Family and Parenting Practitioner - Carlton / Collingwood

Perinatal mental health practice | Individual and family interventions | Supporting families during the transition to parenthood | Ready Steady Family | Part-time opportunity based in Carlton/Collingwood

Salary: SCHADS Level 5 | Part-time, 0.6 FTE | Contract to 30 June 2027 + super + NFP salary packaging

About Drummond Street Services

Drummond Street Services is a not-for-profit, non-denominational agency with over 130 years of delivering innovative services that strengthen families and communities across Victoria. We provide family services, mental health and wellbeing support, relationship counselling, parenting programs, and specialist services that reflect the diversity of the communities we work alongside.

We are committed to creating meaningful change through evidence-informed and trauma-informed practice. Our work is grounded in social justice and inclusion, supporting our teams to deliver services that are responsive to the needs of children, young people, individuals, families, and communities.

About the Role

Join Drummond Street Services’ Ready Steady Family program, providing free mental health and support services to people expecting a baby and families with infants up to two years of age.

We are seeking a Family and Parenting Practitioner with knowledge of, and a strong interest in, perinatal mental health to join the team three days per week until 30 June 2027. The role will be primarily based in Carlton/Collingwood and will work with clients across Melbourne’s North and West, including outreach where required.

Working alongside the Ready Steady Family Senior Perinatal Counsellor, you will provide high-quality therapeutic interventions to antenatal and postnatal clients and families experiencing mental health challenges during the transition to parenthood. You will work collaboratively within a passionate multidisciplinary team, contribute to client allocations and maintain a small caseload, while also supporting group and seminar delivery and practice development.

Duties

• Provide sensitive and affirmative counselling and support to antenatal and postnatal clients and families experiencing perinatal mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, birth trauma and other concerns.
• Conduct high-quality assessment and screening, including consideration of biopsychosocial risk and protective factors, and develop individual and family case plans in collaboration with clients.
• Deliver evidence-based therapeutic and recovery interventions, using appropriate assessment measures to inform treatment planning and measure client outcomes.
• Provide active and intentional support to assist families to work towards their parenting goals and connect clients with appropriate internal and external services, including mental health, family violence, alcohol and other drugs, social connection and other relevant supports.
• Contribute to client allocations, maintain a small caseload, mentor staff delivering interventions, and develop and deliver group and seminar content internally and externally as required.
• Maintain accurate client records and required documentation, provide reports to referrers as required, participate in clinical supervision and contribute to team, program and organisational targets and KPIs.

Skills & Experience

• Tertiary qualification in Social Work, Psychology, Counselling or a related discipline.
• Minimum three years’ experience providing psychological and practical interventions to individuals and families during the antenatal and postnatal period.
• Demonstrated experience working within the mental health service system, with knowledge of perinatal and infant mental health, family violence, trauma and their impacts.
• Demonstrated experience providing counselling and therapeutic interventions across face-to-face, outreach, telephone and online video-based settings, with experience in clinical supervision or practice support desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, contribute positively to a busy community services environment and manage competing priorities across different program areas and sites.
• A strong commitment to social justice and inclusive practice, with demonstrated understanding of and responsiveness to the intersectional experiences of First Nations people, LGBTIQA+ people, culturally diverse communities and people with disability.

Please review the Position Description attached below, which outlines the full list of responsibilities and key selection criteria.

Culture

We value reflective practice, innovation, and continuous learning, creating an environment where practitioners are supported to deliver high-quality services and grow professionally.

We are an intersectional organisation committed to equity and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from First Nations people, LGBTIQA+ people, people with disability, people of colour, public housing residents, and people with lived experience, as we recognise that diverse perspectives strengthen our practice and better reflect the communities we serve.

Benefits

• SCHADS Level 5 salary + superannuation.
• NFP salary packaging – up to $15,900 tax free each year.
• Part-time position, 0.6 FTE, contract to 30 June 2027, with option of extension subject to funding.
• Primarily based in Carlton/Collingwood, with outreach across Melbourne’s North and West.
• Professional development and ongoing learning opportunities.
• Clinical supervision and reflective practice within a supportive multidisciplinary team.
• Meaningful work supporting families during the transition to parenthood.

How to Apply

Click 'Apply Now' to submit your resume and a cover letter addressing the following questions. Applications close midnight on the closing date. Please keep your responses to approximately 250 words per question:

• Elaborate on your experience in the perinatal space and as a practice lead or supervisor.
• Outline your experience working with individuals, couples and families with complex needs, such as family violence, drug and alcohol issues, suicidal ideation and mental health concerns.
• What does a social justice approach mean to you?

Shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview and asked to provide evidence of their qualifications.

For a confidential discussion about the role, please contact Kate Galea, Ready Steady Family Manager, on 03 9663 6733 or kate.galea@ds.org.au using the subject line: Family and Parenting Practitioner - Carlton / Collingwood enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Drummond Street Services is committed to child safety and to creating and maintaining a child safe organisation in line with Victorian Child Safe Standards. The safeguarding and wellbeing of children and young people is central to our work. We have zero tolerance for child abuse and are committed to acting in the best interests of children and young people. All staff are required to participate in a thorough recruitment and screening process, including holding a current Victorian Working with Children Check and completing a National Police Check.