Case Worker

The South West Aboriginal Medical Services (SWAMS) is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health service based in Bunbury. We provide a comprehensive range of health and wellbeing services to Aboriginal people across the South West, Great Sothern, Upper Wheatbelt, and Peel regions of Western Australia.

Our services include GP clinics, primary health care, counselling, and a variety of community programs designed to support holistic wellbeing.

SWAMS is committed to continuous growth through strong partnerships and community development, ensuring we meet the evolving needs of the communities we serve.

We are seeking a passionate and culturally responsive Case Worker to join our Mental Health Team.

This role plays a vital part in delivering culturally safe, person-centred support to Aboriginal individuals and families. You will work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team to promote healing, resilience, and connection to culture, community, and Country.

The purpose of this position is to provide culturally safe, trauma-informed and recovery-oriented case work within the SWAMS Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) service. The role supports Aboriginal people, families and community members to strengthen social and emotional wellbeing through holistic assessment, practical case coordination, advocacy, brief intervention, supported referral and connection to cultural, social, health, mental health, alcohol and other drug, family, community and specialist services. The Case Worker works alongside clients in a strengths-based way that recognises connection to family, kinship, community, culture, Country, spirituality and self-determination as central to wellbeing.

Key Responsibilities

• Case Work and Social Emotional and Wellbeing Support
• Provide culturally safe, person-led and family-inclusive case work that supports Aboriginal clients to identify priorities, build strengths and work toward their social and emotional wellbeing goals.
• Undertake holistic intake, screening and needs identification that considers social, emotional, cultural, physical, spiritual, family, community, housing, justice, financial, alcohol and other drug, mental health and safety factors.
• Develop and review collaborative case plans with clients, families and relevant supports, ensuring goals are practical, strengths-based, culturally responsive and recovery-oriented.
• Provide active case coordination, supported referral, advocacy, follow-up and warm handover to SWAMS programs, community supports, specialist mental health, alcohol and other drug, housing, family support, legal, justice and other relevant services.
• Offer brief intervention, emotional support, practical problem-solving and limited crisis support within scope of role, escalating risk and clinical concerns promptly in line with SWAMS policies.
• Work in partnership with Cultural Leads, SEWB workers, clinicians, lived-experience workers, families, Elders, community members and external agencies to support coordinated and culturally secure care.
• Promote client choice, self-determination, dignity, privacy and informed consent, including recognition of lived and living experience as valuable expertise in service planning and delivery.
• Support SEWB group activities, community engagement, prevention and early intervention initiatives that strengthen connection to culture, family, community and Country.
• Maintain accurate, timely and objective case notes, risk information, referrals, case plans and service activity records in relevant systems.
• Participate in supervision, reflective practice, case review and team meetings to support safe, ethical and effective practice.
• Maintain accurate service data, client records, case notes, risk documentation and reporting requirements in accordance with SWAMS policies, funding obligations, privacy requirements and quality standards.
• Use reporting information to support continuity of care, service planning, evaluation, continuous improvement and accountability to clients, community and funders.
• Adhere to all policies and procedures in regard to infection control management.
• Contribute to continual quality improvement in the delivery of SEWB services, including culturally safe, trauma-informed, recovery-oriented and lived-experience-informed practice.
• Maintain the highest standards of professional conduct.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding clients and their families at all times.
• Participate in and contribute to the fulfilment of operational needs of the organisation as they arise.
• Participate in research activities within the services as required.
• Demonstrate an understanding of and compliance with all SWAMS policies and procedures.
• Participate in maintaining a safe working environment.
• Participate in performance appraisals and be responsible for contributing to own professional development.
• Attend and participate in the professional development program and relevant external seminars and conferences, as approved.
• Uphold the Code of Conduct and ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and young people, while promoting a child-safe environment and act in line with SWAMS’ child safeguarding policies and the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. Employment is subject to child-safeguarding checks and where required, a Working With Children Clearance.

• Contribute to continual quality improvement in the delivery of SEWB services, including culturally safe, trauma-informed, recovery-oriented and lived-experience-informed practice.
• Assist in maintaining compliance with Equal Employment Opportunity, Work Health & Safety, Code of Conduct, Quality Improvement, Performance Management, Privacy and Confidentiality requirements throughout the course of duties.
• Maintain the highest standards of professional conduct.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding clients and their families at all times.
• Participate in and contribute to the fulfilment of operational needs of the organisation as they arise.
• Participate in research activities within the services as required.
• Demonstrate an understanding of and compliance with all SWAMS policies and procedures.
• Participate in maintaining a safe working environment.
• Participate in performance appraisals and be responsible for contributing to own professional development.
• Attend and participate in the professional development program and relevant external seminars and conferences, as approved.
• Uphold the Code of Conduct and ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and young people, while promoting a child-safe environment and act in line with SWAMS’ child safeguarding policies and the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Relevant qualification or demonstrated experience in community services, Aboriginal health, social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, alcohol and other drugs, youth work, social work, counselling, case management or a related field relevant to the Case Worker – SEWB role.
• Demonstrated understanding of Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing, including the importance of connection to family, kinship, community, culture, Country, spirituality, self-determination and healing.
• Demonstrated ability to provide culturally safe, respectful, strengths-based and trauma-informed support to Aboriginal people, families and communities within a SEWB service context.
• Experience in case work, care coordination, advocacy, supported referral, brief intervention or community-based support with people experiencing complex needs.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, lived-experience workers, cultural supports, families, community members and external agencies to achieve client-led SEWB outcomes.
• Sound communication, documentation, time management, problem-solving and relationship-building skills relevant to case planning, referral pathways and service coordination.
• Capacity to respond flexibly to changing client and community needs while maintaining professional boundaries, confidentiality, informed consent and duty of care.
• Hold a National Police Clearance less than 6 months old or willing to obtain one
• Hold a current WA C or CA Class driver’s licence
• Hold a valid Working with Children Check or willing to obtain one
• First Aid Certificate

Desirable

• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.
• Knowledge and understanding of relevant legislative requirements. 

Why SWAMS?

Along with working with passionate people and being able to feel like you have contributed to something every day, SWAMS offers the following:

• 17.5% leave loading
• Up to $18,550 salary packaging options and novated leasing options
• Discounted gym memberships
• Uniforms supplied
• Generous leave allowances

At SWAMS, child safety is our highest priority. We are committed to the wellbeing of all children and young people, with zero tolerance for abuse. All team members have a legal and moral duty to ensure a safe environment and are required to undergo a National Police Clearance. Roles involving direct contact with children also require a valid WA Working with Children Check as part of our pre-employment screening.

For more information about SWAMS and the role:

• About SWAMS, our great organisation - https://www.swams.com.au/about/
• For queries – please contact Human Resources on (08) •••••111.

To Apply

To apply for this role please follow the online application process of this platform or email your application through to: ••••@swams.com.au . We also welcome you to drop your resume to our office at 30 Wellington Street, Bunbury.