The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) works hard to create equal opportunities for all Victorians to live a safe, respected and valued life.

Our areas of focus are child protection, housing, disability, the prevention of family violence, multicultural affairs, LGBTIQA+ equality, veterans, women and youth. The work we do benefits thousands of Victorians, particularly those who are disadvantaged and vulnerable.

We work in a variety of community-based settings, including people's homes, residential facilities and secure settings across metropolitan, rural and regional Victoria.

We are committed to developing and supporting a workforce that is well equipped and highly motivated. All jobs can be worked flexibly, and we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people from diverse backgrounds and abilities. .

If you’re having any trouble viewing this ad and would like it or any attachments in an accessible format (such as large print), please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on the ad.

For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Victoria | Jobs (www.dffh.vic.gov.au/jobs)

Advanced Child Protection Practitioner

To be an effective Advanced Child Protection Practitioner, you will bring your suitable experience and relevant qualifications to strengthen your strong sense of social justice and understanding that families are complex, with their own unique histories. Importantly, you will be able to build relationships with children, young people and their families. The work is interesting, challenging, busy and fulfilling and involves therapeutic and analytical skills. Being an Advanced Child Protection Practitioner means making real change to the lives of others – keeping children safe and families strong. Child protection is a career that grows with you, offering a range of professional pathways and leadership development opportunities. If you are passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of children, then a career in child protection is for you.

Benefits of a career in Child Protection Include:

As a Victorian government employee, you will have access to a broad range of benefits and entitlements. These include access to professional development opportunities through training programs, peer support networks and health initiatives. Working in child protection you will have access to a dedicated and free wellbeing and a support program which has been specifically designed to support our child protection employee's mental health and wellbeing. More information on the benefits in working with child protection can be found on our webpage Why Child Protection | Child Protection Jobs - DFFH.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Assessing children and young people who need protection
• Conducting risk assessments and investigations
• Working collaboratively with families, community services organisations and other professionals to develop and implement effective plans for children
• Managing complex cases, problem solving and presenting matters to the Children's Court of Victoria as required
• Being responsible for supporting and developing Child Protection Practitioners in the integration of theory and practice while demonstrating your expertise through case practice
• Working collaboratively with the Team Manager to strengthen case practice
• Providing effective service delivery and support other practitioners
• Determining case plans (including stability plans, cultural plans and therapeutic treatment plans) for the safety and wellbeing of children, and
• Delivering case practice and case management services for children and young people who are either living with family or placed in out of home care

Make the decision to pursue a fulfilling professional career and make a difference in vulnerable children's lives. Go Where You're Needed – Do a Job that Matters.

We also have vacancies for Advanced Child Protection Practitioners in CAHS and RAHS

Central After-Hours Service (CAHS) All urgent child protection matters that are received outside core business hours (after hours, weekends and public holidays), are responded to and managed by a state-wide service based in metropolitan Melbourne. In this team you will participate in rostered work completing all shift types including night, afternoon and day shifts including on weekends and public holidays where you will receive and assess new reports of alleged child abuse or neglect and conduct urgent visits to assess the risk and safety of a child.

Rural After-Hours Service (RAHS) Urgent rural area visits are conducted by the RAHS team. This includes responding to cases where existing and new child protection clients are at significant risk and require an urgent out of hours response.  In this team, you will be supported by, and consulting with team managers throughout the outreach about key decisions. This is a a critical, fast-paced environment with no two days the same.RAHS operates an on-call, re-call model where practitioners participate on a roster and conduct emergency outreach visits as required at night, on weekends and on public holidays with applicalble penalty rates and allowances. In addition to conducting outreach visits, practitioners will work a core number of days in the child protection office equating to 38 hours per fortnight undertaking a variety of tasks that support child protection operations.

Ongoing, part time positions (38 hours per fortnight) plus on-call work are available.

Locations Available Please note, this current CPP4 intake is only for positions in the following locations:

Metro: Box Hill, Dandenong, Footscray, Frankston, Preston.

Regional and Rural: Bairnsdale, Sale, Bendigo, Warragul, Morwell, Shepparton, Seymour , Wangaratta, Wodonga, 

CAHS: Box Hill, 

RAHS: Sale, Bairnsdale, Shepparton, Wodonga, Wangaratta, Warrnambool, Portland, Ballarat, Bendigo, Mildura

Salary: Advanced Child Protection Practitioner (CPP4) $95,102 to $107,905

Key Dates

Candidates who are assessed as eligible are required to undertake online psychometric and personality assessments by a set date, information will be provided to those candidates at this stage.

Online assessment centre  will be delivered on Tuesday 28 January 2024 for approximately 2.5 hours

All new child protection employees to the department are required to complete one week of mandatory online training modules from 31 March 2025 and then attend a mandatory full time five-week Practice Induction Program (PIP) on Tuesday 08 April 2025.   PIP is designed to provide new staff to the child protection program with the necessary practice knowledge and skills relating to the role. Successful candidates will be required to attend the PIP in person in Melbourne, with accommodation, travel and meals included. 

Qualification and Experience Eligibility

 The ideal candidate would have a minimum of two years suitable work experience in child protection and/or child, youth and family welfare, and hold a relevant qualification. Refer to Qualifications and requirements | Child Protection Jobs - DFFH before applying. 

Local applicants with overseas qualifications will be emailed with further instructions.

Work Rights Eligibility and Safety Screening applies, refer to the online application form                                                                                                                                                                     

How to Apply:

• Only applications received online and by the closing date will be considered.   
• You must attach a current resume and a cover letter outlining why you are interested in the position and respond to the online questionnaire.
• Include your Official Academic Transcript or Unique Student Identifier Statement if you completed a Diploma post 2015.
• If applicable, attach a copy of your visa and passport (in colour)
• Attachments can only be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf. Photos are not accepted.
• Please do NOT attach copies of first aid certificates, driving licences, WWCC or employer references. If you progress to an offer of employment, you will be asked to provide.  

Click 'Apply Now' below to submit your application for this this role. For further information please visit the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing website: https://childprotectionjobs.dffh.vic.gov.au/ and refer to the attached position description.