Job description
Agency Department of Children and Families Work unit NT Wide Services - Adoptions
Job title Adoptions Practitioner Designation Professional 3
Job type Full time Duration Ongoing
Salary $110,873 - $124,173 Location Darwin
Position number 2353 RTF Closing 10/02/2026
Contact officer Amy Fogarty, A/Director NT Wide Services on or
About the agency
Apply online
APPLICATIONS MUST INCLUDE A ONE-PAGE SUMMARY ABOUT YOU, A DETAILED RESUME AND COPIES OF YOUR TERTIARY
QUALIFICATIONS.
Information for applicants – inclusion and diversity and Special Measures recruitment plans
The NTPS values diversity. The NTPS encourages people from all diversity groups to apply for vacancies and accommodates people with
disability by making reasonable workplace adjustments. If you require an adjustment for the recruitment process or job, please discuss
this with the contact officer. For more information about applying for this position and the merit process, go to the OCPE website.
Aboriginal applicants will be granted priority consideration for this vacancy. For more information on Special Measures plans, go to the
OCPE website.
Primary objective
Manage, quality assure and coordinate Adoption Services in accordance with the Adoption of Children Act 1994 including administration
of the role of the Northern Territory Central Adoption Authority.
Context statement
This role delivers services as the Northern Territory Central Adoption Authority to adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents through the
provision of advice, advocacy, family finding information, and case management for domestic and international adoptions with a focus on
safeguarding children's best interests. It also delivers services in interstate liaison, placements of Central Intake team to support
management of surge demand as required.
Key duties and responsibilities
1. Provide a high level of professional expertise and demonstrated best practice in domestic and international adoptions as per the
legislation, international conventions and bilateral agreements.
2. Respond to enquiries, provide information, education, conduct suitability assessments, deliver support and case management to
Northern Territory residents seeking to adopt or who have adopted a child.
3. Receive family finding applications, locate and redact records, provide information and deliver counselling to persons eligible to receive
adoption information.
1. Prepare, lodge, and monitor intercountry adoption applications and prepare post-placement reports.
2. Participate in national meetings and provide strategic advice, advocacy and feedback on a range of adoptions matters.
3. Submit legal documents to the court, attend planning meetings, and attend court as required.
4. Prepare reports relating to adoptions for internal and national bodies.
5. Review and update training, policies, procedures and processes to facilitate contemporary practice.
6. Deliver professional services in placements, interstate liaison or central intake team to meet surge demand as required.
Selection criteria
Essential
1. A degree of an Australian tertiary institution, which gives eligibility for membership of the Australian Community Workers Association,
the Australian Association of Social Workers, or the Australian Psychological Society, or equivalent OR Diploma of Child, Youth and
Family Intervention AND Vocational Graduate Certificate in Community Services Practice (Statutory Child Protection) OR Graduate
Certificate in Safe Communities (Child Protection).
1. Significant working knowledge and understanding of approaches to the assessment of family, interpersonal and community dynamics
to prepare succinct reports of a persons' suitability to adopt a child in accordance with local and international eligibility criteria.
1. Highly developed ability to apply legislation, policy and practice frameworks in the provision of casework, assessment and counselling
services.
1. Demonstrated high-level of communication and interpersonal skills to effectively work and liaise with people from diverse cultural
backgrounds.
1. Highly developed administrative skills with strong attention to detail, information privacy, exceptional organisation skills, with the
ability to work flexibly to prioritise and coordinate a high workload to achieve quality client outcomes.
1. Well-developed knowledge of presentation skills and experience in the delivery of training.
2. Highly developed decision making and time management skills and ability to work independently with minimal supervision to meet
deadlines.
8. Demonstrated ability to liaise with internal and external stakeholders, provide advice and negotiate complex issues to reach agreeable
outcomes to achieve outputs and outcomes.
9. Current NT driver's licence or the ability to obtain and ability to travel intrastate and interstate as required.
Desirable
1. Demonstrated experience in delivery of services relevant to adoptions.
Further information
The selected applicant will be required to hold a current Working with Children Clearance notice and undergo a criminal history check (a
criminal history will not exclude an applicant from this position unless it is a relevant criminal history).