Child Development Practitioner

Domestic and Family Violence Refuge

• Employment Term:  Permanent part-time (4 days per week)
• Location: Chermside
• Remuneration: $53.43p/h + Super + NFP salary packaging

Please review this job listing carefully, as it has important information for your application. To apply, send your resume, a cover letter, and a separate response to the Key Selection Criteria. Only complete applications will be considered.

Make a meaningful difference with UnitingCare

At UnitingCare we are leaders in crisis response, the protection of vulnerable people and children, financial resilience and family wellbeing. Our FaDS (Family and Disability Services) team work passionately across Queensland to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. 

Your Part in our UnitingCare team

We are looking for an experienced and caring Child Development Practitioner to join our Domestic and Family Violence service.

This role is based at our refuge and supports children and young people who have experienced or witnessed Domestic and Family Violence. You will also help mothers and caregivers support their child's recovery and wellbeing.

You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide child-focused, trauma-informed support that promotes safety, attachment, emotional regulation, wellbeing, and resilience. You will also work closely with DFV caseworkers and other partners to make sure children's needs are included in family support plans.

This permanent part-time role gives you the chance to make a real difference for families as they recover from violence.

GENDER REQUIREMENT

Due to the nature of service delivery, female representation is required. This is a genuine occupational requirement under Section 31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1997 (Qld).

What makes a difference for us?

As the Child Development Practitioner, you will use your knowledge of child development, attachment, trauma, and the effects of Domestic and Family Violence on infants, children, and young people.

• Provide therapeutic and developmentally appropriate interventions for children residing in refuge.
• Undertake developmental, emotional and behavioural assessments to identify strengths, needs and appropriate support strategies.
• Support mothers and caregivers to strengthen attachment relationships, understand the impacts of trauma and build confidence in responding to their children's developmental and emotional needs.
• Design and facilitate therapeutic play, parenting education, psychoeducation and group activities.
• Work collaboratively with Caseworkers to develop integrated support plans for families.
• Liaise with schools, early childhood services, Child Safety, health professionals and other community services to promote positive outcomes for children.
• Advocate for children's voices and ensure their needs remain central within service delivery.
• Maintain accurate records and contribute to service evaluation and continuous improvement.
• Have completed relevant tertiary qualification
• Hold a current Open Queensland Driver Licence
• Hold a current Working with Children Check (Blue Card or eligibility to obtain)
• Are willing to participate in shared on call duties, covering weeknights and weekends.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

This role requires specific experience and qualifications. Please include your resume, cover letter, and responses to each selection criterion. We can only consider complete applications.

Applicants must provide a written response addressing EACH of the following:

• Bachelor qualification in Psychology, Social Work, Counselling, or equivalent, and a minimum of two years' experience providing therapeutic support to children, young people, and families.
• Demonstrated knowledge of child development, attachment theory, trauma-informed practice and the impacts of Domestic and Family Violence on children's development, wellbeing and relationships.
• Demonstrated experience supporting parents to strengthen parent-child relationships and enhance parenting capacity following experiences of trauma.
• Experience planning and delivering therapeutic, developmentally appropriate and engaging interventions for children and families, including individual and group programs.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships with internal colleagues and external stakeholders to support integrated service delivery.
• Highly developed communication, assessment, documentation and report writing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, work autonomously and contribute positively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Commitment to trauma-informed, child-centred, culturally safe and strengths-based practice, and to the mission, values and policies of UnitingCare.

For further information, contact Bri Dwyer on 0458 039 108.

What makes a difference for you? 

• Flexible work arrangements to support work-life balance 

• NFP Salary Packaging: Save tax and increase your take home pay by salary packaging your everyday living expenses and bills (up to $15,900) and meal entertainment (up to $2,650) per annum. To learn more about this benefit watch the video via the following link: Salary Packaging Explained  

• A recognition and rewards platform, providing employee discounts at hundreds of retailers, including everyday expenses, holidays, health insurance, annual awards celebration, wellbeing and employee assistance programs  

• 12 weeks paid parental leave and 2 weeks paid partner leave, available after 6 months service, in addition to the government scheme  

• Diversity and inclusive leave, offering paid gender affirmation leave and cultural leave options (paid and unpaid) for those who may celebrate Lunar New Year, Diwali, Ramadan, NAIDOC weeks and other significant cultural events  

• Career development opportunities to challenge yourself, grow and make a meaningful difference   

• A positive and inclusive team based on respect, shared standards, strong values and a commitment to serving others 

We’d love you to be part of our UnitingCare family  

Joining our FaDS, team, you’ll also be welcomed as part of the UnitingCare family. The second-largest Queensland employer, we’re a proud not-for-profit with more than 16,500 staff and 9,000 volunteers across our brands of BlueCare, Lifeline, ARRCS, The Wesley Hospital, Buderim Private Hospital, St Stephen’s Hospital, and St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital, and have been leading by example for more than 100 years.  

Child safe, Child friendly 

 UnitingCare is committed to being a Child Safe, Child Friendly organisation and will:  

• provide welcoming, safe and nurturing services for children  

• implement measures to prevent child abuse and neglect within our services 

• appropriately and immediately address child abuse and neglect if it does occur 

• abide by the Child Safe Standards and adhere to the Reportable Conduct Scheme  

Diversity & Inclusion   

Our approach is simple – everybody is welcome here.  At UnitingCare, diversity is at the core of our who we are, our mission and our values. We are committed to providing equal opportunities to all employees no matter their sex, race, culture, sexual orientation, disability or gender identity. Demonstrating our commitment to reconciliation and building long-term employment opportunities for First Nations peoples, UnitingCare strongly encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants for this position.    

Safe workplace   

We work hard to make our services welcoming and safe for every person. We are united in keeping children, young people and the elderly safe from harm, within our services, workplaces and the communities we support. We are committed to speaking up loudly for their safety.   

Commitment to Safeguarding

We are committed in creating services and workplaces that are welcoming and safe for every person. We work together to protect children, young people, adults and the elderly from harm within our services and the communities we support. We speak up for their safety to ensure their voices are heard. Our recruitment and workplace practices reflect our dedication in preventing abuse, harm and exploitation across UnitingCare.