The Family Participation Program recognises the important role that families have, acknowledging families' strengths, ensuring the needs of children and families are responded to and that families become empowered by the utilisation of the five elements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principals, being Prevention, Partnerships, Placement, Participation and Connections.
The Family Participation Program acknowledges and highlights the authority held by families and children/young people to problem solve and lead the decision making in a culturally safe space. Culturally safe places are created when there is independence, choice, privacy and time but most importantly done in an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander way.
The purpose of the Family Facilitator (FF) (DFV Specialist) is to work collaboratively with at risk families to assist them in identifying their needs using the Family Led Decision Making (FLDM) framework to ensure their children are safe. The FF (DFV Specialist) will provide support to families through culturally appropriate practices that effectively engage with traditional owners, elders and families across all communities. In addition, the role will work collaboratively with at risk families and FF staff to provide general support and advice in relation to DFV, including the provision of training and technical assistance that promotes safer outcomes for families.
Duties & Responsibilities
* Prepare initial engagement with families by appraising and understanding the referral and carefully considering what resources may be required
* Respectfully engage families by adopting appropriate cultural protocols
* Explore existing family supports and kinship relationships that are in place
* Identify family strengths and stakeholders within the process
* Develop and document safety plans with the families active participation
* Ensure the perspectives of the children and young people are considered when completing safety plans
* Prepare families for planning meetings with the relevant government and non-government stakeholders
* Ensure families have adequate time alone to consider options and have adequate supports available
* Ensure and empower families to be decision makers at the earliest possible opportunity
* Support and encourage families in a culturally appropriate ways to take ownership at each stage of the system
* Conduct regular reviews of all plans
* Provide supported referrals to appropriate services as agreed by the family
* Support families to initiate self-referrals
* Provide culturally appropriate FLDM support to families across all points along the child protection continuum (e.g. safety planning, court processes, reunification, transitioning to independence etc)
* Demonstrate awareness of cultural diversity that exist within and outside the programs catchment area
* Mapping out kin relationships including the development of genograms and considering the influences of ecological factors
* Facilitate the engagement between families and the department across the child protection continuum
* Support the department assessment of Investigations and Assessments (I & A's)
* Prepare and provide reports to the court and the appropriate Government Department as required
* Ensure collaboration with the department in assessing appropriate out of home placements
* Coordinate families transitioning into their preferred service of choice
* To effectively engage with traditional owners, elders and families across all communities
* Strategic use of resources to conduct community engagement activities
* Communicate to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community the independent nature of the program emphasising the FLDM process
* Ensures the family clearly understands the provisions of TAIHS confidentiality policy. Part of this process is to ensure families understand the limitations of confidentiality in respect to maintaining the safety of children
* Contribute to the development of practice procedures, forms and templates that align with the service model
* Provide general support and advice to FF staff and families in relation to Domestic and Family Violence (DFV)
* Work with FF's and the program manager in a coordinated way to role model and develop DFV case practice skills
* Engage in case reviews of highly complex DFV situations
* Provide training and technical assistance to FF staff on understanding the dynamics of DFV and targeted responses that promote safer outcomes for families
* Development of an information pack containing resources that assist families experiencing DFV
* Conduct thorough assessments of DFV to identify all forms of violence on individuals in the family, particularly on situations that may put the safety of children at risk
* Work collaboratively with families to develop safety plans and provide families with information on all available options
* Maintain a strong focus on duty-of-care by conducting ongoing assessment of threat of harm and other risk factors, and take appropriate steps
* Establish strong networks with key stakeholders to maintain collaborative relationships that build community capacity and raises awareness of DFV
* Maintain an understanding of the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012
* Maintain a working understanding of all contemporary DFV legislation and guidelines and practices
* Maintain knowledge of Domestic and Family Violence strategies and strengths-based practices
For more details, please read the full position description here
For all inquiries contact – Applications open until 10th January of 2026.