Men’s Healing and Support Workers x2

About us

Boorndawan Willam is a phrase from Wathaurong and Woiwurrung languages meaning "safe house," with Boorndawan meaning 'safe' and Willam meaning 'house'.

Boorndawan Willam Aboriginal Healing Service (BWAHS) is the lead Aboriginal‑specific family violence service for the eastern metropolitan region of Melbourne. Established in 2006 and transitioning to an independent Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation in 2019, BWAHS delivers trauma‑informed, culturally grounded responses to individuals, families and Community experiencing, or at risk of, family violence.

We provide a wide range of services to Community and our engagement and support for our communities’ healing journey are vital – wholly underpinned and guided by culture.

All employees must have:

• Commitment to BWAHS Vision, Mission, Values and Principles.
• Capacity for self-assessment, reflection and emotional intelligence.
• Ethical and culturally aware practice.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Accountability and adherence to professional standards.
• Willingness to contribute to projects and tasks outside of core role to support the wider BWAHS team.
• Compliance with Workplace Health & Safety and Privacy requirements.

About the role

Two full time permanent roles are available, of which one must be filled by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.

The Men’s Healing and Support Worker provides culturally grounded support to Aboriginal men to promote healing, accountability and non-violence. Working within a cultural framework, the role addresses the underlying factors contributing to a man’s use of family violence while keeping the safety of women and children central to all practice. This includes undertaking risk assessment, safety planning, collaborative risk management and appropriate treatment interventions.

The role primarily provides case management to strengthen stability in men’s lives to support safer choices. The Men’s Healing and Support Worker works collaboratively with external agencies and maintains strong networks across the family violence sector and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.

 BWAHS has assessed one of these positions as an identified role under section 12 (1) of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 due to the requirement to work closely with Aboriginal men. Therefore one role must be filled by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.

 Key responsibilities include:

• Culturally safe, strengths-based case management and case coordination to men who are identified as using or being impacted by family violence
• Using assertive outreach and relational engagement to support men’s healing, strengthen accountability and promote safer choices, while keeping the safety of women and children central
• Establishing clear goals with clients to support stability, healing and non-violence, and review these goals regularly
• Conducting comprehensive risk assessments and working collaboratively with other agencies to support referrals, case planning and risk management
• Supporting the facilitation of therapeutic and behaviour change groups
• Ensure group work and community interactions are safe, non-shaming, strengths-based and culturally appropriate
• Keeping the safety of women and children paramount by applying an understanding of gender-based violence, non-collusive practice and intersectional risk assessment while maintaining a client-centred approach
• Engaging key stakeholders
• Providing inclusive trauma-informed practice
• Completing associated administrative and practice processes
• Actively participating in training and supervision

About you

You want to be part of a team providing culturally safe services to Aboriginal men.

You are keenly aware of the gendered nature of violence against women and children and the intersectional risk factors of people using violence, particularly the impact of family violence on Aboriginal women, children, families and communities – and you are committed to being part of the solution.

As such, you have a thorough understanding of interventions, frameworks and approaches when working with people who use violence

You are engaging, practice self reflection, are professional, keep confidentiality and are well versed in MARAM.

You either have a tertiary qualification or have significant relevant work experience and would love to be supported to obtain the mandatory minimum qualification.

If you have experience in the not-for-profit sector, have worked in an ACCO or with Community, have knowledge of services in the Eastern Metropolitan Region, have cultural skills and techniques to share and/or have a post grad qualification … that would be deadly! 

To submit your application, please click ‘Apply Now’ by the closing date.

BWAHS has assessed one of these positions as an identified role under section 12 (1) of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 due to the requirement to work closely with Aboriginal men. As such, one role must be filled by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.

As BWAHS is a child safe organisation, prior to commencement the successful applicant will be required to:

• Complete a National Police check
• Provide a valid employment Working With Children Check and evidence they have nominated BWAHS as their employer

This role also requires a current drivers licence.