Practitioner, Children Youth and Families

Details: Protecting and supporting our most vulnerable children and young people is one of the most important jobs you can do.

Working in Children, Youth and Families in the Health and Community Services Directorate gives you the chance to:

• Make a difference in the lives of children and young people at risk of abuse and neglect.
• Provide a positive influence on young people and help them find their place in our community.
• Build relationships across the ACT's community service sector to support children, young people and their families.

Our Child, Youth and Family Safety team have responsibility for the ACT's statutory child protection response. Our Youth Justice and Adolescent Services team supports young people at risk of engagement with the justice system. We also run our youth detention centre, Bimberi, and support young people when they leave custody.

We are looking for practitioners who:

• Can work alongside families and multi-disciplinary teams to support children and young people.
• Know how to develop and maintain professional relationships with community partners.
• Want to work with families across the child protection and youth justice continuum, from early support, through to court work and out-of-home-care.
• Have proactive, trauma-informed, and solution-driven case management skills to support children and young people to develop and grow.
• Committed to fostering culturally safe and inclusive practices for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, ensuring respect, dignity, and culturally responsive support in all interactions.
• Have strong written and verbal communication and engagement skills.
• Want to apply their experience and qualifications in social work, psychology, criminology, law, social science, or related disciplines.

The Health and Community Services Directorate is committed to addressing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection and youth justice systems and is committed to meeting the cultural needs of young people we work with.

The Health and Community Services Directorate acknowledges the significant contribution that individuals with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage and experience bring to improving outcomes for young people.

We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have the appropriate background, experience, and capability, but may not hold the essential tertiary qualification to consider applying for these roles.

The Health and Community Services Directorate is an inclusive employer where all people are respected and valued for their contribution. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, People with Disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, veterans, mature age workers and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) people.

If you would like a better understanding on the work Children Youth and Families do, we will be running an information session Tuesday 14th October 5:30pm online. If you would like to attend this session, please email for further details.

Eligibility/Other Requirements:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Social Work, Psychology, Social Welfare, Social Science or related discipline. Please note: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who do not have these qualifications but who have appropriate and relevant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage and experience are eligible to apply.
• For Youth Justice positions, a relevant qualification in Criminology or Law may be considered.
• At least two (2) years of practical experience working with children, youth and/or families in a social work/case management role, and/or experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities.
• This role may work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, cultural awareness, the capacity to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is highly desirable.
• Driver's license (C class) is essential.
• Prior to commencing this role, a current registration issued under the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 is required. For further information on Working with Vulnerable People registration refer to - Apply for or renew a WWVP registration - Access Canberra )
• Prior to commencement, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a pre-employment National Police Check.

Notes: A merit pool or merit list may be established from this selection process and will be used to fill vacancies over the next 12 months.

How to Apply: Applicants should submit a statement of no more than two pages demonstrating how their experience, skills and knowledge will enable them to undertake the role in relation to the 'What You Require' capabilities listed on the Position Description. Please also submit a current curriculum vitae and the contact details of two referees with a thorough knowledge of your work performance. Please ensure that one of the referees is your current or immediate past supervisor.

For further information, please visit