Placement Support Worker (Identified), CAFAKCS

Placement Support Worker (identified), Culturally Appropriate Foster and Kinship Care Service(CAFAKCS)

Full Time Permanent

Based in Cairns

Salary: Wuchopperen Health Service Limited Enterprise Agreement (2023)

Social, Community, Homecare and Disability Employees and grade  4

$87,043.66 – $93,655.19 per annum

WuchopperenHealth Service

  ‘A culturally dynamic community where everyone thrives in health and wellbeing’.

Wuchopperen is a Community Controlled Aboriginal Health Organisation providing holistic health care services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Cairns. 

Benefits of working with Wuchopperen: 

We provide a positive work culture and a diverse and inclusive environment. Our people matter to us, and we are committed to supporting them:

• Competitive Salary + 12% Super + Salary Sacrifice (up to $15,899 for tax free benefits and $2,650 p/a for entertainment benefits).
• 5weeks annual leave and 15 days personal leave pro rata.
• Commitment to professional development.
• EAP for employees and family members.

About the role:

To provide quality and culturally appropriate placements for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in out of home care. The Placement Support Worker will match carers with children aiming to secure and maintain a stable placement during the child or young person’s time in care.

The Placement Support Worker (CAFAKCS) is supervised by the Coordinator (CAFAKCS) and the position has no supervisory responsibilities. 

This position works closely with other members of the Child Wellbeing team and maintains regular contact with other program staff to ensure effective outcomes for clients.

Key responsibilities:

• Engage with community members who have expressed an interest in becoming a Foster or Kinship Carer and work towards building a pool of available carers.
• Apply the approval process when engaging with carers who have expressed an interest, which includes completing all required documentation.
• .Organise and deliver training ensuring the minimum requirements of Pre-Service and Standards Training of the Department of Child Safety are met; for Foster and Kinship Carers.
• Provide a quality placement support service to Carers and the children in care, delivering accurate and relevant responses to their enquiries and concerns. Work with carers to resolve specific care-related problems promptly, in a manner that positively contributes to the Carer/Service relationship.
• 5.Contribute to the day-to-day operations of the service in accordance with the relevant Standards ensuring a high-quality placement support service and the maintaining of clients’ rights and confidentiality at all times.
• Complete Foster and Kinship Carer Assessments adhering to Department of Child Safety processes and timeframes.
•  Provide intake services on a rostered basis with the focus of delivering feedback to Child Safety Placement Support Services relating to the capacity within the care service.
• Positively represent the activities of Wuchopperen and assist in the development and maintenance of sound working relationships with relevant statutory, government and community agencies to facilitate good outcomes for carers, children and young people.
• Participate in organisational and community activities to advance the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Work within Wuchopperen’s Policies and Procedures including the Staff Code of Conduct and the Work Health and Safety requirements and contribute to continuous improvement processes to ensure compliance with relevant standards and safe, effective service delivery.
• Other duties as required, within your skills, experience and capacity.

Core Capabilities:

Assessment of merit for this role will be based on the knowledge, skills and experience, potential for development and personal qualities. The competencies listed below are considered to the most critical for success in this role.

For applicants to be successful in this role, they should demonstrate:

• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of the Child Protection Act 1999 specifically in relation to legislative requirements for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in out of home care.
• Knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander societies and cultures from an historical and contemporary perspective, including the ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Demonstrated knowledge of trauma on children and young people and how this impacts on their behaviour/s including an understanding of how to support the Carers in managing these behaviours.
• Extensively developed interpersonal and communication skills including the ability to liaise with a range of stakeholders as well as effectively advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a multi-disciplinary team environment, prioritise and meet deadlines, deal with matters of a sensitive and confidential nature.
• Demonstrated ability to meet and work within the core values and behaviours of Wuchopperen

Qualifications and experience:

• It is a condition of employment in this role for the employee to be, and remain, vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chicken pox), pertussis (whooping cough) and hepatitis B
• It is recommended for the employee to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
• Proof of qualifications and current registration is required to be provided prior to the commencement of duty.
• The Placement Support Worker, CAFAKCS is an Identified position. It is a genuine occupational requirement that an Identified position be filled by an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander person, as permitted by and arguable under section 25, 104 and 105 of the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Act (1991).
• It is a condition of employment that all employees are holders of a current and valid ‘blue card’ or Working with Children Check. This is at your cost. Employment cannot continue or commence if you do not have a ‘blue card’ or if your ‘blue card’ is withdrawn or is disqualified.
• It is a condition of employment for the successful applicant to undergo a Child Safety and Personal History Screening Check conducted by the Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety. There is no fee for this check. Employment cannot commence or continue for where your application is not approved or is withdrawn.
• Possession of a current CPR certificate or commitment to obtain within the first six weeks of employment is essential.
• Possession of a current Queensland “CA” class driver’s licence is essential.
• Commitment to work within the principles of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community control including a willingness to develop the leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.
• All employees are responsible for the safety of themselves, students, visitors, volunteers and fellow staff members. Employees must report any hazards or incidents, co-operate in emergency drills, undertake Workplace H&S training as required, and lodge risk assessments for all external and internal risk activities.
• Ability to use Microsoft products and the ability to use or willingness to gain proficiency in the client information management systems.

Requirements:

• Hold a current Blue Card (for suitability to work with children and young people).
• Proof of qualifications is required to be provided prior to the commencement of duty.
• Possess a current driver’s licence.
• A commitment to adhere to Wuchopperen’s policies and procedures.
• Undergo and Child Safety and Personal History Screening Check

Applicants who do not address these requirements, will not be considered for shortlisting.

Note: Revised legislation requires applicants to hold a blue card prior to commencement. Refer to Qld Government’s Blue Card Services website for more information.

How to apply:

To be eligible for interview, applicants must submit a cover letter (no more than two pages), addressing the Core Capabilities and an up-to-date Resume including two referees and complete the screening questions provided from Employment Hero.

For more information contact Karen, Manager, Child Wellbeing on 07 4080 1014

The above is an Identified position. It is a genuine occupational requirement that an Identified position be filled by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, as permitted by and arguable under section 25, 104 and 105 of the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Act (1991).

Wuchopperen is a Child Safe Organisation and the safety and wellbeing of children is of utmost importance.

Closing date for applications: 5pm on Monday 7th September 2026