First Nations Trauma Practitioner with WORTH (Womens Outreach Trauma Health services)

Service of: Northern Rivers Women and Children’s Services 

Award:  SCHADS 

Grade: Level Entry 5: pay point to be negotiated depending on qualifications and experience. 

Hours: Up to 28 hours on a 3-year fixed term (Expiring 30 June 2025).  

Essential Requirements:

NORWACS considers that being female is a genuine occupational qualification for this position under Section 31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW). 

This position is Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Identified under Section 14 and 21 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977. 

Valid unrestricted drivers licence for use in NSW/Australia. 

Valid Working with Children Check and Criminal History Check

Being vaccinated against Covid 19 as per the Public Health (Covid 19 Vaccination of Health Care Workers) Order 2022. 

Purpose of Position

The Northern Rivers Women and Children’s Services (NORWACS) is focused on providing trauma informed, affordable services that are sensitive to the needs of women with complex health issues or recovering from violence. The Womens Outreach Trauma Health service (WORTH) is an initiative by NORWACS in response to devasting consequences for women following the natural disasters of 2022. NORWACS understands that vulnerable women experience a compounding of trauma impacts, whereby pre-existing vulnerabilities associated with violence, abuse and adverse physical health are exacerbated. The additional barriers which occur mean that women are no longer able to access emotional, psychological or physical health services to ensure and maintain wellbeing. 

As such, NORWACS has established an outreach model of trauma treatment designed to meet the wholistic health needs of women. The outreach model of treatment will aim to address this through the provision of psychosocial services such as counselling and social work, and the provision of a Women’s Health Nurse to service the unique physical health needs of women. This multi-disciplinary team will provide services to a variety of locally identified hubs, ensuring that women’s health and wellbeing needs continue to be serviced whilst acknowledging and meeting the changing nature of treatment needs for women post natural disaster. The specialist clinical team will practice from a trauma informed framework acknowledging and addressing the trauma associated with violence and abuse against women and facilitate services for women who are disproportionately affected by the natural disaster across the Northern Rivers Region. 

This position holds particular significance for our service because it will enable us to enhance the social and emotional wellbeing of First Nations women in our communities. NORWACS is committed to addressing the historical violence, intergenerational trauma and ongoing marginalisation of First Nations women. The First Nations Trauma Practitioner will incorporate and celebrate Indigenous ways of knowing, to meet the cultural needs of our women and facilitate healing, connection and belonging.   

Selection Criteria

1. A minimum four-year bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, counselling and/or related behavioural sciences with substantial experience; or associate diploma level with substantial experience in the relevant service stream. Membership of a professional association or eligibility to obtain membership to the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), APS or equivalent. 
2. Demonstrated knowledge of and experience working with complex intergenerational trauma as experienced by First Nations Communities. Demonstrated understanding and/or experience working in culturally informed and trauma integrated healing practices which specifically reflect Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing. 
3. Ability to provide and participate in culturally informed therapeutic healing approaches such as yarning circles and engage community members through group activities such as weaving and clay therapy and creative arts expression. 
4. Nurture stakeholder partnerships, particularly that which exists with the Northern Rivers Community Healing Hub. Engaging in a co-therapy practice model with stakeholders to provide individual and group healing therapies to First Nations women.   
5. Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team of social workers, counsellors and nursing staff and engage in collaboration regarding service planning and design. 
6. Provide leadership, education and advice on First Nations healing practices and contribute towards the cultural informed therapeutic approaches of outreach services both within the WORTH team, stakeholders and to the broader community.     
7. Effective communication both written and verbal, interpersonal skills and ability to identify key messages, issues and concerns when communicating with others. This is inclusive of the ability to document accurate data and maintain client file notes. 
8. Satisfactory Criminal History Check and Working with Children’s Check.
9. Willingness to work outside of core business hours and weekends as the need arises to provide service provision and attend community events. 

If this position is of interest to you, please email [email protected] to request additional information or phone us on 6621 9800. 

Applications close Monday 7th November 2022 at 5pm.