Aboriginal Liaison Officer, National Perinatal

We are seeking an **Aboriginal Liaison Officer** - based in NSW to support the **National Perinatal Infant Mental Health Connect & Care Program**

**Please note**: This is an Identified Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander Position.

**About Karitane**
Established in 1923, Karitane is a dynamic and innovative not for profit health organisation and registered charity providing early parenting services. We support families with children from birth to 5 years of age through building parenting capacity, enhancing parent child relationships and strengthening a family’s connections with supports in their community. Our services are evidence based and delivered by a caring and highly trained professional team of child and family health nurses, paediatricians, social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists offering complete, holistic care.

**POSITION TITLE**: National Perinatal Infant Mental Health (PIMH) Connect & Care - Aboriginal Liaison Officer
**DEPARTMENT**: National PIMH Connect & Care Team
**OPERATIONAL BASE**: Digital Health Services-Carramar NSW
**HOURS**: 32 hours per week (job share will be considered)
**STATUS**: Parental Leave relief (up to 12 months)
**VACCINATION CATEGORY**: A (including full COVID-19 - 3 doses and influenza vaccination)
**RESPONSIBLE TO**: Nurse Unit Manager Digital Health Hub via National Director, National PIMH - Connect & Care
**AWARD**: Aboriginal Health Worker Health Education Officer Non Grad

**About the Opportunity**
This is a truly once in a lifetime opportunity to work with the National PIMH Connect & Care Team engaged in the implementation and ongoing development of a new, exciting and highly impactful care navigation service with a leading non-profit parenting support service provider and experienced consortium members.
In an Australian-first, Perinatal Infant Mental Health place-based navigators will be triaging and coordinating referrals from around the country, ensuring expansive local knowledge and subsequent location-specific support pathways. The Aboriginal Liaison Officer will support the PIMH Care Navigators, Administrative team, National PIMH Director and AAPCH colleagues to connect Aboriginal families to perinatal infant mental health services that best meet their needs.

**PRIMARY FUNCTION**:
This position is responsible for providing culturally sensitive support to pregnant women and their families during pregnancy and the first 12 months following the birth of their baby. They will facilitate access to appropriate perinatal infant mental health services in NSW.
Based in Sydney, this position also works towards improving health outcomes and wellbeing of Aboriginal families by providing culturally sensitive care navigation for the family. Care is provided via telephone, telehealth and in place-based community settings where appropriate. The Aboriginal Liaison Officer will worker in partnership with the family, perinatal infant mental health care navigators, administrative support staff, the perinatal infant mental health service at Karitane and support other AAPCH service providers in NSW to connect families to the level of care that best meets their needs

The role will support safe, effective and quality care as part of the National Perinatal Infant Mental Health - Connect & Care Navigation Team consistent with the organisation's mission, philosophy, values and standards of care, and adheres to the Professional Code of Conduct This position is Aboriginal Identified.

1. Aboriginality: Applicants for this position must be of Aboriginal descent, identify as being Aboriginal and be accepted in the community as such. Exemption is claimed under Section 14 of the Anti-Discrimination Act.
2. Demonstrated understanding of the issues in pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period, including maternal and infant health and experience working with families who have young children.
3. Demonstrated understanding of Aboriginal history leading to the current health issues impacting Aboriginal families and children and demonstrated involvement with an Aboriginal community.
4. Demonstrated effective written and verbal communication skills, including computer skills, interpersonal and problem solving skills.
5. Demonstrated ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and liaise with other health professionals to facilitate health services for Aboriginal families and their children.
6. Ability to build strong relationships and have a working knowledge of NSW Aboriginal Communities and ability to liaise with perinatal infant mental health support services.

**CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT**
The majority of Karitane’s services close for approximately two weeks over the Christmas/New Year period, during which time employees are required to take leave.
Karitane supports a smoke free environment including grounds, buildings and vehicles. Applicants will have a commitment to EEO & WHS, ethical practice and the principles of cultural diversity.
The culture of Karitane is founded on our v