Specialist Family Violence Practitioner

Position

Specialist Family Violence Practitioner

Team

Men's Support Services

Role Classification

SCHADS level 6 

Employment Type/Hours

Part-time, Permanent 30.4hours per week (0.8 FTE)
 

Location

Frankston, Moorabbin, Sandringham, Cheltenham, Mentone, Ringwood, Dandenong and remote/online work as required - Bunurong Land

From time to time the incumbent may be requested to work from, or be based at, other Family Life sites.

Reports To

Team Leader Men's Support Services  

Effective Date

November 2025 

Overview of Program 

The Men's Support Services (MSS) team provides specialist family violence services that utilise strength-based and trauma-informed approaches to support behavioural change in Adults Using Family Violence (AUFV). The service is designed to support AUFV to take responsibility for and stop their use of violence through individual interventions, group work and case management.

Position Objective

The Specialist Family Violence Integrated Practitioner provides high-quality, brief intervention services to clients referred by the Magistrates' Court subject to Mandated Counselling Orders. This role involves conducting comprehensive assessments, including MARAM risk assessments and safety planning, to ensure the safety of victim-survivors, clients, and the community. The Specialist Family Violence Integrated Practitioner will utilise appropriate tools, where necessary, to assess the suitability of clients for service, particularly in complex cases. The role primarily involves delivering individual sessions focused on psychoeducation, therapeutic interventions, coaching, and connecting clients to relevant support services. While not a core component, there may be occasional opportunities to support or co-facilitate group sessions as needed. The role is responsible for reporting client progress to the Magistrates' Court and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to ensure a coordinated response to family violence.

Key Responsibilities

The key responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

• Conduct initial intake and assessment with clients referred by the Magistrates' Court, including a comprehensive MARAM risk assessment and the development of a safety plan.
• Utilise appropriate assessment tools to determine client suitability for the service, ensuring that all risks are identified and managed effectively.
• Manage a caseload of adults using family violence from a broad and diverse range of cultures and genders who are subject to Court Mandated Counselling Orders.
• Deliver individual tailored sessions that provide a combination of psychoeducation, coaching and therapeutic interventions, focusing on the client's use of violence, trauma history, and strategies for enhancing help seeking behaviour and attaining sustainable behaviour change.
• Make referrals to appropriate services, such as mental health support, family dispute resolution, or Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) services etc, based on the client's needs.
• Provide timely and accurate reports, and documentation regarding attendance, breaches and revocations to the Magistrates' Court as requested and required.
• Appear on behalf of Family Life before the Magistrates' Court, both online and in person (where required), to respond to revocation matters.
• Ensure all court-mandated requirements are met within the specified timeframe, maintaining clear communication with the Court.
• Continuously monitor and update safety plans throughout the intervention, ensuring client, victim-survivor, and community safety are prioritised.
• Liaise and work with key stakeholders such as Family Safety Advocates, the Magistrates' Court, Corrections Victoria, The Orange Door and other service providers to ensure a collaborative and coordinated approach to client support.
• Share relevant risk and safety information in line with MARAM responsibilities to enhance client safety and intervention effectiveness.
• Provide trauma-informed, strength-based support for all referred clients
• Facilitate individual interventions for clients using a combination of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, the coaching of emotional regulation and other therapeutic approaches.
• Co-facilitate group-based interventions, including after-hours sessions, on an as-needed basis to support program delivery and ensure continuity of service.
• Work with clients who are subject to Counselling Orders or involved in Court and Family Law processes, supporting their navigation of these systems and addressing the complex dynamics between family violence, separation, and child protection.
• Deliver services to quality standards, complying with relevant legislation and contractual requirements.
• Participate in regular reflective and collaborative practice groups, individual supervision and ongoing professional development training, forums and events.

Key Selection Criteria

1. Bachelor Degree in Social Work, Counselling, Psychology, or a relevant field, and/or
   with specialisation in Male Family Violence and meets the minimum qualifications of Rec 209 of the Royal Commission into Family Violence (Vic).
2. Demonstrated experience in case management or individual interventions for adults using family violence, with a focus on addressing complex client needs.
3. Comprehensive understanding of the gendered nature of family violence and the ability to identify evidenced-based theories, approaches and practice frameworks that underpin family violence intervention and the impact of trauma on children.
4. Demonstrated experience providing counselling or therapeutic interventions, particularly with fathers or parents involved in family violence and complex family dynamics.
5. Experience working with fathers who have been subject to Intervention Orders or have been involved in court or child protection systems.
6. Strong knowledge of parenting interventions, family dynamics, and child development, particularly in the context of violence and trauma.
7. Skilled in CBT, narrative therapy, motivational interviewing, emotional regulation coaching techniques and other therapeutic approaches that support positive behavioural change.
8. Ability to apply trauma-informed, Safe and Together model, and strength-based approaches to support fathers in building awareness of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and making positive choices in their parenting practices.
9. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external stakeholders to ensure integrated support for clients.
10. Proven ability to work with multi-disciplinary teams and liaise with external services such as family dispute resolution, child protection, and mental health services.
11. Information technology skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office suite and client management systems.