Program Manager - Child Safety and Cultural Support (Identified)

District Aboriginal Co; Bendigo; A distancia; AUD 90.000 - 115.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Salary packaging

Superannuation 12%

Supportive work environment

Training & development opportunities

Descripción de la vacante

BDAC is seeking a Program Manager for Child Safety and Cultural Support (Identified). You will lead two mutjang bupuwingarrak mukman teams and oversee multiple cultural support programs that work with children, young people and families under CYFA 2005.

The role requires strong leadership, budget oversight, and collaboration with external agencies. Some travel, after-hours work and on-call duties are expected; background checks will be completed if chosen.

Formación

• Recognised Social Work degree or a similar welfare or behavioural related degree including child development focus.
• Diploma of Community Services Work with supervised fieldwork placements desirable or required.

Responsabilidades

• Lead and support two teams to foster a healthy work environment and outcomes for families and children.
• Oversee Better Futures, TCP, Cultural Advisor and Aboriginal Family Led Decision Making programs.
• Collaborate with CFO to monitor budget and program compliance.
• Ensure CYFA 2005 administration and MOUs are followed.
• Recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff.
• Travel and after-hours work as required and maintain on-call service.
• Review and update program policies, manuals and delegations.
• Represent BDAC in MOUs, program requirements and Victorian legislation.

Conocimientos

Program management

Leadership

Budget management

Staff development

Stakeholder engagement

Risk assessment

After-hours work

Educación

Social Work degree

Diploma of Community Services

Descripción del empleo

Program Manager - Child Safety and Cultural Support (Identified)

Posted: 30/10/2026

Closing Date: 15/11/2026

Job Type: Ongoing

Location: Prouses Rd

Job Category: Community Services & Social Work

Please note: This is an Aboriginal Designated Position, classified under ‘special measures’ of section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. Only Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply.

About BDAC

BDAC is an ACCO (Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation) registered as a member under the umbrella of VACCHO (Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation) and represented nationally through NACCHO (National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation).

BDAC was founded to represent and provide services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living on Djaara Country.

BDAC has a responsibility to ensure growth of services, development of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, better and improved health outcomes for our people, improved quality of life and be a lead agency in providing self-determination employment and career pathways for Aboriginal people.

What We Are Offering

• Pay aligned with SCHADS Grade 7Level 1
• Access to Salary Packaging
• 12% Superannuation
• Supportive work environment
• Ongoing training and development opportunities

Job Description

About Position

Reporting to the Director of Child Safety and Cultural Support, the Program Manager will hold responsibility for supporting and leading two mutjang bupuwingarrak mukman teams (a Dja Dja Wurrung name meaning “keeping our kids safe”), as well as several of the cultural support programs that work with children, young people and families which can include Better Futures, Target Care Package, Aboriginal Family Decision Making Convenor and Cultural Advisor.

The position is responsible for the supervision of Team Leaders and practitioners when required as well as monitoring compliance, decision making and ensuring safety and wellbeing of children and young people authorised to BDAC under section 18 of the Children, Youth and Families Act (CYFA) 2005. The program manager will ensure the program is a healthy and positive work environment that promotes staff growth and that leads to best possible outcomes for children, young people and families. The Program Manager is responsible for ensuring high-quality administration of the CYFA 2005 as well as compliance with relevant guidelines and MOUs. This position will require some travel, after hour’s work and will manage an on-call service.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support two mutjang bupuwingarrak mukman teams using a solution-focused, strengths-based approach to foster a healthy work environment and achieve the best outcomes for families and children.
• Lead and support Better Futures, Targeted Care Packages (TCP), Cultural Advisor and Aboriginal Family Led Decision Making programs.
• Collaborate with the Chief Financial Officer to monitor and evaluate the budget, adjusting as necessary.
• Ensure adherence with the DFFH program requirements for ACAC, Cultural Support Programs and MOU’s.
• Administer the CYFA 2005 effectively under section 18.
• Adhere to BDAC policies and procedures for the mutjang bupuwingarrak mukman program and Cultural Support programs.
• Oversee and review all program policies and procedures, including the program manual and legal delegations, making updates as needed.
• Represent BDAC in reviewing MOUs, program requirements, and Victorian legislation.
• Manage all staffing aspects within the program, including recruitment, retention, supervision, and performance management.
• Provide expert advice and direction to the program on child protection matters working under section 18 of the CYFA
• Maintain BDAC’s arrangements for legal representation and consultation in Child Protection matters.
• Facilitate the authorisation of children in line with program requirements, manage BDAC’s responsibilities in the authorisation process of children including, selection, briefing and compliance with section 18 CYFA 2005
• Audit and review all client files (written and electronic) to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Ensure court applications and reports are submitted to ensure all protection orders are current and updated (if required) prior to expiry date and that no protection order is allowed to lapse unintentionally

Liaison with key stakeholders and professional networking

• Build and maintain high-quality collaborative relationships with external stakeholders including, CASA, Police and SOCIT, DFFH Child Protection, local Community Services Organisations and other Aboriginal Organisations.
• Review and develop protocols and procedures between organisations.
• Participate on relevant interagency working committees.
• Represent BDAC at various forums and promote the work of BDAC and the Mutjang Bupuwingarrak mukman program.
• Be available for external consultation regarding ACAC, Cultural Supports and BDAC services.
• Willingness to travel including overnight as needed to attend training, meetings and events.

Desired Skills and Experience

About You

• Understanding of program management including budget, staffing and programs development
• Demonstrated leadership that leads to a healthy work environment, staff growth and retention and attains best possible outcomes for families and authorised children.
• Ability to administer Children’s, Youth and Families Act 2005 as authorised under section 18.
• Understanding of the administration of legal delegations and ability to review and implement in policy.
• Ability to build and maintain high-quality collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal Culture and the ACCHO environment.
• Evidence of advanced report writing skills.
• Capacity to make balanced and sound decisions in high-risk and high-pressure situations.
• Ability to manage crisis situations with a measured and reflective approach.
• Solid understanding of risk assessment and management in child protection work.
• Understanding of debriefing and supporting staff through traumatic events.
• Ability to work after hours and on call (when required)

Education, Training and/or Competencies

Mandatory

• A recognised Social Work degree or a similar welfare or behavioural related degree which includes: (a) a primary focus on child development, human behaviour, family dynamics and/or impacts of trauma; and preferably (b) a practical component such as counselling or case work practice

or

• A recognised Diploma of Community Services Work, or similar qualification which is studied over a minimum of two academic years of full-time study (or part time equivalent) and includes: (a) a primary focus on child development, human behaviour, family dynamics and/or impacts of trauma (b) supervised fieldwork placements (ideally completed within the child and family welfare sector) and at least one unit of study in case management, case work practice or counselling.

Previous experience working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community members or in an Aboriginal organisation.

Mandatory Requirements

Should an applicant be the preferred candidate, background checks (Police check, reference check and Working with Children's Check) will be completed prior to the candidate’s employment being confirmed.