Therapeutic Specialist

Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency; Preston; Hybrid; AUD 115,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development

Parental leave

Agency vehicles

Fitness Passport

Job summary

VACCA is seeking a Therapeutic Specialist to work systemically within the Gamadji Balit Residential Services Program, providing creative and trauma-informed support to carers and the management team. The role anchors therapeutic practice and guides staff to work in a kind, culturally informed way.

Key focus is ensuring consistent support for the young people, understanding their history and community, and participating in homes, meetings and reflective practice to underpin care and planning.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Psychology, Social Work or a related discipline and experience in a similar discipline.
• Experience in working and engaging with Aboriginal families and children and experience in sectors working with children and families.
• Knowledge and experience working with trauma, impacts of developmental trauma, and high-risk behaviour that may be trauma-based in young people.
• Ability to work creatively, understanding supports healing including cultural healing approaches and the importance of working with community as part of the healing journey.
• Demonstrated ability to provide clinical assessments, analyse information and write reports/plans aligned with timelines.

Responsibilities

• Provide systemic therapeutic support to carers and the management team.
• Be the anchor for trauma-informed practice and guide staff to work in a kind, sensitive, and attuned manner.
• Attend homes, care team meetings and staff meetings; participate in reflective practice.
• Collate information to complete plans underpinning work in the homes; understand youths, history, family and community.

Skills

Trauma-informed care

Cultural engagement

Team collaboration

Report writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Psychology or Social Work

Job description

• Position: Permanent, Full Time
• Location: Preston
• Salary: $115,337 - $120,440 plus superannuation and salary package
• This is an identified Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

The Organisation

The Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) is an Aboriginal Community-Controlled organisation that supports and advocates for the Aboriginal Community and is the largest organisation of its kind in Australia. The VACCA team is committed to the organisation’s visions and values, passionately providing support, service and advocacy for our children and other vulnerable members of the community.

Our strength lies with our people.

About the role

The Therapeutic Specialist will be responsible for working systemically within the Gamadji Balit Residential Services Program, providing creative and responsive support to carers and the management team.

This role is the key driver of therapeutic practice and a trauma-informed approach; the anchor that holds and guides each staff member to work in a way that is consistent, kind, sensitive, knowledgeable, flexible and attuned.

The role has a key focus in working with each team and the young people they are caring for to ensure that the young people receive consistent support from the adults working with them and who are attuned to their needs and are trauma-informed. Collating information to complete plans to underpin this work in the homes is a key function of the Therapeutic Specialist’s role. Understanding the young people, their history, family and community is essential to be able to support the systemic responses of the team of people supporting them. Attending the homes, care team meetings, staff meetings and providing reflective practices is foundational to this work.

About You

• Commitment and understanding for the values that underpin VACCA' vision and purpose
• Tertiary qualification in Psychology, Social Work or a related discipline and experience in a similar discipline
• experience in working and engaging with Aboriginal families and children and experience in sectors working with children and families
• Knowledge and experience working with trauma, specifically the impacts of developmental trauma, the complexities of dual diagnoses, and the regular presence of high-risk behaviour that may be trauma-based in young people.
• Ability to work creatively, understanding what supports healing including cultural healing approaches and the importance of working with community as an integral part of the young person’s healing journey.
• Demonstrated ability to provide clinical assessments, analyse information and write reports/ plans or therapeutic goals and strategies aligned with times these need to be completed
• Strong commitment and demonstrated commitment to work collaboratively with key stakeholders such as DFFH, Child Protection, other agencies and the community to engage relevant services and advocate for improved outcomes for children and young people in residential care
• A strong commitment to teamwork and the ability to cultivate productive working relationships and adapt communication and engagement strategies to the needs of the child, young person or staff member/staff team.
• Capacity to act as a role model by practicing your own self-care and self-awareness and supporting others to do this as well.
• Requirements: Valid Police Check, a Victorian Working with Children's Check for a paid employee (or willingness to obtain) and aVictorian Driver Licence.Current COVID-19 vaccination(Strongly Recommended).

What we can offer you

• A supportive environment that includes comprehensive induction
• The support of regular internal supervision
• Professional development and training opportunities
• Attractive salary packaging to increase your take-home pay
• 17.5% loading on annual leave
• Access to agency vehicles for all work-related travel
• Access to Employee support and wellbeing programs
• Paid parental leave after 12 months of ongoing employment
• Opportunity to work and build connection with the Aboriginal Community and culture
• Fitness Passport - allowing you (and your family) access to any of the facilities available on this program

Please note: This is an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander designated position, classified under Section 12 Special Measures of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. This employment opportunity is only available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Application closes by 25th October 2026

We are committed to Aboriginal self-determination and supporting strong, safe, thriving Aboriginal communities and aim to ensure every individual is treated with dignity, honouring all cultural backgrounds, abilities, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities and spiritual beliefs.

VACCA is a child-safe organisation and is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and young people with zero tolerance for child abuse. All successful applicants will be required to undertake a National Police Record Check and Working with Children Check prior to commencement of employment and periodically following commencement.

VACCA is an equal opportunity employer and has a smoke-free workplace policy