Work with YWAHS

Yoowinna Wurnalung Aboriginal Healing Service (YWAHS) is a Specialist Aboriginal Family Violence Service, which is an independent Not for Profit (NFP) organisation, who delivers services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples living within the catchments of Wellington and East Gippsland Local Government Area’s.

We provide culturally safe and holistic services including counselling, clinical and therapeutic support and referral pathways. We develop, implement, and deliver family violence education and prevention programs and provide advocacy and post intervention support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients and their families.

We support the recovery and healing of Aboriginal victims, individuals, families, and communities affected by family violence, and provide support to perpetrators of family violence, linking them into programs and services to address their behaviour and to help them build tools around respectful and healthy relationships with their partners, children, and extended family.

Our focus is on providing Aboriginal led solutions, which are ‘trauma informed,’ culturally safe, within holistic models of health and wellbeing.

ROLE PURPOSE

Building Strong Dads Yarning Together is an Aboriginal-led fathering program designed to strengthen the role of fathers, grandfathers, and uncles in raising Aboriginal children.

This pilot initiative promotes positive fathering, cultural identity, and healing through community-led, culturally safe approaches. The program provides a supportive space for men to connect, share experiences, and build resilience while addressing challenges such as family violence, poverty, mental health, and housing insecurity. By fostering strong cultural connections and holistic wellbeing, the program aims to empower families and strengthen community ties.

Position Summary

The Aboriginal Co-Lead Facilitator will play a vital role in supporting Aboriginal fathers, non-Aboriginal fathers, and grandfather/uncle figures who are raising Aboriginal children.

This role focuses on strengthening parenting skills, cultural identity, and resilience while addressing the effects of adversity such as family violence, poverty, mental health challenges, and homelessness.

The Co-Lead facilitator will help build community connections and promote healing and wellbeing through culturally safe and community-led approaches.

BENEFITS

• Competitive base salaries plus superannuation and annual leave loading
• Salary packaging (which can add up to $15,900 in tax-free pay per year)
• Industry leading training and support
• Promotional opportunities
• Working alongside diverse people towards a common goal
• Employee Assistance Program, a free and confidential counselling service

QUALIFICATIONS AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Selection Criteria

Essential:

• Identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
• Strong understanding of the challenges and strengths experienced by Aboriginal fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and families.
• Experience in community engagement, social work, men’s health, or related fields.
• Ability to build trust and rapport with diverse individuals and communities.
• Knowledge of local Aboriginal cultures, kinship systems, and community protocols.
• Commitment to cultural safety, trauma-informed practice, and holistic wellbeing.

Desirable:

• Qualifications in community services, social work, counselling, or related disciplines.
• Experience facilitating group programs or workshops in fathering/parenting/growing up Aboriginal children.
• Familiarity with ACCO structures and service delivery models.

Like to know more? Please email jobs@ywahs.org.au using the subject line: Aboriginal Co-Lead Facilitator

All applicants must attach a Resume and Cover Letter addressing the Key Selection Criteria (please refer to the Position Description). Please note, incomplete applications may not be considered.

Applications close 29th of January.

We recognise the rich diversity of people across Australia. YWAHS is committed to ensuring our workplace culture continues to value diversity and inclusion. We actively promote the employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, people with disability, LGBTI and other diversity groups.

JOIN US… WE LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING YOUR APPLICATION

Click here to download the Position Description

Yoowinna Wurnalung Aboriginal Healing Service (YWAHS) is a Specialist Aboriginal Family Violence Service, which is an independent Not for Profit (NFP) organisation, who delivers services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples living within the catchments of Wellington and East Gippsland Local Government Area’s.

We provide culturally safe and holistic services including counselling, clinical and therapeutic support and referral pathways. We develop, implement, and deliver family violence education and prevention programs and provide advocacy and post intervention support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients and their families.

We support the recovery and healing of Aboriginal victims, individuals, families, and communities affected by family violence, and provide support to perpetrators of family violence, linking them into programs and services to address their behaviour and to help them build tools around respectful and healthy relationships with their partners, children, and extended family.

Our focus is on providing Aboriginal led solutions, which are ‘trauma informed,’ culturally safe, within holistic models of health and wellbeing.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Intake Worker plays a critical role in supporting Aboriginal individuals and families impacted by family violence.

Using the MARAM Framework, the Intake Worker conducts initial risk assessments, provides culturally safe referrals, and supports Community members in accessing appropriate services such as the ‘Building Strong Dads Yarning Together – an Aboriginal-led fathering program’.

This role applies trauma-informed, healing-centred, and culturally responsive practice.

BENEFITS

• Competitive base salaries plus superannuation and annual leave loading
• Salary packaging (which can add up to $15,900 in tax-free pay per year)
• Industry leading training and support
• Promotional opportunities
• Working alongside diverse people towards a common goal
• Employee Assistance Program, a free and confidential counselling service

QUALIFICATIONS AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Essential

• Mandatory Qualifications – Recommendation 209This position is subject to the Mandatory Minimum Qualifications Policy for specialist family violence practitioners (Recommendation 209). Applicants must meet one of the following:
  • Hold a Bachelor of Social Work or equivalent qualification, or
  • Hold a related qualification (e.g. social work, youth work, community services) plus 5+ years relevant experience, and be willing to undertake further study, or
  • Be eligible under the 10-year pathway for candidates with significant cultural knowledge or lived experience.
• Demonstrated understanding of Aboriginal culture and the impacts of family violence in Aboriginal communities.
• Experience in intake, assessment, or case coordination roles within community or health services.
• Knowledge and application of the MARAM Framework in family violence contexts.
• Experience in MARAMIS & Safety Planning for the Affected Family members (adults, young people and children) and the MARAMIS Person Using Violence.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage respectfully with clients and stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.

