Family Support Worker

About the role

As a member of the Family Support Team, Family Support Workers provide trauma-informed, child-safe and family-centred support to women and children accessing Hobart Women's Shelter. The role supports families to feel safe, heard and respected; strengthens engagement with children and families; undertakes assessment, planning, advocacy and case coordination; and supports pathways to safety, stability, housing, wellbeing and connection.

The position works collaboratively with women, children, colleagues and external services to identify strengths, needs, risks and goals, and to develop practical, culturally safe and empowering responses. The role has a strong focus on the needs, rights and voices of children while recognising the impact of family violence, homelessness, trauma and systemic disadvantage on families.

Key responsibilities

• Deliver services in accordance with the Professional Practice Framework, including trauma-informed service delivery and Ethical Decision-making Framework

• Effectively maintain a caseload commensurate with program requirements and client needs

• Build and maintain relationships with community partners, referral agencies and support services to assist clients in accessing longer-term supports such as housing, education, health, legal, mental health, substance use support or family violence support opportunities

• Provide accurate, relevant and timely information, referrals, resources and advocacy to clients and on behalf of clients, on issues related to family violence, their health, legal, housing, educational and financial wellbeing

• Undertake intake assessments, risk assessments, referrals, case planning, safety planning and discharge for families accessing the service

• Maintain accurate, objective, and timely case notes and incident reports in line with legal and privacy standards

• Assess incoming client presentations or escalation behaviours through a safety lens, balancing immediate protection with trauma-informed responses

• Confidently deal with crisis situations involving clients in a timely manner as they arise and when working alone, with ability to co-regulate

• Participate in the On-Call roster with possibility for night and lone work including ability to complete light housekeeping tasks and supporting with preparing properties for intake

• Engage in relevant professional development and training to enhance skills, knowledge and attributes

About you

• Minimum Certificate 4 in Social and Community Services, or equivalent, and relevant experience in a similar role

• Understanding of Trauma-Informed Practice Frameworks, with demonstrated ability to build trusting relationships and engage families through trauma-informed, culturally responsive and non-judgemental practice

• Demonstrated experience working with women, children and families experiencing homelessness, family violence, trauma, complex needs or social disadvantage

• Proven ability to work independently with skills to provide on-call support to lone-workers displaying sound judgment, emotional resilience, and crisis management skills

• Strong interpersonal skills to de-escalate high-stress situations gently and professionally, alongside high-level written skills for compliance reporting

• Demonstrated experience delivering case coordination and practical support to achieve improved outcomes for children and families

• Ability to undertake assessment, case planning, advocacy, referral, documentation and collaborative service coordination

• Knowledge of, or ability to learn how to navigate electronic databases such as the Specialist Homelessness Information Platform (SHIP) and cloud-based technologies

• Current Driver's License

• Registration to Work with Vulnerable People (RWVP), Current Police Check, and First Aid Certificate or commitment to be trained

Benefits

• Professional Supervision

• Option to access pro-rata Long Service Leave at 5 years of service

• Salary Packaging available

• 30 hours per week/4 days per week Permanent Part-time

How to Apply

Important note: Female applicants only (Exemption under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998)

Prepare your application letter that responds to the following *Selection Criteria, along with your current CV/Resume, and upload this to Seek by Monday 31st August 2026.

If you have any questions, or would like the position description please email: *****@hobartws.org.au

*Please make reference to the following Selection Criteria in your cover letter:

Trauma-Informed Expertise: Understanding of Trauma-Informed Practice Frameworks, with demonstrated ability to build trusting relationships and engage families through trauma-informed, culturally responsive and non-judgemental practice.

Relevant Experience: Demonstrated experience working with women, children and families experiencing homelessness, family violence, trauma, complex needs or social disadvantage.

Autonomous Decision-Making: Proven ability to work independently with skills to provide on-call support to lone-workers displaying sound judgment, emotional resilience, and crisis management skills.

Communication Skills: Strong interpersonal skills to de-escalate high-stress situations gently and professionally, alongside high-level written skills for compliance reporting.

Teamwork: Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, exercise sound judgement and manage competing priorities.

Technology: Knowledge of, or ability to learn how to navigate electronic databases such as the Specialist Homelessness Information Platform (SHIP) and cloud-based technologies, to aid with maintaining accurate, clear and objective digital records.

Case Coordination: Demonstrated experience delivering case coordination and practical support to achieve improved outcomes for children and families.

Assessment and Collaboration: Ability to undertake assessment, case planning, advocacy, referral, documentation and collaborative service coordination.