Position title
Family Safety Worker (FSW)
Program
Family Violence Programs
Employment status
Full Time - 5 days per week
Position reports to
Team Leader - Ngarra Jarranounith Program (NJP)
Unit Location
Position based in Preston, Melbourne, with outreach to other Dardi sites and community locations across Victoria Statewide
Position contact
Aunty Carol
(03) 8456 3044
About Dardi Munwurro
OUR VISION
Dardi Munwurro (Strong Spirit) is a specialist Aboriginal family violence service. Our vision is to build stronger families and safer communities.
We aim to empower and inspire individuals to heal the past, acknowledge the present and create a positive vision for the future.
We do this by delivering a range of family violence programs to break the cycle of inter-generational trauma in Aboriginal families and communities.
OUR WORK
Dardi Munwurro was established in 2000 to provide group leadership training programs tailored to Aboriginal men and youth.
Our programs are designed to assist First Peoples to identify their emotions and personal strengths, and in doing so, discover their own responsibility.
We support First Peoples to feel safe, express purpose and develop a vision for their future.
OUR STATEMENT
Building Stronger Families and Safer Communities
Our Values are - D*iversity Accountability Respect Determination I*ntegrity
DETAILS ABOUT THE PROGRAM & ROLE
Program Description
The Family Safety Worker (FSW) is responsible for enhancing the safety and wellbeing of Affected Family Members (AFM) of family violence through assertive outreach, risk assessment, and safety planning, particularly in cases where engagement can occur well after the initial incident.
This role operates within a non-traditional service model, where referrals are frequently linked to persons using violence (PUV) engaged with Dardi through court, corrections, or post-custodial pathways, rather than at the point of crisis. The FSW plays a critical role in identifying, locating, and engaging AFMs who may not have had prior contact with Dardi Munwurro, or whose earlier engagement through The Orange Door referrals has ceased.
The FSW is required to operate with a high degree of independence, professional judgment, and adaptability in managing these challenges
Key Position Responsibilities
Affected Family Member Engagement & Outreach
- Identify and proactively attempt contact with AFM linked to referred PUV
- Undertake assertive, trauma-informed outreach, often months after the initial incident
- Apply safe engagement strategies where AFM:
o May be initially uncontactable or have relocated
o May be reluctant to re-engage with services
- Respect AFM autonomy while prioritising safety
Risk Assessment & Safety Planning
- Conduct comprehensive and ongoing family violence risk assessments
- Develop and implement individualised safety plans in collaboration with AFM
- Monitor changes in risk, particularly during:
o PUV release from custody
o Court proceedings or court order changes
- Escalate high-risk matters in line with organisational and legislative requirements
Working with Delayed Referral Pathways
Effectively respond to referrals where:
- Significant time has elapsed since the incident
- There is no prior referral or current engagement with the survivor
- Recognise and respond to the increased risks associated with late-stage intervention
Information Sharing & System Navigation
- Utilise relevant information-sharing practices, frameworks and legislation to obtain and assess risk-related information
- Navigate consent requirements and information access limitations
- Apply sound professional judgment where information is incomplete or delayed
- Advocate internally and externally for timely access to critical information
Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
Liaise with key stakeholders, including:
- The Orange Door
- Dardi’s Programs including Ngarra Jarranounith Program (NJP), Community Programs and Men’s Healing Behaviour Change Program (MHBCP)
- Courts, & corrections,
- Police and statutory services
- Specialist family violence and health/community services
- Contribute to strengthening referral pathways to improve early identification of AFM’s
- Participate in Dardi and external case conferencing and integrated practice responses where required
High-Risk & Complex Case Management
Prioritise and respond to cases involving:
- High or serious risk of harm
- PUV’s who have absconded or disengaged from systems
- AFMs with no prior service engagement
- Make informed decisions in contexts of uncertainty and limited information
Documentation & Reporting
- Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential case notes and records
- Document risk assessments, safety plans, and engagement attempts
- Ensure compliance with organisational policies, legal requirements, and audit standards
Key Organisational Accountabilities
- Adhere to the Dardi Munwurro Code of Conduct and values at all times
- Commitment to AFM safety and empowerment
- Adherence to trauma-informed and culturally safe practice
- Respect for diversity and inclusive service delivery
- Commitment to continuous improvement and reflective practice
- Participation in the MARAM training program (after commencement)
- Support and participate in Dardi Munwurro’s strategic planning
- Ensure appropriate use of resources
- Participate in debriefing, individual and group supervision as required
- Demonstrated commitment to community participation and ongoing engagement with clients
- Carry out duties in a manner that does not negatively affect yours and the individual’s own safety or others by following the agreed procedures, reporting all incidents, injuries, near misses, as well as cooperating with any measures introduced in the workplace to improve Work Health & Safety
- Participate in the revision and development of corporate policies and procedures
- Participate in Dardi Munwurro meetings and training, as required
- While at work, comply with requirements as noted in the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
- Meet all the legislative requirements related to the position, including privacy
Key Selection Criteria - Qualifications, skills and essential competencies
The successful candidates will require:
Essential:
- Relevant qualification in Social Work, Psychology, Community Services, or related field
- Demonstrated experience working within the family violence sector
- Deliver services in a culturally safe and responsive manner, adapting engagement strategies to meet the needs of First Nation communities
- Seek cultural advice, consult with specialist First Nation services, and engage First Nation community members where appropriate
Strong understanding of:
- Family violence dynamics, including post-separation risk
- Risk assessment and safety planning frameworks
- Experience in engaging hard-to-reach or reluctant clients
- Ability to work effectively with delayed or indirect referral pathways
- Knowledge of relevant legislation and information-sharing provisions
- Highly developed communication, assessment, and decision-making skills
Desirable:
- Experience working within justice, corrections, or court-related systems
- Knowledge of integrated family violence service systems
- Experience in multi-agency collaboration or case conferencing
- Commitment to role-modelling Dardi Munwurro’s values of Diversity, Accountability, Respect, Determination and Integrity
- Demonstrated experience collaborating and managing effective relationships with diverse stakeholders including Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal organisations, Police, health service providers, child and family services
- Effective written and oral communication skills and the ability to create and maintain case plans, reports and other documents
- Current Victorian Drivers’ License
We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants for this position. We are seeking to establish a gender inclusive team.
This position requires regular outreach, including occasional travel and work in different locations from greater Melbourne to regional Victoria.
All candidates must satisfy a National Police Check and a Working With Children Check.
Child Safety
Dardi Munwurro is a child safe organisation and is committed in everyday practice to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children, at all times. As a child safe organisation, employment with Dardi is subject to a satisfactory national (and international where relevant) police check and relevant Working with Children Check to your State prior to commencement of any paid or unpaid work and/or participation in any service or undertaking. It is a condition of employment that all eligible workforce receive the COVID-19 vaccination and supporting evidence may be requested in order to perform duties at any of Dardi Munwurro’s workplaces.
How to apply
Please submit a copy of the following documents to [email protected]
- Cover letter outlining your expression of interest
- Resume
- Academic transcript
Pay: $80,000.00 – $95,000.00 per year
Application Question(s):
- I have permanent work rights with no restrictions
- Do you have experience working with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Communities?
- Do you have a National Police Certificate?
- Do you have an Australian driver's license?
- How many years of Family Violence work experience do you have?
- Have you worked with Affected Family Members in Family Violence?
- Do you have a current Working With Children Check?
Work Location: In person
