Manager - Residential Services

Aboriginal Family Support Services; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging benefits

Ongoing professional development

Job summary

Aboriginal Family Support Services in Adelaide leads trauma‑informed residential care for Aboriginal children and young people, delivering safe and supportive homes across multiple sites. You will guide service delivery, ensure cultural responsiveness, and promote strong family connections while managing teams and resources.

The role requires experience in residential care or related fields, with strong leadership, budgeting and reporting capabilities to drive continuous improvement and positive

Qualifications

• Experience leading residential care, child protection, youth services or related programs.
• Strong leadership skills with experience developing high-performing teams.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practice, culturally responsive service delivery.
• Experience managing budgets, program resources, reporting and operational performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead residential care services that are trauma-informed, culturally responsive and child-centred.
• Coach, supervise and develop teams to deliver high-quality services.
• Maintain family, sibling and cultural connections for children and young people in care.
• Oversee staffing, rostering, resources and operational requirements to ensure safe homes.
• Drive service quality, compliance, reporting and continuous improvement across programs.
• Build strong relationships with government agencies and community partners.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Trauma-informed practice

Budget management

Education

Degree in Social Work / Social Sciences / Psychology

Diploma in Human Services / Youth Work

Management qualifications

Job description

Aboriginal Family Support Services is the leading Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation that has been providing services to Aboriginal families and communities across South Australia for over 40 years

Job Description

Lead therapeutic and culturally responsive residential care services, creating safe and supportive homes for Aboriginal children and young people.

About the Role

Make a meaningful difference in the lives of Aboriginal children and young people in care. The Manager Residential Services is responsible for leading the delivery of high-quality residential care across multiple homes within Metropolitan Adelaide. This role ensures children and young people receive safe, stable, trauma-informed and culturally responsive support while overseeing staffing, resources, service quality and operational performance. You will provide leadership to teams, drive best practice service delivery, and build strong partnerships that support positive outcomes for children, young people and families.

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading residential care services that are trauma-informed, culturally responsive and child-centred.
• Managing and developing teams through coaching, supervision, performance management and professional leadership.
• Ensuring children and young people are supported to maintain family, sibling and cultural connections.
• Overseeing staffing, rostering, resources and operational requirements to maintain safe and stable home environments.
• Driving service quality, compliance, reporting and continuous improvement across residential programs.
• Building strong relationships with government agencies, community organisations and key stakeholders.

What You'll Bring

• Demonstrated experience managing residential care, child protection, youth services, community services or related programs.
• Strong leadership skills with experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practice, therapeutic care and culturally responsive service delivery.
• Experience managing budgets, program resources, reporting and operational performance.
• Strong communication, stakeholder engagement and relationship‑building skills.
• A commitment to improving outcomes for Aboriginal children, young people and families.

Why Join AFSS?

• Lead services that provide safe, stable and nurturing homes for Aboriginal children and young people.
• Join a respected Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation committed to cultural safety and excellence.
• Salary packaging benefits to increase your take-home pay.
• Ongoing professional development and leadership growth opportunities.
• Work alongside passionate people dedicated to improving outcomes for children, families and communities across South Australia.

Compliance Requirements

To be successful in this role you will hold, or be willing to obtain:

• A degree in Social Work /Social Sciences/ Psychology or diploma in Human Services/Youth Work, together with management qualifications and/or demonstrated expertise, and significant experience in the provision of human services
• Current Working With Children Check
• National Police Clearance – Obtained within 6 months
• Safe Environments for Children and Young People (Through Their Eyes) Certificate
• Current Australian Driver's Licence

Applications may be assessed as they are received, and the position may be filled prior to the closing date.

Always Was, Always Will Be Aboriginal Land.