Our Foundation

In 1988, the Sisters of Mercy established Regina Coeli (now McAuley Houses) and later, in 1989, Mercy Care, (now McAuley Care) was founded. Twenty years later, in 2008, the two were combined to become McAuley, expanding the Sisters of Mercy’s commitment to women, children and social justice.

The spirit and ethos of Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, continues to live through the work of McAuley. Inspired by visionary values, we follow in her footsteps, providing disadvantaged women and children with housing, education and social services – supporting them toward a brighter future.

About the opportunity

Be part of  the innovating partnership between McAuley and Wellways, working at the Yanna Yanna Women’s Prevention and Recovery Care (PARC) service in Melbourne’s West, as featured in Parity Journal (April 2022) and showcased in TheMHS conference (2022).  

This is a unique opportunity for  a Children’s and  Family  worker Viprofessionalto develop skills and gain experience working in mental health and work at the intersection of family violence, mental health and homelessness in a collaborative and multidisciplinary setting.

Yanna Yanna PARC is a short stay residential mental health service that provides clinical and psychosocial support to women experiencing psychological distress in order to prevent the need for hospitalisation, or immediately following an inpatient stay in order to support ongoing recovery.  The purpose of this role is to provide trauma -informed and child-focused responses and support to women engaging in mental health care and treatment at the  newly developed women- only Yanna Yanna  PARC and forming part of team of 3 of McAuley PARC staff working across the region.  

The PARC Children’s and Family worker will: 

• Provide child focused, trauma-informed responses and interventions to children, in collaboration with their mothers and other supports.
• Undertake child risk & safety assessments in collaboration with the child, their mothers and other supports.
• Work collaboratively with PARC Recovery Workers, clinical teams and the Family Violence and Homelessness Worker to provide individualised and integrated case work  to  women and children  including  providing up to 3 months outreach support upon discharge from PARC
• Provide individualised support to empower women and children in repairing bonds, relationships and supporting a sense of fun and enjoyment in play.

About You 

You are compassionate and:  

• Attracted to work in a value driven organisation, working toward justice and quality outcomes for women and children experiencing family violence and homelessness and mental health.  
• content / satisfied in supporting women and children to live safe from violence and in providing child-focuses supports and responses.
• can demonstrate experience in providing high quality specialised children’s and family support and in achieving successful outcomes.
• enthusiastic about working collaboratively with women to enable them to achieve their family’s goals and aspirations.
• enthusiastic about being part of a multidisciplinary team of practitioners at the women-only PARC providing   tailored and integrated care to women and children.
• have experience in engaging, liaising and advocating with a range of service systems and professionals to secure positive family outcomes.

How to apply 

Applications are only accepted through our website https://www.mcauley.org.au/about/work-with-us/careers/ and should include:

• A current CV summarizing your relevant experience and qualifications.  
• A cover letter, no more than 2 pages, broadly addressing how your experience is relevant to the role (using both the position description and selection criteria as a guide).

For additional information about this role the position description can be downloaded from McAuley’s Careers web page https://www.mcauley.org.au/about/work-with-us/careers/  and then clicking here.

If you have specific questions about the job please contact Maria Varkopoulos on 0437 827 851 or at [email protected]. 

Applications close 5.00pm Monday  14th August   2023  

As a client-facing position only female applicants will be considered. (McAuley has an EEO exemption to accept applications from women only for positions required to work with vulnerable women and their children.)

Please note: we will be assessing applications on a rolling basis and suitable candidates will be shortlisted immediately

Only people with Australian Citizenship or Permanent Residency may apply for this position. A Working with Children Check (Employee Version) and a current driver’s license are mandatory. Successful appointment to the position will be subject to a National Police Check (and international if applicable).

McAuley is committed to diversity and equality. We are actively engaged in promoting and maintaining a safe and inclusive work environment where all employees, from all backgrounds are respected, valued, and supported for their unique contributions.

HOSPITALITY COMPASSION JUSTICE COMMUNITY