Child Protection
Being a child protection practitioner for the Victorian Government means more than having a role in improving the future of children and their families. It's about working with people who share a common goal and who together, achieve positive results though all aspects of their work, every single day.
Child protection practitioners are responsible for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. It offers opportunities to specialise in a range of areas - working with infants, adolescents, indigenous children and families, as well as culturally and linguistically diverse populations.
Right now is an exciting time to come and work in our child protection program in Victoria.
Job Description
You will be part of a team of practitioners, supported by a team leader and other senior experienced staff to:
- provide advice and consultation to people who report concerns about children and young people
- assess children and families where it is believed a child is at risk of significant harm
- engage and work with children and families to promote safety, stability and development of the child, and to strengthen family capacity
Qualifications
The mandatory qualifications for working in child protection are:
A recognised Social Work degree or a similar welfare or behavioural related degree which includes:
- a primary focus on child development, human behaviour, family dynamics and/or impacts of trauma
- and preferably a practical component such as counselling or case work practice and preferably a practical component such as counselling or case work practice
OR
A recognised Diploma of Community Services work which is at minimum a two year full-time course and includes:
- 400 hours of supervised fieldwork placements (ideally completed within the child and family welfare sector)
- at least one unit of study in case management, case work practice or counselling
AND
A valid driver's licence
Guidelines on Child Protection qualifications
The role of the child protection practitioner is increasingly complex, requiring specialist child welfare knowledge as well as the ability to exercise legal delegations. As such it is paramount that staff are well prepared and able to practice in this dynamic and challenging environment.
There are clearly defined categories outlining criteria and mandatory qualifications and these are broken into three groups:
- preferred
- relevant qualifications
- minimum education requirements
There is now a framework in place in relation to relevant qualifications for working in the child protection area. Please refer to the information on Guidelines for Child Protection Qualifications to get full details. Your local child protection office or McArthur recruitment team can advise if your qualification is suitable. Contact details for McArthur - 03 9828 6565 or email dhs@mcarthur.com.au
Salary
- Salary range for an entry level child protection worker (CPW2) starting at $49,173-$60,378
- More senior roles (CPW3-CPW6) starting at $62,098-$125,444
How to Apply
The recruitment process for entry level child protection practitioners (CPW2) uses a thorough and objective process to assess applicants' skills, knowledge and personal qualities (key selection criteria) to ensure they are best suited to the role.
Please visit our child protection jobs website http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/childprotectionjobs to get full information and details on how to apply.
