Specialist Family Violence Practitioner

• Make a real impact in the lives of women and families through trauma-informed services
• Salary packaging, gifted leave at Christmas and Easter, paid parental leave
• Competitive above-award salary, SCHADS Level 5.1

Role Purpose

The Specialist Family Violence Practitioner (Rapid Response) is an integral member of the Family Violence Team, who delivers high quality case management services to women and children who are or have experienced family violence, including women who choose to remain in the relationship.

The position provides client-centred casework, utilising the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management Framework (MARAM) and a comprehensive risk and needs assessment of women and children through trauma informed, systems and developmental frameworks. As required under the duration of the intervention, the practitioner will develop agreed case plans with women and children with multiple and complex needs, bringing about outcomes which promote safety, stability and recovery from family violence through a coordinated care team approach.

As part of the Family Violence Team, this role is at the forefront of our services and will be providing support such as managing self-referrals, returning clients, clients on active hold, brief to intermediate interventions and any other clients requiring support while their allocated workers are away. This client-facing role will mostly provide brief and intermediate interventions but will also, if needed, have clients requiring a longer response. This role is an integral part of our structure to respond to the Crisis Response Model. This role will provide service across Hastings and other sites as required in Bayside Peninsula.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver high quality outreach brief to intermediate interventions to women and children who are experiencing or have experienced family violence through trauma informed, systems and developmental frameworks
• Hold a caseload of women and children
• Facilitate a multi-disciplinary team approach, providing a collaborative and holistic response for women and young people impacted by family violence, working toward identified goals
• Undertake MARAM risk assessment and mitigation, needs assessment, safety planning and case planning with women and children
• Coordinate referrals for support and liaise with specialist services as required
• Support victim survivors accommodated in different type of accommodation settings including crisis accommodation

About You

• Appropriate tertiary qualification in Social Work, Psychology or a related tertiary discipline is essential, including Graduate Certificate in Family Violence
• Demonstrated capacity to provide outreach case management including the ability to carry out comprehensive risk and needs assessments and respond appropriately
• Experience working in the family violence sector
• Experience working in a fast-paced family violence program is highly desirable
• Experience working with high-risk clients is highly desirable
• Demonstrated experience working with women and children presenting with complex needs and behaviours (e.g. trauma, substance abuse, mental health, parenting issues, disability) and/or from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) or indigenous backgrounds
• Demonstrated knowledge of the impacts of family violence and the capacity to apply appropriate theoretical frameworks to practice
• Demonstrated success in maintaining external networks and collaborative relationships with professionals both internal and external
• Demonstrated experience in preparing written reports, maintaining records, including case notes and data base reporting
• Demonstrated success working as part of an effective and productive team, along with the ability to be self-directed
• Ability to apply protective behaviours techniques which reduce children's vulnerability

About Us

Our strategy outlines the world we want to see and our role in advancing it. We aspire for all women, girls, and families to be safe, well, strong, and connected. We strive for equity, dignity and social justice for women, girls and families by collaborating globally and acting locally, supporting our communities in Australia and New Zealand to thrive.

We want women, girls and families to live full and dignified lives, have dignified income and enjoy financial wellbeing.  We aim to provide place-based, people-centred, holistic services while working at the system level to achieve bold and audacious reform. We currently offer microfinance programs and products, financial counselling and coaching, family and domestic violence support services, family and youth programs, playgroups, education programs and community houses. These services are complemented by research and strong advocacy to address the underlying structural causes of injustice, exclusion, and inequality.

Good Shepherd employees are committed to inclusive practice that responds to the specific needs, context, and circumstances of service participants. We embrace the diversity and intersectionality of individuals and recognise a person's right to a unique identity comprising culture, language, ability, community, gender, sex, sexual orientation and lived experience.

Benefits

• Salary packaging  - which can add up to $15,900 in tax-free pay per year
• 4 days gifted leave at Christmas and Easter (pro rata)
• Up to 100 hours of paid study leave (where relevant to role)
• 12 weeks paid parental leave (primary career)
• Additional leave through purchased leave pathways
• Employee Assistance Program, a free and confidential counselling service
• Eligible for participation in the portable long service leave program

How to Apply

Please click 'Apply' to complete your application. Please upload your resume and a brief cover letter addressing the key selection criteria.

Applications are considered as they are received. APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 23 October 2025

To view the position description click here or email

Personal data held by Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand relating to employment applications will be used in accordance with our Privacy Statement, which is available on our website.

We recognise the rich diversity of people across Australia. We are committed to ensuring that our team is reflective of the diverse community we serve and to supporting a culture of equity, inclusion and diversity.

Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand is a Child Safe employer. Employment is subject to satisfactory referee checks, a current employment working with Children Check, National Criminal History check and proof of the right to work in Australia.