Therapeutic Specialist

About the role:

The Therapeutic Specialist is responsible for guiding and supporting carer and staff interactions with children and young people, conducting assessments, developing therapeutic treatment plans and leading reflective practice to support carers and staff to develop their therapeutic skills. In addition, the Therapeutic Specialist will, as required, provide therapeutic services including Family Therapy directly to the children, young people and families who are clients of our services. The Therapeutic Specialist works closely with program staff and other service partners in the management of complex cases and practice quality issues. This includes the provision of specialist expertise and assistance, case consultancy and review and the promotion of reflective and evidence-based practice.

The primary objective of this role is to provide critical clinical and therapeutic support for and with the casework teams working from MacKillop's offices and as part of those programs. MacKillop is delivering Out of Home Care, Homelessness Services, Family Therapy and other programs as developed. The Therapeutic Specialist will bring their experience, skills and qualifications in Psychology, Social Work, Family Therapy or their equivalents, to the challenge of delivering clinical services for the vulnerable children, young people and families, who are clients of our services, many of whom have experienced trauma, abuse or violence. The Therapeutic Specialist will work alongside our teams to deliver the desired outcomes for the program's clients using the best evidence-based practice, determined by MacKillop and its Clinical Services team.

About our offer:

• Salary packaging – we can help you to maximize your salary packaging up to $18,550 per year, which allows you to reduce the amount of tax you pay.
• Paid Training that is industry specific including Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), Sanctuary and Cultural Awareness training.
• Fitness Passport - which is a discounted workplace health and fitness program available to you and your family. For a fraction of the price of a regular gym membership.
• Employee Assistance Program- Free access to a wide range of options with all aspects of life such as social, financial, physical, mental health by providing counselling and coaching supporting relating both to your circumstance, even including health advice from qualified nutritionists.
• Sanctuary Organisation - MacKillop's work is underpinned by the Sanctuary Model, an evidence-supported, whole of organisation framework that brings our values to life. The model reinforces our ability to create a safe environment that teaches people to cope effectively with stress and trauma, and to heal.

This is an ongoing Full-time opportunity 38 hours per week based in Preston, VIC, 3072 within our Out of Home Care North Metro Program. The position reports to the Principal Practitioner.

Key Selection Criteria:

To be successful in this role, the incumbent will have:

• A knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal culture and values and an awareness of the current issues faced by Aboriginal children, young people and their families
• An appropriate tertiary qualification in Psychology, Social Work or a related discipline is essential. Post Graduate training in relevant child, adolescent and family clinical practice, family work and systemic thinking is strongly preferred.
• Therapeutic specialists will have a thorough understanding (based on advanced training/qualifications and a body of knowledge on recognised theoretical approaches) of the impact of trauma, disrupted attachment and abuse/neglect on a child or young person's development and wellbeing
• Therapeutic specialists will have substantial experience in working therapeutically with young people and demonstrated capacity to persevere to achieve positive outcomes when working with young people who have experienced trauma and have complex needs and presentations.
• Therapeutic specialists must demonstrate a thorough understanding of Aboriginal and CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) cultures to provide culturally sensitive and effective care for young people in residential care

Please address the full Key Selection Criteria outlined in the PD as part of your application

For more information, please contact:

Lauren Wright at

You must have a:

• Valid and current Driver's License;

• Satisfactory Criminal History Check (paid for by MacKillop);

• Valid Employee Working with Children Check.

• Valid and current NDIS Workers Screening Check (for risk assessed / client facing roles). MacKillop can assist successful candidates with their application.

Our Commitment:

MacKillop celebrates and draws strength from diversity and respects the dignity of all people. Every person at MacKillop has the right to be safe and to be treated justly. We value every person's ability, cultural or linguistic backgrounds, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, intersex status, relationship status, religious or spiritual beliefs, socio-economic status, and age.

It is our goal that MacKillop Family Services continues to evolve as a culturally safe, culturally competent, and welcoming organisation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, families, and communities.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Shortlisting for this position may commence immediately so please submit your application as soon as possible.