trauma informed, support. This role will allow you to utilise both your practical skills in working directly with children and families as well as your program and project management skills, to ensure that best practice is established and embedded into the service delivery framework at Open Support. Your experience in developing and delivering individual and group interventions will be crucial to your success in this role. You will also have a sound working knowledge of relevant standards and guidelines in relation to child protection, including the application of and compliance with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.

Essential Criteria

• Minimum Tertiary qualification in Early Childhood Education, Social Work, Psychology, Occupational Therapy or similar qualification in related discipline
• Experience supporting children and/or families affected by DFV to realise positive change, using a flexible, child centred and trauma informed approaches to service delivery.
• Demonstrated understanding of early childhood development and experience in developing and applying play based approaches within a family violence (or related) setting.
• Knowledge of specific issues facing children who have experience trauma and its impact on child development, attachment and behaviour.
• Demonstrate ability to create, implement and evaluate evidence based programs of support
• Ability to identify and effectively manage risk as it relates to children and families in a DFV setting
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and network with multiple service providers to ensure client’s needs are met.
• Strong interpersonal, active listening and negotiation skills and experience in effectively managing difficult situations.
• Demonstrated skills in working both autonomously and within a small team context
• Knowledge of some of the specific issues facing migrants and people from CALD backgrounds who experience DFV.
• Completion of ECAV training or other approved child protections qualification, or willingness to work toward same.
• Current NSW Drivers Licence, Working With Children Check and NSW Police Check clearance
• Current First Aid Certificate & Mental Health First Aid Certificate or willingness to work toward same.
• Willingness to participate in an on call roster 1 week every 5

Desirable Criteria

• Ability to speak a second language (other than English).
• Experience in facilitating groups with children and families
• Experience in using web-based client management systems

Equal opportunity

We celebrate diversity & inclusion and are committed to equal employment opportunity for everyone. As part of our commitment to reconciliation, we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to apply and join us in delivering care that heals body, mind, spirit and community.

Please direct any enquiries to Karen Devins, DFV Program Manager, Open Support [e-mail]

Closing Date: 21 October 2026 11:59pm

Reconciliation Action Plan

At St Vincent's we acknowledge the importance of creating a work environment that is welcoming, safe, equitable and inclusive for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Employees. As part of our Commitment to Reconciliation and Closing the Gap in employment related outcomes, we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. For further information, visit https://www.svha.org.au/about-us/reconciliation or get in contact at [e-mail]

St Vincent’s Health Australia has been serving Australians with compassionate health and aged care since our first hospital was established in Sydney in 1857. Founded by the Sisters of Charity more than 180 years ago, St Vincent’s is a clinical, research and education leader delivering private hospital, public hospital and aged care services across NSW, VIC and QLD. Our founder, Mary Aikenhead’s vision, commitment and inspiration lives on in us and the work we do. From modest beginnings, St Vincent’s Health Australia is today the nation’s largest not-for-profit health and aged care provider, offering services in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, including public and private hospitals and aged care facilities. The St Vincent’s family comprises 22,000 outstanding nurses, researchers, cooks, doctors, executives, administrators, cleaners, volunteers and more.