Senior Practitioner

Job Posting Organization:
54 reasons is Australia’s leading child rights organisation, which is not an ordinary not-for-profit. It is proudly part of the Save the Children Group and a global movement dedicated to ensuring that everyone understands their rights, particularly those of children and young people. The organization aims to ensure that children have their rights met and can thrive in all their diversity. With a workforce of approximately 600 employees, 54 reasons operates across various states and territories, providing quality services to children and their caregivers in regions, remote areas, and capital cities. The organization is committed to making a difference in the lives of vulnerable children and their families through collaborative planning and integrated responses.

Job Overview:
As a 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 full-time maximum term position is set to last until the end of December 2026, and you will be part of the Family Integrated Case Management Group team. Your role will involve 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. You will also assist in identifying service system gaps and communicate this information to peak bodies within the sector, including decision-makers. Your work will be crucial in providing operational support for the Family Integrated Case Management Group and in networking with collective partners to enhance child and family safety and wellbeing.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Your duties and responsibilities 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 to enhance child and family safety and wellbeing.
• Providing holistic case management, delivering support to vulnerable and disadvantaged clients, and supporting relationships for favorable client outcomes.

Required Qualifications:
To be considered for this position, you must possess sound knowledge of the community service sector, including Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander organisations 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 and a thriving local community. Additionally, you must have the ability to build effective relationships, liaise, and work collaboratively with program stakeholders, community members, and relevant government and non-government organisations. Strong communication skills and experience in report writing are essential, along with strong time management and organisational skills. Experience leading community meetings, networks, workshops, and events is also required, as well as highly developed interpersonal skills to work effectively in a team. You should have demonstrated experience in liaising with community working groups and providing information related to emerging trends, issues, needs, opportunities, and challenges. Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, are crucial, including report-writing, presentations, and meeting facilitation/participation. Knowledge and/or experience in handling child protection concerns and processes is also necessary, along with demonstrated competence in using business technology, internet, and desktop applications such as MS Outlook, Word, Excel spreadsheets, database packages, and web-based information sharing portals.

Educational Background:
The position requires 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. A background in these fields is essential to effectively support the vulnerable populations you will be working with.

Experience:
Candidates should have a significant level of experience in the community service sector, particularly in roles that involve stakeholder engagement, case management, and collaboration with various agencies and community groups. Experience in leading community initiatives and working with vulnerable populations is highly valued.

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 may be considered an asset, enhancing the ability to engage with diverse communities.

Additional Notes:
This position is a full-time maximum term role until the end of December 202

• The organization offers an award rate salary (currently Level 5.1 - $53.43 per hour) plus full salary packaging benefits. Additional remote benefits include a generous annual remote location allowance paid on top of the base salary, along with 5 weeks of annual leave. Festive leave is also available, in addition to regular annual leave. Employees have access to an Employee Assistance Program and regular monthly supervision, as well as individual learning plans to assist in career development. The work environment is described as friendly and flexible, and the organization strongly encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates to apply.