senior aboriginal case manager

Department for Child Protection

Job reference: 709747

Location: WOODVILLE

Job status: Short Term Contract

Eligibility: Open to Everyone

Please disregard "Open to everyone", This position is only open to applicants of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent only pursuant to Section of the Equal Opportunity Act, 1984

Role Status: Full-time term vacancy available until 3 April 2026

Remuneration: $91,785 – $106,330 p.a. + 12% super

Extra 4% allowance for our social workers: highest-paying in SA Government

Annual salary increases & up to $2,500 support for your growth

Role Details:

Join the Department for Child Protection as a Senior Aboriginal Case Manager based in Woodville. This rewarding role empowers you to provide culturally responsive and high-quality case management to support Aboriginal children, young people, and families. You will make a genuine difference by promoting safety, stability, and strong cultural identity while supporting families to achieve positive outcomes. Working in a collaborative and inclusive team, you'll apply your professional expertise to strengthen family relationships and build brighter futures.

Make Your Qualification Go Further

Same degree, more reward. At DCP, social workers receive the highest pay in the SA Government, thanks to an exclusive 4% allowance permanently secured in our Enterprise Agreement. Combine that with up to $2,500 annual professional development support, clear pathways for advancement, and the chance to leave a lasting legacy in child protection, and your qualification goes further here than anywhere else.

Why Work with DCP?

At the Department for Child Protection, you'll find more than just a job. You'll discover a career where your skills are valued, your impact is meaningful, and your rewards are unmatched.

We play a key role in protecting children, young people, and their families in South Australia, providing support to help vulnerable individuals be safe, strong, and connected.

What We Offer

• Employee Wellbeing: Free annual flu vaccination, Employee Assistance Program (confidential counselling for you and your family), and other wellbeing initiatives.
• Career Development: Permanent roles, annual increments, up to $2,500 in professional development support, and clear career pathways.
• Parental & Partner Leave: Paid leave options to support you and your family.
• Recognition: Annual DCP Recognition Awards celebrating staff excellence.
• Learning & Development: Strong commitment to ongoing professional growth and learning opportunities.

Income and benefits

• AHP2: $91,785 – $106,330 p.a. + 12% super
• Exclusive allowance: an extra 4% for social workers in child protection – permanently enshrined in the Enterprise Agreement.
• Professional Development (PD) – a $1,000 allowance increasing incrementally each year + reimbursement of PD expenses up to $1,000 (AHP2 level)
• Additional Qualifications Allowance
• Support – free counselling and wellbeing services for you and your family.
• Recognition – annual DCP Recognition Awards celebrating staff excellence.

In this role, you will:

• Deliver effective, culturally informed case management to support Aboriginal children and families.
• Conduct investigations, assessments, and interventions to promote child safety and wellbeing.
• Support parents to develop skills that enable safe and stable care for their children.
• Collaborate with community partners and services to strengthen family and cultural connections.

To be successful:

You will bring strong knowledge of child development, family dynamics, and cultural safety principles, combined with the ability to assess and respond to risk with empathy and professionalism. Your skills in communication, teamwork, and community engagement will enable you to work effectively with Aboriginal families, ensuring decisions are inclusive and grounded in cultural respect.

You'll also demonstrate the capacity to manage workloads, prioritise competing demands, and apply evidence-based practice to achieve positive outcomes for children and families. Your commitment to diversity, collaboration, and learning will help drive real and lasting change.

If this sounds like you, we encourage you to apply.

Special Conditions:

Essential: A degree level qualification in Social Work which gives eligibility for full membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.

Persons of Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, who have the appropriate background and skills but do not have the essential qualification, may apply for and be engaged/assigned to the role of Social Worker and will be entitled to apply for any Allied Health Professional roles requiring a qualification in Social Work within the Department for Child Protection (DCP).

To find out more about this role, including the key selection criteria and special conditions, please click on the attached role description.

Enquiries: Vanja Vukasinovic - Supervisor on or email:

Our workplace reflects the diverse communities we serve. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. This includes women, people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, the LGBTQI+ communities, and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.

To apply for this role, please click the 'apply' button to be re-directed to the DCP Career Portal.

Applications close: 20/11/2025 11:00 PM