Early Help Practitioner

Uniting Vic.Tas; Horsham; On-site; AUD 55,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging

Meal entertainment benefit

Parental leave 10 weeks+

Annual leave purchase

Employee discounts

Job summary

Uniting Vic.Tas is seeking a dedicated professional to deliver short-term, goal-driven early intervention support for children, youths, and families in a community setting. The role focuses on safeguarding family wellbeing and connecting families with the right services, schools, and health providers.

You will work within the Early Help Service Model to step in early, build trust, and promote inclusive, trauma-informed care that helps children thrive at home and in their communities.

Qualifications

• Relevant qualification in Social Work, Community Services, Psychology, Counselling, or related discipline.
• Experience providing short-term, goal-focused, early intervention support to children, young people, and/or families.
• Experience collaborating with schools, early years services, and community organisations to support outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Deliver practical, short-term support that makes an immediate impact.
• Use evidence-informed approaches like parent coaching and group programs.
• Work alongside schools, early years services, and community partners.
• Provide inclusive, trauma-informed and culturally safe support.
• Connect families to the right services, at the right time.
• Build strong relationships that strengthen families and communities.

Skills

Collaboration

Child & Family Engagement

Trauma-informed Practice

Cultural Safety

Education

Social Work / Counselling degree

Job description

• 532031
• Horsham, VIC, 3400
• Child, Youth & Families
• Maximum Term Full Time
• Closing on: Sep 9 2026

• Support families early, build stronger communities, create lasting change
• Collaborate across sectors and grow your professional impact
• SCHADS Level 4 + super + salary pkg, Fulltime Fixed term to 30 June 2027

Your new role

Victoria is transforming how we support children and families, and you could be right at the heart of it.

The Early Help Service Model is all about stepping in earlier, supporting families before challenges become crises. It's innovative, community-driven, and focused on helping children thrive.

Be The Difference-maker Families Need

• Deliver practical, short-term support that makes an immediate impact
• Use evidence-informed approaches like parent coaching and group programs
• Work alongside schools, early years services, and community partners
• Provide inclusive, trauma-informed and culturally safe support
• Connect families to the right services, at the right time
• Build strong relationships that strengthen families and communities.

You’ll Help

• Prevent challenges from escalating
• Strengthen family wellbeing
• Support children to thrive at home, school, and beyond
• Build community capability and connection.

This is more than a job, it’s early intervention that changes futures.

We’re Looking For Someone Who Is

• Passionate about working with children and families
• A natural collaborator who thrives in community settings
• Skilled in building trust and meaningful relationships
• Committed to culturally safe, inclusive practice
• Energised by innovation and making real impact.

Benefits of working at Uniting

Our work isn’t easy, but it matters. Work with people who care as much as you.

In addition to your salary of $44.58ph + super, you can access the following.

• Working in a values-led organisation with real community impact.
• Being part of team creating safe, nurturing and playful environments for children.
• Employee discounts at Uniting Early Education services and Uniting op shops.
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging benefits that can be used for living expenses such as groceries, bills, clothing and streaming services.
• Save on dining out and drinks with a meal entertainment benefit of $2,650 annually.
• Increase your annual leave entitlements through our purchase leave program.
• Up to 10 weeks of paid parental leave for primary caregivers (4 for secondary).
• Opt in or out of public holidays and be respected for your unique background.

Your skills and experience

• A relevant qualification in Social Work, Community Services, Psychology, Counselling, or a related discipline, or demonstrated equivalent knowledge and experience relevant to community services practice.
• Demonstrated experience providing short-term, goal-focused, early intervention support to children, young people, and/or families with emerging needs.
• Experience working collaboratively with universal services such as schools, early years services, maternal and child health, and community-based organisations.

About Uniting

We create real change in people's lives by working in partnership with people, communities, governments and other agencies to reduce the impact of poverty, trauma and disadvantage.

We provide compassionate care for people facing tough times and personal challenges. We support children and young people to break the cycle of disadvantage. We help families keep safe, together and thriving.

For over 100 years we've been fighting inequality, opposing discrimination, and responding to the needs in our communities across Victoria and Tasmania.

Visit us: www.vt.uniting.org

We are an inclusive, values-led organisation and proudly welcome people of all identities, backgrounds and experiences. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ people, and people with lived and living experience relevant to our work.

We are committed to inclusive hiring practices. You are welcome to share your pronouns and let us know if you require any adjustments during the recruitment process. We are here to support you.

Uniting is a child safe organisation and is committed to the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of all children and young people. We embed child safety in everything we do. Employment with Uniting is subject to relevant pre-employment checks, including a National Police Check and Working with Children Check.