Specialist Family Violence Practitioner (SR0116)

• Max Term Full Time until 29 January 2027
• Salary packaging, gifted leave at Christmas and Easter
• Competitive above-award salary, SCHADS Level 5 – $107,689 (plus super)

About The Role

The Specialist Family Violence Practitioner is an integral member of the team, delivering high-quality case management and support to women and children who are experiencing or have experienced family violence.

This client-facing role provides intensive, trauma-informed support to women and children with complex needs, including those living in the community, emergency accommodation and transitional housing. Working within a coordinated care approach, you will undertake comprehensive risk and needs assessments, develop safety and support plans, and assist victim survivors to achieve greater safety, stability and recovery.

This role is suited to an experienced practitioner who is passionate about supporting women and children impacted by family violence and who thrives in a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same. The position includes outreach work, participation in crisis response and duty rosters, and working collaboratively with specialist services to achieve meaningful outcomes for clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality outreach case management services to women and children experiencing or recovering from family violence
• Undertake comprehensive MARAM risk assessments, safety planning, needs assessments and case planning
• Support women and children with complex needs through trauma-informed, strengths-based and client-centred practice
• Provide crisis responses and participate in duty and crisis response rosters
• Support victim survivors residing in emergency accommodation, transitional housing and community settings
• Coordinate referrals and work collaboratively with specialist services to achieve positive client outcomes
• Advocate on behalf of clients and assist them to navigate service systems and access appropriate supports
• Facilitate coordinated care responses through participation in multidisciplinary meetings and care teams
• Support women to strengthen financial independence, including accessing brokerage where appropriate
• Maintain accurate case notes, reports, risk assessments and client records in line with professional standards and legislative requirement

About you  

• Appropriate tertiary qualification in Social Work, Psychology or a related discipline that meets Family Violence Reform Recommendation 209 requirements, or a Graduate Certificate in Family Violence
• Demonstrated experience working within the family violence sector is essential
• Experience providing case management, risk assessment and safety planning for women and children impacted by family violence
• Strong understanding of MARAM, trauma-informed practice and family violence service responses
• Experience supporting clients with complex needs, including mental health, alcohol and other drug concerns, disability, parenting challenges and housing instability
• Demonstrated knowledge of the impacts of family violence and the ability to apply relevant theoretical frameworks to practice
• Strong stakeholder engagement and networking skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across service systems
• Excellent written communication skills, including case notes, assessments and professional reports
• Ability to work effectively within a team while also managing a diverse caseload independently
• Current Full Australian Driver's Licence
• Current Employee Working with Children Check and ability to obtain a satisfactory Police Check

Benefits

• Salary packaging - up to $15,900 in tax-free pay per year, plus entertainment up to $2650
• 4 days gifted leave at Christmas and Easter (pro rata)
• Up to 100 hours of paid study leave (where relevant to role)
• 12 weeks paid parental leave (primary career)
• Additional leave through purchase leave pathways
• Employee Assistance Program, a free and confidential counselling service
• Eligible for participation in the portable long service leave program

About Us

Our 2023-2027 strategy outlines the world we want to see and our role in advancing it. We aspire for all women, girls, and families to be safe, well, strong, and connected. We strive for equity, dignity and social justice for women, girls and families by collaborating globally and acting locally, supporting our communities in Australia and New Zealand to thrive. 

We want women, girls and families to live full and dignified lives, have dignified income and enjoy financial wellbeing.  We aim to provide place-based, people-centred, holistic services while working at the system level to achieve bold and audacious reform. We currently offer microfinance programs and products, financial counselling and coaching, family and domestic violence support services, family and youth programs, playgroups, education programs and community houses. These services are complemented by research and strong advocacy to address the underlying structural causes of injustice, exclusion, and inequality. 

Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand (GSANZ) respects the dignity of all people, draws strength from, and celebrates the diversity of our community. At GSANZ, we strive for an inclusive culture where all identities feel safe and that they belong. We welcome and actively seek applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people of all sexual orientations and gender expressions and identities, people with disability, and culturally and racially marginalised people. Each person’s individual decision regarding disclosure will be fully respected.

How to apply

Please click 'Apply Now' to complete your application. Please upload your resume and a brief cover letter addressing the requirements of the role.

Applications are considered as they are received. 

To view the position description, please visit https://hrdoc.goodshep.org.au/doc/2026.08-position-description-senior-specialist-family-violence-practitioner.pdf

We recognise that applicants may hesitate to disclose their need for adjustments during recruitment due to concerns about discrimination. To address this, Good Shepherd asks all candidates about any required accommodations, with the intention of minimizing any sense of exclusion or discomfort associated with requesting adjustments.

Good Shepherd believes in genuine inclusive practice and employment and will therefore offer job customisation to meet the varying needs of diverse candidates.

Personal data held by Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand relating to employment applications will be used in accordance with our Privacy Statement, which is available on our website.

We recognise the rich diversity of people across Australia. We are committed to ensuring that our team is reflective of the diverse community we serve and to supporting a culture of equity, inclusion and diversity.

Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand is a Child Safe employer. Employment is subject to satisfactory referee checks, a current employment working with Children Check, National Criminal History check and proof of the right to work in Australia.