Ballarat & District Aboriginal Co-operative (BADAC)

Established in 1979 by the Ballarat Aboriginal community in the Ballarat district, BADAC’s vision is to be the strongest voice and presence in the Ballarat area, supporting and respecting their people, enhancing our community, growing their culture and honouring their heritage. BADAC is the Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation (ACCO) for the Ballarat and District area, covering 4 local government areas (LGAs). The organisation is extremely proud of the contribution and support they have provided the local Aboriginal community over the past 40 years delivering a comprehensive range of health, social, welfare and community development programs to local Aboriginal people.

 

Our vision

Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative exists to achieve self-determination for the Aboriginal community, enabling stronger families by ensuring equal opportunities in health, housing, education, employment and justice through a holistic and culturally relevant approach.

 

We currently have an opportunity for a committed Case Support Worker to join our Gobata Burron Program on a Full Time Fixed Term Contract. 

 

Reporting to the Gobata Burron Program Manager, this exciting new position presents the opportunity for the case worker to contribute and support the Gobata Burron program.

 

The Program

 

Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care (ACAC) is a program within the Gobata Burron Unit at Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative (BADAC) for Aboriginal children and young people subject to a Child Protection order. 

Section 18 of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 enables the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to authorise the principal officer of an Aboriginal agency to undertake specified functions and powers in relation to a protection order for an Aboriginal child or young person. BADAC will operate a pre-authorisation program in partnership with DHHS in preparation for full-authorisation under Section 18 in the future. 

Under the Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care program, BADAC will have the opportunity to actively work with the child’s family, community and other professionals to develop and implement the child’s case plan and achieve their permanency objective in a way that is culturally safe and in the best interests of the child. Aboriginal children and young people continue to be over represented in child protection and care systems. Actions to reduce the growth of Aboriginal children in care are required. 

 

The Opportunity

The Case Support Worker works to promote the safety, stability and development of vulnerable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and their families. The Gobata Burron Case support Worker will build capacity and resilience, strengthen cultural connections of families, and support the development of parenting capacity.

 

Support provided includes assertive outreach, active engagement, case management, family work, parenting and in-home support and practical and social assistance. In this role, the worker will need to have a good knowledge of the Child Protection and local community support system. This position is required to establish appropriate community contacts, develop and maintain professional working relationships with a broad range of stakeholders and funding partners. 

 

The worker will need to be highly motivated and enthusiastic, have great interpersonal and mentoring skills, and have a sound knowledge of Aboriginal culture and an ability to communicate effectively with Aboriginal people.

 

 

Key Responsibilities

 

• Provide strengths & evidence-based interventions to families involved in the ACAC and Kinship programs within Gobata Burron at BADAC. This includes the provision of support to children, young people and families to address issues leading to vulnerability and the possibility of Child Protection involvement or children being placed in out of home care.
   
• Engage with children, young people and their families using a variety of engagement strategies such as assertive engagement, outreach, persistence and strengths-based problem solving.
   
• Support children, young people, their families and caregivers utilising a variety of interventions and frameworks such as the Best Interest framework, developmental theory, attachment and trauma theory, solution focussed and task centred models and mediation.
   
• Work with BADAC’s therapeutic clinicians to develop a plan to meet the therapeutic needs of the children and family.
   
• Ensure the completion of case notes, assessments, family action plans, reports and service delivery times as required by the program guidelines.
• Support healing through connecting children and their families to extended family, community, culture and country.
   
• Liaise with & maintain positive working relationships with other relevant organisations, particularly with Child Protection.
   
• Maintain strict standards of confidentiality & act at all times in a professional manner in accordance with the policies & procedures of the Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative.
   
• Engage in regular supervision, reflective practice and opportunities for planned professional development.
   
• Carry out other duties as directed by the Program Manager/Team Leaders.

 

 

Key Selection Criteria:

 

• Sound knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal culture and values and the ability to communicate with Aboriginal children and their families and a demonstrated ability to support Aboriginal people in their healing.
   
• Demonstrated ability to work in a way that promotes Aboriginal children’s cultural identity and promotes their connection to family, community and culture acknowledging that connection to culture, community and country is fundamental to supporting the safety and identity of Aboriginal children.
   
• Skills in working with Aboriginal children, young people and their families to build strength and resilience. 
   
• A relevant tertiary qualification in Social Work, Community Services, Welfare or the willingness to work towards a qualification.
   
• Experience & skills in risk assessment and intervention, child development and trauma informed practice.
   
• Capacity to work effectively in a team and contribute to the goals of the Gobata Burron Programs.
   
• Understanding of a range of parenting support & other intervention strategies.
   
• Understanding of the Child Protection and Welfare system including services available to Aboriginal Children and families. Experience in collaboration with a range of professionals in a care team approach.
   
• Highly developed interpersonal & communication skills including demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people, including families, government & community, health, education & welfare services.
   
• Well-developed administrative skills including maintaining accurate files, case notes, assessments, computer data records & report writing.
   
• A sound knowledge of the Children, Youth & Families Act 2005, including the information sharing provisions.

 

Other Info

 

 To be considered for roles with BADAC you will need to:

• Have (or be willing to have) a National Police Clearance and current Working with Children Check Clearance.

 

If this sounds like the sort of opportunity you would be interested in, please click ‘Apply Now’. 

 

 

Please Note: All applications will require applicants to provide a cover letter addressing the Key Selection Criteria above and a copy of their resume. Applications without the required documents will not be accepted.

 

Applications close C.O.B on 14th August 2023

 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.

 

BADAC is a Child Safe organisation and all employees are expected to adhere to our Child Safe Guidelines.
 

 

BADAC is committed to diversity in employment aiming to develop a workforce that reflects the diverse community that we operate in. We foster a workplace culture in which LGBTI employees feel included, safe and supported.