Family Practitioner

The GEO Group; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Competitive salary and rewards scheme

Free parking

Employee Assistance Program

Staff gym

Subsidised meals

Fitness Passport

Job summary

The GEO Group Australia seeks a Family Practitioner at Ravenhall Correctional Centre to provide pre- and post-release family support, coordinate family services and deliver the RCC Parenting Program. You will liaise with DHHS and other agencies to help prisoners re-connect with their families and communities.

Join a collaborative, evidence-based team focusing on reducing reoffending and building strong family links across Victoria, with opportunities for professional growth within GEO’s

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Social Work, Psychology or related social science/welfare fields or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience in Family Case Management with internal and external agencies such as DHHS, Child Protection.
• Experience in delivering parenting programs.
• Understanding of trauma and trauma-informed practice.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to build rapport with prisoners, peers and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the management of reintegration programs and prisoner services related to family services.
• Facilitate Family Case Management Programs with tailored support plans.
• Provide information and advice on participant progression and completions of programs.
• Coordinate and liaise with Child Protection and other community services.
• Deliver group-based parenting programs and individual parenting support.
• Support fathers to improve relationships with their children and manage parenting challenges.

Skills

Social work

Family case management

Trauma-informed practice

Oral and written communication

Time management

Organisational skills

Education

Social Work or related field

Job description

Family Practitioner | Rehabilitation and Reintegration Services

Strengthen family connections, inspire positive change and help create stronger pathways to successful reintegration.

At Ravenhall Correctional Centre, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Services is creating exciting new opportunities for people who want their work to make a real difference.

Our redesigned services brings specialist expertise closer to the frontline, strengthens support from custody to community and creates clearer pathways for professional growth. It is more connected, more responsive and built to achieve stronger outcomes for people with diverse and complex needs.

Bring your expertise, ideas and commitment to change. Join a collaborative evidence-based team shaping the future of rehabilitation and reintegration at Ravenhall Correctional Centre where your work changes lives, strengthens communities and makes a difference every single day.

About The GEO Group Australia

We are the country's leading provider of outsourced correctional services, operating in VIC. GEO aims to deliver better corrections and create safer communities. We focus on providing a continuum of care and integration of services to make a real difference in the lives of people we work with. Our company is defined by us always acting with Integrity, showing everyone Respect without fail, being Accountable at all times, always being Agile and continuously looking for opportunities to be Innovative. For more information about our organisation visit our website www.geogroup.com.au

To view our videos, including the type of individuals we seek to join our business, click here.

About Ravenhall Correctional Centre

Ravenhall is a 1,300-bed medium-security prison for adult sentenced and remand men. Its contemporary campus-style design reflects four accommodation communities with varying profiles. Community accommodation is complemented by a further 75-bed Forensic Mental Health Unit, a 25-bed unit for prisoners with significant challenging behaviours, and a 25-bed Mission Unit designed to respond intensively and therapeutically to current community issues.

In recognition of the importance of the Continuum of Care, Ravenhall extends its presence into the community by providing ex-prisoners with access to post-release support at GEO’s Community Reintegration Centre.

Ravenhall’s emphasis on offender rehabilitation and reintegration is supported by a significantly resourced team of clinicians who work in partnership with a number of Victoria’s most respected organisations, including Forensicare, YMCA and Kangan Institute. Working collaboratively, Ravenhall seeks to bring about lasting positive change in the lives of prisoners before and after release, with the ultimate aim of reducing reoffending.

To learn more about Ravenhall Correctional Centre, click here.

About the Opportunity

The Family Practitioner will provide pre-and post-release interventions to assist prisoners to develop positive links and networks with their families. They are responsible for assisting prisoners to maintain or re-establish familial relationships that can act as a protective factor and support positive rehabilitation and reintegration outcomes. Using a whole of family approach, the Family Practitioner will identify, assess and coordinate family services including the family case management program as well as referrals for men and their families to community agencies as required. This includes liaison with Government Departments to assist the prisoner’s transition to the family unit and broader community. They will also deliver RCC’s Parenting Program to provide simple and practical strategies to help prisoners develop strong, healthy relationships, confidently manage their children’s behaviour and prevent problems developing.

