Strengthening & Restoring Practitioner

Join Cafs and help strengthen families, improve child safety and create lasting change for children, young people and their families.

Employment type: Full Time or Part Time 0.8 Fixed Term to 30 June 2027
Classification: Social Worker Level 4 (SW4)
Salary: $92,437 to $99,452 plus superannuation
Salary packaging options: Up to $15,900 plus meals and entertainment
Location: Ballarat, VIC
Above award entitlements: Including 3 days paid Christmas Leave

About the Opportunity

Cafs is seeking 5 passionate and experienced Strengthening & Restoring Practitioners to join our Family Services team.

The objective of the Cafs Strengthening & Restoring Program is to enhance the safety, stability, development and cultural safety of vulnerable children and young people (pre-birth to 17 years) by strengthening the capacity and resilience of families and the community. Guided by the Best Interests Case Practice Model and the Family Preservation and Reunification training modules, the program delivers two levels of intervention, Strengthening and Restoring, responding to families' individual needs.

About the Program

The Cafs Strengthening & Restoring Families Program supports vulnerable children, young people and families from pre-birth to 17 years through two streams of intervention based on assessed need.

The Strengthening stream provides earlier intervention and family support aimed at improving child and family wellbeing, while the Restoring stream delivers intensive support to prevent children entering care, support reunification and promote family stability. Guided by the Best Interests Case Practice Model and Family Preservation and Reunification Framework, the program places families at the centre of planning and decision-making.

About the Role

As the Strengthening & Restoring Practitioner, you will:

• Deliver in-home family support and case management services.
• Undertake comprehensive psychosocial assessments and therapeutic interventions.
• Develop Family Action Plans that promote family participation and shared goals.
• Support children, young people and families to achieve improved safety, stability and wellbeing.
• Strengthen parenting capacity, family relationships and protective factors.
• Work collaboratively with Child Protection and key partner agencies.
• Connect families with community supports and referral pathways.
• Maintain accurate documentation, case notes and reporting requirements.
• Contribute to reflective practice, professional development and program improvement activities.
• Manage a diverse caseload across both Strengthening and Restoring streams.
• Promote culturally safe, inclusive and family-centred practice.

About You

You will bring:

• Tertiary qualifications (Diploma and above) in Social Work, Welfare Studies, Family Therapy, Psychology or a related discipline.
• Experience working with vulnerable children, young people and families.
• Knowledge of child development, trauma-informed practice and family-centred approaches.
• Experience undertaking assessments, case planning and family support interventions.
• Strong communication, engagement and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders and community services.
• Demonstrated commitment to child safety, inclusion and culturally responsive practice.
• Strong organisational and documentation skills.
• Current Victorian Driver Licence.

Why Join Cafs?

At Cafs, we are committed to creating safe, connected, diverse and thriving communities. We offer:

• A supportive and experienced Family Services team.
• Ongoing professional supervision and development.
• Opportunities to strengthen outcomes for children and families.
• Meaningful work that supports family preservation and reunification.
• Access to evidence-informed practice frameworks including TBRI and Family Preservation and Reunification.
• A values-driven organisation committed to inclusion, child safety and eliminating family violence.

How to Apply

If you are passionate about supporting children and families to build on their strengths and create positive change, we'd love to hear from you. APPLY NOW!

To find out more about this opportunity please refer to the attached Position Description when applying or, for a confidential discussion about the role, please contact the Strengthening & Restoring Families Team or Jen Allen, Talent Acquisition Partner, on 03 •••• •333.

Applications close 14 September 2026. Please note that applications may be reviewed as they are received, and applicants may be contacted for interview prior to the closing date. All applicants must be eligible to work in Australia, and employment will be subject to satisfactory Police and Victorian Working with Children Checks.

Our Commitment

Inclusion and diversity are at the heart of everything we do at Cafs. We welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, members of the LGBTIQA+ community and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

"To work with people to enable healing, hope and meaningful impact across all generations."