First Nations Caseworker - Permanency Support Program

Description:

About The Role
This is a permanent full-time (35 hours / week) position based in Dubbo with some travel across Western NSW region
As a First Nations Caseworker, you’ll be a key figure in a child’s life—supporting their safety, their story, and their cultural identity. You’ll be responsible for coordinating care for Aboriginal children and young people in out-of-home care, with a strong focus on permanency, cultural connection, and healing.
You’ll have control over your own schedule, allowing you to plan your work week based on the needs of the children, families, and carers you support. This includes conducting regular home visits, frequent informal visits, appointments, and family time. As well as liaising with carers and birth families, and ensuring children stay connected with their broader mob.
About You In The Role
Developing and reviewing case plans and risk assessments. Supporting family time and building strong, culturally respectful relationships with birth families and extended kin. Working toward guardianship outcomes where appropriate. Collaborating with the clinical team on behaviour support planning. Navigating placement breakdowns and sourcing culturally safe alternative placements. Drawing on your community connections and cultural knowledge to keep children close to their families, Country and culture. Managing a caseload of around 12 children (depending on complexity). Completing a range of administrative and compliance-related tasks that are part of ensuring quality care and protection for each child.
The role involves regular travel across Western NSW, so you’ll need to be comfortable being on the road, visiting communities and maintaining strong, face-to-face relationships.
While core hours are 9am to 5pm, we know the work doesn’t always stick to the clock. That’s why we offer flexibility—when you support families outside of regular hours, you’ll be supported with time-in-lieu and flexible working options to help you maintain balance.
About You
This is an identified Aboriginal position. Only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply in accordance with Section 14 (d) of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW). You are a proud Aboriginal person with deep cultural understanding and strong ties to community. You are passionate about keeping Aboriginal children safe while helping them maintain lifelong connections to family, mob and culture. You thrive when working independently, planning your schedule and connecting with families face-to-face. You’re confident working through complex family situations, including trauma and placement changes. You’re a strong communicator who listens deeply, speaks with heart, and walks alongside people with respect. You hold a current driver’s licence and are ready to travel across Western NSW.
Why Join Us?
Be part of a culturally safe and supportive team that honours Aboriginal ways of being, knowing and doing. Enjoy flexibility to manage your time and wellbeing. Access ongoing cultural supervision, clinical support, and professional development. Help build a future where Aboriginal children are safe, strong and thriving and connected to family, culture and Country.
Should you have any questions, please contact Alex Sullivan from Uniting's Talent Acquisition Team at [email protected] / 0466801937
Employment with Uniting is subject to satisfactory background checks, which include National Police Checks, Working with Children Checks and Reference Checks.
Closing date: 11:55pm Monday 19 th May 2025
Apply now