Family Services Practitioner
Employment Type - Permanent Full Time; Temporary Full Time; Temporary Part Time
Classification - Allied Health Professionals (Victorian Public Sector)(Single Interest Employers) Enterprise Agreement 2021-2026 : Social Worker
Job Category - Family Support Case Worker
Req Id - 9815
About Us
Situated just 150 kilometres south-west of Melbourne, at the foot of the stunning Otway Ranges, close to Lorne and the Surf Coast, Colac Area Health services 21,000 people who call the Shire home. Colac Area Health meets the needs of more than 30,000 people in the Corangamite, Colac Otway, and Surf Coast Shires. A unique integrated health service providing a wide range of clinical and non-clinical services to the Colac and district community. This includes the following:
- Nursing/Midwifery
- Aged Care
- Medical
- Community Services
- Corporate Services
- Support Services
About the role
FAMILY SERVICES PRACTITIONER
Up to Full Time permanent and temporary hours available
Colac Area Health is a values based organisation providing a unique integrated health service comprising of over 500 employees, providing Acute Care, Aged Care, Community and Allied Health Services.
Family Services offers flexible and responsive assistance to vulnerable families in the Colac Otway and Corangamite Shires. The service promotes the safety of children and supports families to work towards negotiated goals that will improve the safety, health and wellbeing of the family. The program comprises casework, counselling, case management and support to families in their homes and other settings. It is based on a collaborative approach to assist vulnerable families to build on their existing strengths to further develop coping skills. This role may require intake, assessment, and holding work as directed.
As our ideal candidate you will have:
- An appropriate tertiary qualification in social work, welfare studies or a related discipline.
- Current Victorian Driver’s Licence and Working with Children Check, and a satisfactory national (and international where relevant) police check.
- Demonstrated experience and skill in providing casework and support to vulnerable children and families using a range of intervention approaches, with expertise in one or more of mental health, alcohol and other drugs, disability or family violence.
- Demonstrated experience in child-centred, family-inclusive practice, including developing, monitoring and reviewing action plans in partnership with families and children or young people.
- Knowledge of the Child Protection system and The Orange Door, including access pathways and eligibility criteria for Restoring Families, and of the MARAM Framework and the Child Information Sharing and Family Violence Information Sharing Schemes.
- Demonstrated commitment to, and capability in, culturally safe practice with Aboriginal children and families and to Aboriginal self-determination.
- Commitment to evidence-based practice, including an understanding of developmental trauma and theoretical frameworks relevant to family work, and a willingness to participate in Family Services practice module training, coaching and reflective supervision.
- Understanding of intersectionality in a Family Services context.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, managing a caseload flexibly within tight timeframes and variable workload demands.
- Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills and computer literacy, including experience with client information systems such as IRIS, and the ability to relate comfortably to people from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
Desirable:
- Experience delivering DFFH-funded Family Services.
- Experience developing, facilitating and working with groups.
- Experience supporting families with children at risk of justice engagement or with recent Youth Justice involvement.
- Understanding of the Disability sector and systems within a family’s context.
Benefits working with us
Colac Area Health offers the following benefits;
- Extensive organisational orientation/department induction
- Salary Sacrificing/Packaging
- Active Social Club
- Extensive professional development and continuing education
- Employee Assistance Program
- Access to on-site research support from the CAH Research Unit and the Western Alliance Academic Health Science Centre
To learn about our town and region please visit: Discovering natures wonders in Colac
Diversity and Inclusion
We believe in the power of diversity and inclusion. We celebrate the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and talents of our team members, fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and respected.
Our commitment to diversity strengthens our ability to provide compassionate and equitable care to all individuals, regardless of their backgrounds, abilities and identities.
We are committed to providing positive employment opportunities and a workplace that promotes wellbeing, and we welcome and encourage applications from those who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
We actively encourage individuals with disabilities and diverse backgrounds and identities to apply for our positions. Should you require any reasonable adjustments or support during the recruitment process, we are here to assist you every step of the way.
We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. Click here for further information on the Victorian Government’s Child Safe Standards.
To apply visit: https://peopleplus.swarh.vic.gov.au/CAH
This role requires you to provide evidence of the current influenza vaccination.
Contact person: Sharon Eskildsen
Email: seskildsen@cah.vic.gov.au
Phone: 03 5232 5100
Application closing date: Friday 23 October 2026
Are you currently a Colac Area Health employee? If so, please log into the People Plus internal careers site here or via your applications using your network login. Here you will find the full list of jobs available to you. You can then apply though the internal portal.