Aboriginal Early Years Engagement Officer

Posted: 27/11/2024

Closing Date: 05/12/2024

**Job Type**: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Wakefield St, Adelaide

Job Category: Community Services and Development
- This position is based in Adelaide with outreach to Port Adelaide._

**About the Organisation**:
Nunkuwarrin Yunti aims to promote and deliver improvement in the health and wellbeing of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the greater metropolitan area of Adelaide and to advance their social, cultural and economic status. The Organisation places a strong focus on a client centred approach to the delivery of services and a collaborative working culture to achieve the best possible outcomes for our clients.

Nunkuwarrin Yunti is a Child Safe Organisation.

**About the Program**:
The Women Children Family Health Service aims to support safe nurturing environments for pregnant women, infants and children, increase uptake and utilisation of services with an emphasis on early intervention and prevention, provide streamlined coordinated care and positive experiences for clients to encourage continued engagement with services.

Working under general direction of the Programs Manager, Connecting the Early Years, the primary role of the Aboriginal Early Years Engagement Officer is and not limited to:

- Build trusting and strong respectful relationships with families, children, community members and the Port Adelaide Connected Beginnings (PA CB) team at Kura Yerlo
- Walk alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in the Port Adelaide area by supporting pregnant women and parents/caregivers of Aboriginal children 0-5 years to connect with Nunkuwarrin Yunti service providers, build trusting relationships and support their understanding of basic health information.
- Support community voice to be heard in Nunkuwarrin Yunti Connected Beginnings and broader organisational maternal and child health planning, monitoring and review.
- Promote awareness of Nunkuwarrin Yunti services to the community through attending community and service provider events, facilitating forums and community activities
- Engage with the Port Adelaide Kura Yerlo Connected Beginnings team and Subgroup Committee to contribute to community events, forums and activities, and participate in community reference groups and network meetings as required.
- Provide information and services to support children’s health, development and wellbeing in the first 5-years.
- Develop and maintain a strong and broad network with local service providers in the Port Adelaide area and contribute information to Nunkuwarrin Yunti and Port Adelaide Connected Beginnings service mapping.
- Gather family and community service needs and gaps, and experiences of engaging with Nunkuwarrin Yunti services to improve service responsiveness for community.
- Maintain a positive working relationship with others and contribute to organisational activities
- Manage all administrative tasks required of the role including any clinical and referral documentation and appointment management.

**Desired Skills and Experience**:
**ESSENTIAL - includes qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge**
- Minimum qualifications Certificate IV in Aboriginal Primary Health Care or a recognised qualification in social work, early childhood education and care, behavioural science or related field deemed an equivalent level and expertise to undertake the range of activities required of the role and/or three (3) to four (4) years demonstrated vocational experience in a field relevant to the role.
- Demonstrated understanding of the contemporary issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and the impacts these issues have on Indigenous Australian societies and cultures and health.
- Experience and understanding of service gaps and needs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
- Well developed skills with a general knowledge of child health and development and family health.
- Ability to liaise, network, and negotiate with a range of service providers and government agencies.
- Ability to communicate effectively both written and verbally with a wide range of people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, government and other agencies, committees and other bodies.
- Experience in the use of computer software and other databases.
- Demonstrated ability in managing a diverse range of tasks, manage own time and competing priorities, working with mínimal supervision and as a member of a team.
- Working knowledge of statutory requirements associated with client care and practices.

**DESIRABLE**- Experience working within an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service or Primary Health Care setting.-
- Ability to describe and explain primary health care services, in particular those for pregnant women, children 0-5 years and their parents / caregivers.-
- Experience in using Communicare or any Patient Recall Information System- Applications close Thursday, 5th Dec