Therapeutic Group and Family Practitioner
Back on Track Program
Part-time: 22.5 hours per week
Contract: 12 months (extension dependent on funding)
SCHADS: Level 5
Location: Melbourne – North-West Metro, with some training and meetings in the South-East
About Emerge
Emerge Women and Children's Support Network is a specialist family violence service based in Melbourne's Southern Region and primarily funded by the Victorian Government. We support women and children toward safety, autonomy, healing, and recovery after family violence.
Our work is grounded in feminist theory, intersectionality, human rights, and trauma-informed practice. We are committed to collaboration, respect, courage, creativity, inclusivity, impact, and kindness, and to delivering innovative, evidence-based programs that disrupt cycles of family violence.
About the Program – Back on Track
Back on Track is Emerge's sector-leading early intervention program for children aged 3–14 who are experiencing behavioural and emotional challenges related to family violence and trauma.
The program takes a whole-of-family approach, working with children, safe caregivers, and siblings through therapeutic casework, dyadic interventions, and group programs. The focus is on strengthening child–caregiver attachment, building emotional regulation, and interrupting intergenerational cycles of violence.
The program has been running successfully in Melbourne's South-East and will be expanding to the North-West Metro region in 2026.
Back on Track is underpinned by trauma-informed and neuro-affirming practice and draws on evidence-based modalities including attachment-focused interventions, play therapy, trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy, and dyadic therapy.
About the Role
Emerge is seeking a Therapeutic Group and Family Practitioner to deliver therapeutic interventions to children and their safe caregivers participating in the Back on Track program.
This is a practice-focused role, ideal for a clinician who enjoys working directly with families and children within a supportive, specialist team. The Practitioner will work closely with the Principal Practitioner and a small, dynamic team to deliver high-quality therapeutic services in line with Emerge's practice framework.
Key Responsibilities
The successful applicant will:
Deliver therapeutic interventions in line with the Back on Track program model and Emerge's therapeutic framework
Hold and manage a therapeutic caseload
Co-facilitate therapeutic groups for children and for parents/caregivers
Provide dyadic therapy to strengthen child–caregiver attachment
Monitor and respond to family violence and related risks
Maintain high-quality case notes, data collection, and reporting to meet compliance and evaluation requirements
Work collaboratively with Emerge staff, including case managers and other practitioners, and participate in secondary consultations
Participate in supervision, reflective practice, and professional development
Contribute positively to a collaborative, respectful, and trauma-informed team environment
About You
You will bring:
A relevant tertiary qualification in a related field (e.g., social work, counselling, psychology, allied health, or similar)
Experience delivering trauma-informed, recovery-oriented therapeutic interventions with children and caregivers
Experience co-facilitating therapeutic groups and delivering dyadic or family-based interventions
An understanding of family violence, trauma, early intervention, and/or child and family systems
Strong collaboration and communication skills and the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team
Well-developed documentation, time management, and organisational skills
Specialist family violence training is desirable but not essential — Emerge provides training in relevant frameworks including MARAM and specialist family violence practice.
Mandatory Requirements
Relevant tertiary qualification in a related field
Police Check
Working With Children Check
Current Victorian Driver's Licence
Right to work in Australia
What We Offer
Study leave
Maternity leave
Birthday leave
Salary packaging benefits
Supportive, collaborative, and trauma-informed team environment
Professional development and training opportunities
Additional Information
We strongly encourage applications from individuals with lived experience of family violence. We also welcome applicants from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Please note: As a specialist family violence agency, we hold an exemption under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984. Female applicants only need apply.
To Apply
To apply, please submit your resume and respond to the three screening questions addressing your suitability for the role. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. For further information or queries regarding this position, please contact HR at