Join our Family Services Team.

• Facilitate family-led conferences supporting safety, stability & connection.
• Join a new statewide reform initiative with strong practice support & peers.
• Part-time (45.6 hours per fortnight), Max Term role until 30 June 2027
• Based in Wendouree

Your new role

Ready to take your child and family practice experience into something broader?

Join Uniting as a Family Group Conferencing (FGC) Convenor and play a key role in Victoria’s new family services reform approach.

This is an opportunity for experienced Child and Family Services practitioners to step into a highly relational, family-led role focused on bringing families, support networks and professionals together to create sustainable plans for children and young people.

You’ll facilitate strengths-based Family Group Conferences that place decision-making with families, while working closely with practitioners, service partners and local alliances across the broader Restoring Families initiative

Your impact will include:

• Facilitating family-led conferences focused on safety, stability and wellbeing for children and young people
• Preparing families, carers and professionals for meaningful participation
• Coordinating and leading complex conversations with multiple stakeholders
• Supporting families to develop sustainable plans grounded in culture, relationships and strengths
• Working collaboratively with practitioners and local service networks across the Restoring Families response
• Contributing to a new reform initiative focused on strengthening family authority and connectedness

About the initiative

Uniting is proud to be supporting the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) to deliver new Family Group Conferencing roles across multiple Victorian regions including metropolitan Melbourne, Central Highlands, Gippsland and the Wimmera as part of Victoria’s Family Services Reform agenda.

These roles sit within the new Restoring Families service stream (formerly Family Preservation and Reunification Response), supporting family-led decision making and stronger community-based support for children, young people and families experiencing complex challenges.

You’ll join a growing cohort of Convenors working within local alliance areas, with opportunities to connect, learn and build practice alongside peers across Victoria as the reform continues to expand.

Benefits of working at Uniting

Our work isn’t easy, but it matters. Work with people who care as much as you.

In addition to your hourly rate (SCHADS Level 6) + super, you can access the following.

• Access salary packaging to increase take-home pay.
• Enjoy a 10% discount at Uniting Early Learning
• Up to 10 weeks paid parental leave for primary caregivers (4 for secondary).
• Free counselling with our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Access training and development opportunities to help you grow.
• Enjoy 25% off at Uniting Op Shops.

Your skills and experience

You are an experienced child and family practitioner who enjoys working with complexity, your skilled at engaging and bringing people together and ready to broaden your impact through reform-focused work with strong practice support.

You’ll bring with you:

• Relevant qualifications in social work, community services or a related discipline
• A current driver’s licence valid in Victoria
• Demonstrated experience in child and family services, child protection or related fields
• Ability to demonstrate strong skills in engagement, facilitation, mediation and negotiation
• Experience delivering culturally safe and trauma-informed practice, including with Aboriginal children and families
• Demonstrated understanding of the principles that underpin Family Group Conferencing
• Demonstrated analytical skills with a proven ability to identify emerging issues and risks

View the position description here.

How to apply

Click APPLY to submit your interest, and we’ll get in touch shortly. If this role sounds like a good fit for you, apply soon. We'll be reviewing applications as they come in and may close the advert early.

If you have any questions about the opportunity, please contact: Warrick Davison at warrick.davison@vt.uniting.org

About Uniting

At Uniting we are passionate about working together to inspire people, enliven communities and confront injustice. We have a 5,000 strong workforce of employees and volunteers who deliver a diverse range of services across Victoria and Tasmania.

Visit us: www.vt.uniting.org

Uniting is a child safe organisation and is committed in everyday practice to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children, at all times. As a ‘child safe’ organisation, employment with Uniting is subject to a satisfactory national (and international where relevant) police check and relevant Working with Children Check in your State prior to commencement of any paid or unpaid work and/or participation in any service or undertaking.

Through the recruitment process, we will ask you for personal information. Disclosure is optional, however, it can help us support you better. We invite you to tell us if you identify as Aboriginal, a person with disability, from a diverse background or LGBTIQA+. You will be given an opportunity in the application form to request additional support. We welcome the opportunity to discuss how we can support you.