Aboriginal Cultural Support and Awareness Advisor

Location: Melbourne | Northern Metropolitan

Job type: Full time

Organisation: Department of Families, Fairness and Housing

**Salary**: $114,830 - $125,735

Occupation: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services

Reference: VG/DFFH/ND/672898

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) works hard to create equal opportunities for all Victorians to live a safe, respected and valued life.

Our areas of focus are child protection, housing, disability, the prevention of family violence, multicultural affairs, LGBTQI+ equality, veterans, women and youth. The work we do benefits thousands of Victorians, particularly those who are disadvantaged and vulnerable.

We work in a variety of community-based settings, including people's homes, residential facilities and secure settings across metropolitan, rural and regional Victoria.

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**THE ROLE**
The Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Advisor provides advice to and builds awareness of Child Protection practitioners working with Aboriginal children and engages with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and community services organisations to improve outcomes through progression of self-determination reforms for Aboriginal children, families, and communities. While the role does not develop cultural plans, it provides important cultural expertise and guidance which supports child protection practitioners with the cultural planning process, and cultural plan compliance. This crucial role enables Aboriginal children to remain connected to community, build resilience and support them remaining with family.
The role will also focus on area improvement and implementation processes, aligning outcomes to relevant divisional policies and processes.

**ACCOUNTABILITIES INCLUDE**
- Child centred and family focused relationship-based practice - focuses on the Aboriginal child and incorporates the family kinship groups and community in maintaining a child's cultural connection and self-identity.
- Collaboration - engages and consults with Aboriginal children and their families, Aboriginal Elders, Foster and Kinship carers, other practitioners and teams, agencies, services, and the community, in order to deliver the best outcomes for Aboriginal children and Aboriginal families.
- Works hand in hand with Child Protection, attending care team or other meetings to provide advice on the development of cultural plans and to progress self-determination reforms.
- Knowledge sharing - exchanging critical information with Aboriginal families and both internal and external stakeholders, to ensure shared understanding, and timely and appropriate action for Aboriginal clients.

**Please open the position description to read more.**

**VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS POLICY**

The department may require its employees to be fully vaccinated against preventable diseases such as the current coronavirus (COVID-19). The department's **COVID-19 Vaccination requirements policy**(Word) outlines the requirements for existing employees, other workplace participants and prospective employees. Please read in full prior to applying.

**A SPECIAL MEASURE PROVISION APPLIES TO THIS ROLE**
**The **_Equal Opportunity Act 2010_**, provides for lawful 'Special Measure' provisions, therefore the following has been applied to this role.**
**This is a Designated role - Only Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply.**

Applicants are required to submit a CV and Cover Letter (max 2 pages) outlining their suitability to the role in line with the Key Selection Criteria.
Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa. Work eligibility will be checked as part of the recruitment process.