As the Family Practitioner you will:

• Assist in the management of reintegration programs and prisoner services that relate to family services.
• Facilitate Ravenhall’s Family Case Management Programs by undertaking a comprehensive assessment and tailored support plan to meet the needs of the participant.
• Participate in the case management and/or placement process by providing information and advice to relevant staff on a prisoner’s participation, progression and/or completions in programs.
• Act as a point of contact (and advocacy function where appropriate) between DHHS Child Protection and other community services, including where men identify a desire to maintain/re-establish contact with their children.
• Coordinate and involve the participants in goal setting during all stages of their imprisonment to actively encourage and engage the participant and their families through special arranged visits, telephone calls and other forms of contact to enhance relationships.
• Deliver a high-quality family support and reunification service to incarcerated men.
• Manage referral waitlists and complete assessments to determine prisoner’s suitability for participation in parenting programs.
• Facilitate a group-based parenting program and provide individual parenting support where required.
• Support fathers to enhance the quality of relationships with their children through increased knowledge and skills, improved capacity for self-regulation and identification and management of current parenting challenges.
• Evaluate and report on program outcomes to relevant stakeholders as required.
• Coordinate the Just for Dads program by delivering monthly themed activities for men at Ravenhall with their children.
• Participate in the case management and/or placement process by providing information and advice to relevant staff on a prisoner’s participation, progression and/or completions in programs.
• Liaise and work co-operatively with Child Protection, legal representatives, carers and family members of prisoners (including community agencies and services).
• Provide support for parents and/or guardians to have contact and access with their children and families whilst in custody where appropriate.
• Provide expert advice and consultation for staff on prisoner family programs and matters.
• Ensure Ravenhall complies with relevant Child Protection laws and procedures.
• Establish and maintain positive relationships with external agencies and assist these agencies to develop positive family links.
• Facilitate family conferencing.
• Regularly attend and participate in team meetings, supervision and training.

Your Skills & Experience

• Tertiary qualification in Social Work, Psychology or related social science/welfare fields or equivalent professional experience.
• Sound knowledge of contemporary/community issues and matters that effect families and prisoner rehabilitation and reintegration programs.
• Experience in Family Case Management and liaising with internal and external agencies such as DHHS, Child Protection.
• Experience in the delivery of parenting programs.
• Demonstrated understanding of child developmental stages, expected behaviours and risk factors for social and behavioural problems.
• Understanding of trauma and trauma-informed practice.
• Proven ability to build rapport and maintain effective relationships with prisoners, peers and relevant agencies/key stakeholders.
• Demonstrated high level professionalism, compliance and attention to detail.
• High level of oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to assist in the development and implementation of innovative programs.
• Strong organisational and time management skills with the ability to prioritise tasks.

Desirable

• Accreditation in the Triple P system: Level 2 Selected Triple P and Level 4 Group Triple P/Group Teen Triple P
• Able to coordinate and implement family and volunteer programs in a correctional setting.
• Experience working within a prison setting.
• Able to manage challenging and complex clients.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a broader team.

About the Benefits

Joining GEO is your chance to make a real and lasting difference in the lives of prisoners, their families and the community. Benefits of working for GEO, include but are not limited to:

• Role diversity and internal career progression opportunities
• Ongoing funding for professional development opportunities (including further education sponsorship)
• Support with Professional Registration costs
• Flexible working arrangements
• Competitive salary and rewards scheme
• Free parking
• Employee Assistance Program
• Staff gym
• Subsidised meals
• Fitness Passport to promote wellbeing. Discounted gym and pool access for members and their families to over 1500 fitness facilities across Australia.
• REACH Program
• Discounted Private Health Insurance (Medibank Private)
• VCEA (Victorian Correctional Employees Association)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are highly encouraged to apply

Applications close at 11:59pm, Sunday 25th October 2026 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The GEO Group reserves the right to close this vacancy before the specified closing date; therefore, early applications are encouraged.