Family Led Safety and Support Practitioner

About Kummara Limited

Kummara Limited is an Aboriginal Community Controlled, Not for Profit proudly serving the Southeast Queensland Community since 1999. Kummara provides emergency support, counselling, family support and assistance in the field of child protection, health and wellbeing to local First Nations and non-First Nations families in Southeast Queensland. We work in partnership with a number of government and community Organisations across Southeast Queensland to improve the health and well-being of our communities.

About Delegated Authority

Kummara is working with the Department of Child Safety sharing responsibility to support children in the child protection system under a delegated authority arrangement, supporting families through family led decision making processes. This means that Kummara’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) can make decisions about approving contact arrangements for some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care.

This new way of working acknowledges that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are best placed to participate in and make decisions that affect them, their children and their families.

The Delegated Authority program aims to safeguard the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children within the child protection system and upholds the importance of connections to family, community, culture and country. It recognises the evidence of long-term loss caused to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who are raised without knowledge of, and links to, their family, language, culture and country. It also reflects the five core elements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle (ATSICPP): Prevention, Partnership, Placement, Participation and Connection.

About the Role:

The Family Led Safety and Support Practitioner will work across the geographical catchments for the Inala and Springfield Child Safety Service Centers working with the relevant Child Safety officers from the respective service centers and will:

• Work in partnership with children and families who have been identified as potentially benefitting from a delegated authority arrangement.

• Work within a cultural framework that values traditional and contemporary healing practices, to enable engagement with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in ways that help parents, families resolve difficulties and problems. 

• In collaboration with the child/ren and families and the Child Safety Service Centre, develop a plan around the execution of the delegated functions, working with the families to provide holistic therapeutic support, through a strengths-based partnership, and where possible, seek to resolve underlying problems and difficulties.

• Maintain a case load and provide direct services including assessment, planning, and delivery within the context of an interdisciplinary environment, maintaining an awareness of community and organisational objectives. 

• Promote and empower individuals and families to participate in their own healing journeys, through individual and family-based work.

• Uphold and apply the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principles and further interpret and apply the Child Protection Act 1999, the Human Rights Act 2019, and other associated legislation. 

Key Selection Criteria:

• Strong, demonstrable experience in informing and designing policy and procedural frameworks within the broader human/ social services sectors. 

• Demonstrated understanding of the complex challenges facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in contemporary society and a sound understanding of risk assessment frameworks.

• High level interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to communicate with a broad range of staff, develop effective relationships at all levels of the organisation. 

• High level organisational skills, including attention to detail and the ability to prioritise workflows in order to meet competing demands and deadlines. 

• Demonstrated understanding of, and ability to, work in alignment with the Purpose and Guiding Principles of Kummara. 

Mandatory Requirements:

• Bachelor in Community Services/Human Services/Social Work or related field

• Minimum of 3+ years in a Child Protection/Case management position 

• Sound knowledge of the Queensland Child Protection Act 1999, or the ability to acquire. 

• Positive Notice, Working with Children Suitability (Blue Card).

• Current valid Queensland driver's license.

• A Commitment to working in Partnership with key stakeholders including Child Safety Representatives 

• Genuine commitment to empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and strong advocacy skills and capacity which benefits children, young people, families and Community. 

We strongly encourage and welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons.

How to apply: 

Applications are to be submitted directly through SEEK including a cover letter (no more than 2 pages) outlining your skills and experience in reference to the selection criteria noted above. 

NOTE: interviews will be held as suitable applications are received so don't delay! Apply now!