Specialist Worker for Children and Young People

As a Specialist Worker – Children and Young People (SWCYP), you will provide specialist, trauma-informed and child-centred support to infants, children and young people (0–18 years) who have experienced or witnessed domestic and family violence and are residing in crisis accommodation or receiving outreach support.

Working alongside mothers, caregivers and multidisciplinary teams, you will assess each child's strengths, needs and goals, develop individual support plans, provide therapeutic and developmentally appropriate interventions, and advocate to ensure children remain connected to education, culture, family, community and essential services.

You will recognise children as individual victim-survivors in their own right and ensure their voices, experiences and needs are central to planning and service delivery. Through evidence-based practice, you will promote safety, recovery, resilience, emotional wellbeing and healthy development while supporting families to rebuild secure, safe futures free from violence.

This is a specialist role requiring excellent professional judgement, strong child development knowledge, an understanding of the impacts of trauma and domestic and family violence on children, and the ability to build safe, trusting and culturally responsive relationships.

Child-Focused Case Management

- Complete comprehensive assessments of children's developmental, emotional, educational, cultural and wellbeing needs.
- Develop and review individual child-focused case plans with measurable goals.
- Monitor progress and adjust interventions based on changing needs.
- Maintain accurate case notes, assessments, referrals and documentation.

Therapeutic Support

- Deliver trauma-informed, strengths-based and developmentally appropriate interventions.
- Provide one‑on‑one support sessions with children and young people.
- Facilitate therapeutic, recreational and wellbeing activities.
- Support emotional regulation, resilience, confidence and recovery following trauma.

Family Support

- Work collaboratively with mothers and caregivers to strengthen parenting following domestic and family violence.
- Assist parents to understand the impacts of trauma on children.
- Support positive parent‑child relationships where appropriate.
- Facilitate child and family activities that promote safety, attachment and healing.

Advocacy and Service Coordination





- Advocate for children within education, health, disability, legal and child protection systems.
- Coordinate referrals to specialist services including:
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
- NDIS
- Schools and early childhood services
- Paediatric and allied health providers
- Aboriginal services
- Youth services

- Support families to engage with services and overcome barriers.

Education and Community Connection

- Support children to remain connected with:
- School and early learning
- Cultural identity and Country
- Community activities
- Recreation and sport
- Family and safe support networks

- Assist with school enrolments and educational participation where required.

Risk Assessment and Child Safety

- Identify risks impacting children's safety and wellbeing.
- Contribute to family risk assessments and safety planning.Participate in mandatory reporting where legislative obligations arise.
- Work collaboratively with child protection and partner agencies.
- Work closely with Domestic and Family Violence Caseworkers to ensure integrated family support.
- Participate in case reviews, multidisciplinary meetings and service planning.
- Develop strong partnerships across education, health, housing and community sectors.
- Build internal staff capability through sharing specialist child-focused knowledge.

Brokerage

- Assess brokerage needs for children where available.
- Ensure brokerage supports identified case plan goals.
- Maintain accountability and records for brokerage expenditure.

Program Quality

- Maintain accurate documentation within CIMS.
- Contribute to program reporting and case studies.
- Participate in supervision, reflective practice and ongoing professional development.
- Support continuous improvement of child-centred practice.

About You

You are passionate about improving the lives of children and young people affected by domestic and family violence.



You understand that children experience violence differently at each developmental stage and require specialist responses that promote healing, safety and long-term wellbeing.

- Strong understanding of child development and trauma.
- Knowledge of domestic and family violence and its impacts on children.
- Excellent assessment and case management skills.
- Ability to engage children of all ages using developmentally appropriate approaches.
- Strong advocacy and collaboration skills.
- Professional boundaries and sound judgement.
- Commitment to culturally safe, inclusive and child-focused practice.
- Relevant qualification in Social Work, Psychology, Welfare, Community Services, Human Services, Education or a related field (or significant equivalent experience).
- Experience supporting children and young people experiencing trauma, homelessness or domestic and family violence.
- Demonstrated understanding of child protection and mandatory reporting obligations.
- Experience in case management and multidisciplinary collaboration.
- Current Working With Children Check.
- Current NSW Driver Licence.
- National Criminal History Check.

Who We're Looking For

We welcome applications from women of all backgrounds who have the skills, experience and passion to provide high-quality, trauma-informed support to children and young people who have experienced domestic and family violence.

Gunida Gunyah Aboriginal Corporation is committed to building a diverse, inclusive and culturally safe workforce. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, who are highly valued for the cultural knowledge, lived experience and perspectives they bring to our organisation and the children, families and communities we serve.

We also welcome applications from women of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds who share our commitment to delivering respectful, culturally safe, child‑centred and evidence-based support that promotes safety, healing, resilience and positive outcomes for children and young people.

This is an identified female position. Under section 31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) and the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth), it is lawful to identify this role for women due to the nature of the services provided and the need to preserve the privacy, dignity, safety and wellbeing of women and children accessing specialist domestic and family violence services.

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📌 Specialist Worker for Children and Young People (Gunnedah)
🏢 Gunida Gunyah Aboriginal
📍 Gunnedah