Ballarat & District Aboriginal Co-operative (BADAC)

Established in 1979 by the Ballarat Aboriginal community in the Ballarat district, BADAC’s vision is to be the strongest voice and presence in the Ballarat area, supporting and respecting their people, enhancing our community, growing their culture and honouring their heritage. BADAC is the Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation (ACCO) for the Ballarat and District area, covering 4 local government areas (LGAs). The organisation is extremely proud of the contribution and support they have provided the local Aboriginal community over the past 40 years delivering a comprehensive range of health, social, welfare and community development programs to local Aboriginal people.

Our vision:

Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative exists to achieve self-determination for the Aboriginal community, enabling stronger families by ensuring equal opportunities in health, housing, education, employment and justice through a holistic and culturally relevant approach.

The Opportunity:

We currently have opportunities for two committed and enthusiastic Family Services Case Managers to join our Family Services Program on a full-time fixed-term basis until August 2027. Why work for BADAC?

- Above award wages (based on relevant qualification and experience)
- Generous benefits, entitlements and LSL acural
- Opportunities to develop your career further within our growing organisation
- Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Professional Development and internal networking opportunities
- Access to generous Salary Packaging options
- Access to Cultural Awareness Training

The Role

Reporting to the Family Services Program Manager and Family Services Team Leader, this exciting new position presents the opportunity for the Family Services Case Manager to promote the safety, stability and development of vulnerable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and their families. The Family Services Case Manager will build capacity and resilience, strengthen cultural connections of families, and support the development of parenting capacity. The program engages families by using a range of skills and approaches that build on family strengths, and seek to build a partnership between families and the Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative.

Integrated Family Services (IFS) and Family Preservation and Reunification Response (FPRR) are programs within BADAC Family Services, and works with families and vulnerable children and young people from birth to 17 years of age, as well as parents expecting a child who:

- Are at immediate risk of entry into care and those children who have recently entered care (for less than six months duration).
- Are subject of unborn reports or require family preservation and reunification.
- Support to infants, children and young people living with their parents or other family members, who require additional support to continue their parenting role.
- Supports children at high risk,



where they may be removed from their family or supporting their reunification home to parents.
- Likely to experience greater challenges because the child or young person’s development has been affected by the experience of risk factors and/or cumulative harm and/or;
- At risk of concerns escalating and becoming involved with Child Protection if problems are not addressed.

The Family Services Case Manager will need to be able to build strong relationships with Aboriginal people, be highly motivated, enthusiastic and have a sound knowledge of Aboriginal culture with the ability to communicate effectively with Aboriginal people. The incumbent will work with relative independence, while remaining strongly focused on collaboration and working together with BADAC’s other Family Services programs, Child Protection and others in the service sector. Support provided includes assertive outreach, active engagement, case management, family work, parenting and in-home support and practical and social assistance. In this role, the case manager will need to have a positive knowledge of the Child Protection and local community support system. This position is required to establish appropriate community contacts, develop and maintain professional working relationships with a broad range of stakeholders and funding partners.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

- Provide strengths & evidence-based interventions to families involved in the Family Services programs at BADAC. This includes the provision of support to children, young people and families to address issues leading to vulnerability and the possibility of Child Protection involvement or children being placed in out of home care.
- Engage with children, young people and their families using a variety of engagement strategies such as assertive engagement, outreach, persistence and strengths-based problem solving.
- Support children, young people, their families and caregivers utilising a variety of interventions and frameworks such as the Best Interest Framework, developmental theory, attachment and trauma theory, solution focused and task centered models and mediation.
- Work with BADAC’s therapeutic clinicians to develop a plan to meet the therapeutic needs of the children and family.
- Ensure the completion of case notes, assessments, family action plans, reports and service delivery times as required by the program guidelines.
- Support healing through connecting children and their families to extended family, community, culture and country.
- Liaise with and maintain positive working relationships with other relevant organisations, particularly with Child Protection.




- Maintain strict standards of confidentiality and act at all times in a professional manner in accordance with the policies and procedures of BADAC.
- Engage in regular supervision, reflective practice and opportunities for planned professional development.
- Carry out other reasonable duties as directed by the Program Manager/Team Leader.

Key Selection Criteria:

- Sound knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal culture and values and the ability to communicate with Aboriginal children and their families and a demonstrated ability to support Aboriginal people in their healing.
- Skills in working with Aboriginal children, young people and their families to build strength and resilience.
- A relevant tertiary qualification in Social Work, Community Services, Welfare or the willingness to work towards a qualification (based on previous experience in the sector).
- Experience and skills in risk assessment and intervention, child development and trauma informed practice.
- Capacity to work effectively in a team and contribute to the goals of BADAC’s Family Services Program
- Understanding of a range of parenting support and other intervention strategies.
- Understanding of the Child Protection and Welfare system including services available to Aboriginal Children and families.
- Experience in collaboration with a range of professionals in a care team approach.
- Highly developed interpersonal & communication skills including demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people, including families, government & community, health, education & welfare services.
- Well-developed administrative skills including maintaining accurate files, case notes, assessments, computer data records and report writing.
- A sound knowledge of the Children, Youth & Families Act 2005, including the information sharing provisions.
- Must hold a Diploma of Community Services and/or have extensive experience.
- Be open to flexible start and finish times to accommodate the needs of both clients and the organisation.

Other Info

To be considered for roles with BADAC you will need to:

- Have (or be willing to have) a National Police Clearance and current Working with Children Check Clearance.

If this sounds like the sort of opportunity you would be interested in, please click 'Apply Now'. Please Note: All applications will require applicants to provide a cover letter addressing the Key Selection Criteria above and a copy of their resume. Applications without the required documents will not be accepted.

Applications close C.O.B 12th August 2026.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.

BADAC is a Child Safe organisation and all employees are expected to adhere to our Child Safe Guidelines.

BADAC is committed to diversity in employment aiming to develop a workforce that reflects the diverse community that we operate in. We foster a workplace culture in which* LGBTQIASB+ *employees feel included, safe and supported.

📌 Family Services Case Manager - Full Time Fixed Term (Ballarat)
🏢 Ballarat u0026 District Aboriginal Co-operative
📍 Ballarat