Desirable

• Qualifications in social work, community services, counselling, or related fields.
• Experience working within an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO).
• Familiarity with trauma-informed and strengths-based approaches.

Like to know more? Please email jobs@ywahs.org.au using the subject line: Intake Worker

All applicants must attach a Resume and Cover Letter addressing the Key Selection Criteria (please refer to the Position Description). Please note, incomplete applications may not be considered.

Applications close 29th of January.

We recognise the rich diversity of people across Australia. YWAHS is committed to ensuring our workplace culture continues to value diversity and inclusion. We actively promote the employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, people with disability, LGBTI and other diversity groups.

JOIN US… WE LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING YOUR APPLICATION

Click here to download the Position Description

Yoowinna Wurnalung Aboriginal Healing Service (YWAHS) is a Specialist Aboriginal Family Violence Service, which is an independent Not for Profit (NFP) organisation, who delivers services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples living within the catchments of Wellington and East Gippsland Local Government Area’s.

We provide culturally safe and holistic services including counselling, clinical and therapeutic support and referral pathways. We develop, implement, and deliver family violence education and prevention programs and provide advocacy and post intervention support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients and their families.

We support the recovery and healing of Aboriginal victims, individuals, families, and communities affected by family violence, and provide support to perpetrators of family violence, linking them into programs and services to address their behaviour and to help them build tools around respectful and healthy relationships with their partners, children, and extended family.

Our focus is on providing Aboriginal led solutions, which are ‘trauma informed,’ culturally safe, within holistic models of health and wellbeing.

ROLE PURPOSE

The focus of this role is to provide counselling, case management and assessment of client’s immediate needs and supportpathways to keep them safe.

Other duties include intensive case management, group work, advocacy, stakeholder engagement and referral pathways to assist individual clients to make decisions about their safety, reduce their exposure and risk of family violence, leading to a safe and reconnected family and community.

This role requires you to contribute towards the improvements of YWHS service delivery as part of an integrated model (i.e., wrap around services for clients and their families).

The Counsellor will possess strong communication and organisational skills, counselling/clinical skills and is committed to client centred service delivery to engage in culturally safe and a trauma informed and multi-disciplinary approach to healing.

BENEFITS

• Competitive base salaries plus superannuation and annual leave loading
• Salary packaging (which can add up to $15,900 in tax-free pay per year)
• Industry leading training and support
• Promotional opportunities
• Working alongside diverse people towards a common goal
• Employee Assistance Program, a free and confidential counselling service

QUALIFICATIONS AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• A relevant qualification and/or equivalent certification from a nationally accredited provider in the area of social welfare, counselling, social work, family therapy, psychology, creative arts therapies, or community mental health nursing.
• A minimum Bachelor level qualification in Social Work or recent employment in the family violence sector or equivalency met through the 7 Equivalency Principles in line with the minimum mandatory qualification requirements.
  Please see https://www.vic.gov.au/mandatory-minimum-qualifications-specialist-family violence-practitioners  for further information.

Essential knowledge and skills

• Demonstrated understanding of family violence, sexual assault/abuse, trauma-informed care and practice and ability to work within a ‘strength-based approach’.
• Demonstrated knowledge and appreciation of Aboriginal culture and understanding of issues affecting Aboriginal people in a contemporary society and the history of intergenerational trauma.
• Provision of culturally appropriate and evidenced based assessments, case formation, goals and intervention planning, review and closure processes to guide short, medium and long-term interventions.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in working therapeutically with children, young people and adults who have experienced violence, abuse and trauma.
• Demonstrated understanding of the MARAM framework and other legislative requirements governing the collection and storage of personal information, client confidentiality, information sharing guidelines and the protection of children/young people.
• Proven ability to work in a sensitive and non-judgmental manner, with clients who come from a variety of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Demonstrated understanding of the issues concerning confidentiality in a service provision organisation.
• Knowledge of pathways and linkages to other support programs and services.
• Highly developed relationship building and people skills.
• High level problem-solving skills with the ability to identify issues or problems and recommend strategies and opportunities for resolving them.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, including report writing and an ability to keep accurate and detailed client notes.
• Demonstrated flexibility and willingness to work both independently and effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team

Like to know more? Please email jobs@ywahs.org.au using the subject line: Counsellor

All applicants must attach a Resume and Cover Letter addressing the Key Selection Criteria (please refer to the Position Description). Please note, incomplete applications may not be considered.

Applications close Friday 05th December. 

We recognise the rich diversity of people across Australia. YWAHS is committed to ensuring our workplace culture continues to value diversity and inclusion. We actively promote the employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, people with disability, LGBTI and other diversity groups.

JOIN US… WE LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING YOUR APPLICATION

Click here to download the Position Description