Gunyah Babies Practitioner
Casual
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander People of all ages are strongly encouraged to apply.
REFOCUS is in the business of Redirecting and Empowering Families by creating Opportunities through Culturally Unique and responsive Services. Our work is driven by a commitment to strengthening families, celebrating identity, and fostering resilience.
We do this by building genuine connections, valuing emotional intelligence, and taking a ground-up approach to understanding where support is most needed for children and families. Our services are shaped by real-world experience and a deep respect for the communities we serve.
Over the past 15 years, we have supported more than 20,000 community members across the Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, Gympie, and Cairns regions, delivering high-quality support across the Health, Community, and NDIS sectors. We are powered by a dedicated team with more than 800 years of combined lived and professional experience, ensuring culturally safe, person centered, knowledgeable, and effective care.
The New Opportunity
Gunyah Babies is a culturally safe, trauma-informed residential program supporting vulnerable mothers and their infants. It provides 24/7 wraparound care, parenting education, and clinical support to strengthen parenting skills and prevent child protection involvement. Grounded in cultural knowledge, the program helps mothers build confidence, emotional regulation, and community connections. Gunyah Babies empowers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to stay together, thrive, and transition to safe, stable housing.
The role is richly rewarding, but as is the case with such jobs it presents with its own challenges too. Working therapeutically with children and young people means supporting them to be their best selves, helping them learn, grow and develop with autonomy, to make positive choices for their future.
Pay and conditions
Casual position
Hourly pay rates range from:
$43 - $55 per hour - including Casual loading, subject to Award Rate [MA000100]
Classification level and pay rate are assessed and determined based on qualifications, experience, and demonstrated capability.
What we're looking for
We're looking for someone who:
* Can engage new mothers, obtaining consent and developing a case plan in conjunction with the family which addresses unmet needs and child protection concerns.
* To lead on the compilation of initial assessments when required, and to ensure that plans are in place for the mother and infant and that these are progressed and regularly reviewed in line with service procedures.
* Conduct appropriate referrals to other REFOCUS and external programs.
* To ensure that the families' voice is heard and that their views and feelings inform such plans.
* Attend, represent and contribute to relevant stakeholder and internal meetings.
* To contribute to a range of interventions designed to divert infants form entering into care and contribute to assessments to inform future external referrals to other services.
* Facilitating social learning, parenting, good health and wellbeing programs for the House occupants.
* Assist and encourage program participants with matters affecting their welfare, behaviours, and routines.
* To undertake direct work with program participants with regard to daily tasks (eg cooking, cleaning, budget management) and parenting skills (eg basic care routines, attachment, play, stimulation, managing challenging behaviour, etc) designed to improve the quality of life for children and young people and improving parenting. This work to be undertaken on a one-to-one basis and/or through group work.
* Work in collaboration with the Gunyah of Wellness Clinical Nurse to provide integrated care for program participants.
* Undertake regular notetaking and provide monthly activity reports to the REFOCUS Chief Health Officer.
* Attend regular training and refresher sessions to maintain skills and qualifications including but not limited to cultural awareness, mental health, CPR and first aid.
Qualification & Experience
Qualification in Community/Social Services or commit to enrolling in a minimum Cert IV Child Youth & Family Intervention or other relevant qualification. Must also complete the Hope & Healing Framework Foundational Training 10 modules which will be completed with us as part of your onboarding training.
Training and support
Practitioners will receive intensive training in policies, procedures, and best practice. Ongoing supervision, mentoring, and professional development are core to this role.
Additional requirements
• Availability for a rotating roster, including day, evening, overnight, weekend, and public holiday shifts, is required to support our 24/7 care operations.
• You must hold a drivers licence (minimum green P's)
• You must hold a current Blue Card (Working with Children Clearance).
• Capacity and willingness to pass a Child Safety and Personal History Screening.
• You must work within the 10 Child Safe Standards.
How to apply
To apply, please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your interest and relevant experience.