Senior Practitioner

Job Posting Organization:
54 Reasons is Australia’s leading child rights organization, proudly part of the Save the Children Group and global movement. The organization is dedicated to ensuring that everyone understands their rights, particularly focusing on children and young people, so that their rights are met and they can thrive in all their diversity. Established with a mission to champion the rights of children, young people, and families, 54 Reasons operates across various regions, including remote areas and capital cities, reflecting the communities they serve. The organization employs approximately 1100 people and is committed to diversity in race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexuality, cultures, and beliefs, fostering a creative and accountable workforce that brings energy and innovative ideas to champion children in Australia.

Job Overview:
In the role of Senior Practitioner, you will work closely with the Regional Manager to engage with services and communities across the Mt Isa/Gulf region. Your primary focus will be on enhancing collaborative planning and integrated responses for vulnerable children and their families. This position requires a highly knowledgeable practitioner with well-developed stakeholder engagement skills and a demonstrated ability to facilitate high-level meetings. You will be responsible for identifying key agencies and programs that contribute to the service systems for vulnerable children and their families, coordinating forums, and supporting the development of working parties that promote service delivery collaboration. Additionally, you will assist in identifying service system gaps and communicate this information to peak bodies within the sector, including decision-makers. Your role will also involve providing operational support for the Family Integrated Case Management Group and networking with collective partners to negotiate support arrangements for families in the community, ultimately enhancing child and family safety and wellbeing. You will deliver holistic case management and support relationships for favorable client outcomes, ensuring that the child’s voice remains at the center of all services provided.

Duties and Responsibilities:
As a Senior Practitioner, your duties will include:

• Identifying key agencies and programs that contribute to the service systems across the Mt Isa/Gulf Region for vulnerable children and their families.
• Coordinating forums and supporting the development of working parties and other activities that promote service delivery collaboration.
• Assisting in the identification of service system gaps and communicating this information to peak bodies within the sector, including decision-makers.
• Providing coordination and support to Local Level Alliances when required.
• Offering operational support for the Family Integrated Case Management Group.
• Identifying and networking with a group of collective partners to jointly collaborate and negotiate support arrangements for families in the community.
• Delivering holistic case management to vulnerable and disadvantaged clients.
• Supporting relationships for favorable client outcomes.
• Facilitating high-level meetings and community engagement activities. 1
• Reporting on emerging trends, issues, needs, opportunities, and challenges within the community service sector.

Required Qualifications:
To be considered for this role, you must possess sound knowledge of the community service sector, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organizations and services for families, children, and young people. You should have a demonstrated ability to identify available services and service gaps, building on community capacity to provide more efficient service provision for families. Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, are essential, along with experience in report writing and leading community meetings, networks, workshops, and events. You should also have highly developed interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively in a team. Experience in liaising with community working groups and providing information related to emerging trends and challenges is crucial. Additionally, you must have demonstrated competence in using business technology and applications such as MS Outlook, Word, Excel, and database packages.

Educational Background:
The ideal candidate will have qualifications and/or equal experience in Social Work, Psychology, Social Sciences, Community Services, or Community Development, with a focus on child and family service delivery. Knowledge or an interest in working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and cross-cultural environments is highly desirable.

Experience:
Candidates should have substantial experience in the community service sector, particularly in roles that involve case management, stakeholder engagement, and community collaboration. Experience in leading community meetings and facilitating high-level discussions is also required, along with a proven track record of working effectively with vulnerable populations.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is essential for effective communication. Knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages would be considered an asset, enhancing the ability to engage with diverse communities.

Additional Notes:
This position is full-time and offers a competitive salary at the award rate (Level 5 - $53.43 per hour) plus full salary packaging benefits. Additional benefits include relocation assistance for the right candidate, generous annual remote location allowance, five weeks of annual leave, festive leave, access to an Employee Assistance Program, and individual learning plans for career development. The organization promotes a friendly and flexible work environment, allowing employees to work from both home and office. All employees are required to undergo a National Police Check and a Working with Children Check where necessary, and must adhere to the Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct.