Children's Support Worker

Why work at Dawn House?

Join a feminist service for women, led by women, and be part of a team committed to supporting the safety, dignity and self-determination of women and children experiencing domestic and family violence.

Dawn House offers excellent employment conditions under the Dawn House Enterprise Agreement 2024, including:

- Six weeks’ annual leave for full-time employees, plus 17.5% leave loading

- 15 days’ personal/carer’s leave per year

- Paid parental leave

- Up to 5 days’ paid menstruation, menopause and reproductive health leave

- Up to 10 days’ paid cultural and ceremonial leave

- Generous salary packaging benefits as a Public Benevolent Institution (PBI)

This is a female-designated position. Being a woman is a genuine occupational qualification for the role under section 35(1)(b)(i) of the Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Act 1992.

Come to work where your values and your work can make a real difference.

Children's Support Worker

LOCATION: Darwin, Northern Territory

EMPLOYMENT INSTRUMENT: Dawn House Enterprise Agreement

CLASSIFICATION: Dawn House Level 4

EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Fixed-term Part Time 0.6 FTE (24 hours per week) until Go June 2028

REPORTS TO: Operations Manager

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Participation in after-hours/on-call roster as required

About Dawn House

Dawn House is a service run by women, for women accompanied by children, as a safe place of refuge, counselling, and community education. In line with its feminist values and principles, Dawn House is committed to the pursuit of social justice and the preservation of dignity for all women and children.

Dawn House believes that women and children must have equitable access to civil, economic, political, cultural and social rights necessary for the pursuit of self-fulfilment, self-determination and the achievement of optimal potential. To this end, Dawn House actively encourages and supports women and children to achieve their personal and collective goals.

Our Vision

Women and children are free from domestic and family violence and are supported in their journey to recovery.

Our Mission To provide confidential refuge and a range of culturally safe support services for women and their children experiencing domestic and family violence, whilst promoting a feminist strengths-based response through advocacy and community education.

Our Purpose

· Refuge

· Social and Emotional Wellbeing

· Holistic Support

· Community Education

· Advocacy

Position Overview The Children's Support Worker provides specialist support to children and mothers affected by domestic and family violence through child-focused casework, safety planning, parenting support, advocacy, program delivery and therapeutic activities. The role contributes to the safety, wellbeing, recovery and development of children residing at or accessing Dawn House services.

Working under the general direction of the Operations Manager, the position applies trauma-informed, strengths-based, feminist, culturally safe and child-centred practice principles to support children experiencing the impacts of domestic and family violence and to strengthen positive family relationships.

The role works collaboratively with mothers, internal staff and external stakeholders to ensure children receive coordinated, developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive support. The position contributes to children's program development, case planning,



service coordination and continuous practice improvement.

The position is based across Dawn House locations in Darwin and may be required to work from other Dawn House locations to meet operational requirements.

Essential Criteria

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

· Demonstrated experience supporting children and families affected by domestic and family violence, trauma, crisis, family separation, child wellbeing concerns, homelessness or related human service contexts.

· Sound understanding of domestic and family violence dynamics and the impacts of violence, trauma, attachment disruption and adverse childhood experiences on children's wellbeing, development and behaviour.

· Demonstrated ability to apply trauma-informed, strengths-based, child-centred, culturally safe and feminist practice principles when working with women and children.

· Demonstrated ability to undertake child-focused assessment, safety planning, advocacy and casework support under professional supervision and within organisational procedures.

· Knowledge of child protection legislation, child safeguarding responsibilities and mandatory reporting obligations.

· Ability to identify, assess and appropriately respond to risk, distress, developmental concerns and safeguarding issues affecting children.

· Demonstrated ability to support mothers to strengthen parenting confidence, attachment, emotional regulation and positive family relationships following experiences of domestic and family violence.

· Strong written communication, case documentation and reporting skills, including maintaining accurate case notes, assessments, safety plans and client management records.

· Ability to build effective professional relationships and work collaboratively with schools, child protection services, courts, health providers and community agencies.

· Sound organisational and time management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and maintain appropriate professional boundaries.

· Demonstrated computer literacy, including experience using electronic client management systems such as SHIP.

· Hold a National Police Clearance and Working with Children Clearance (Ochre Card).

· Current Northern Territory Driver Licence or ability to obtain one. Capacity to participate in after-hours or on-call arrangements where required.

Attributes:

· Commitment to the safety, dignity and self-determination of women and children experiencing domestic and family violence.

· Warm, respectful and child-centred approach when working with children, mothers and families.

· Ability to remain calm, supportive and professional when responding to trauma, distress, crisis or challenging behaviour.

· Sound judgement, discretion and accountability when managing risk, sensitive information and competing priorities.

· Collaborative and professional approach to teamwork, communication and service delivery.

· Commitment to culturally secure, inclusive and reflective practice.

· Resilience, self-awareness and willingness to engage in supervision, reflective practice and ongoing professional development.

Qualifications:

(Essential)





· Relevant degree in Social Work, Human Services, Community Services, Psychology, Early Childhood, Youth Work or a related discipline, and relevant experience; or

· Associate diploma, diploma or other relevant qualification with demonstrated experience and competence sufficient to perform the duties of a Dawn House Level 4 position; or

· An equivalent combination of previous appointments, service, study, experience and expertise sufficient to meet the requirements of the role.

(Desirable)

· Specialist training in child development, trauma-informed practice, domestic and family violence, child safeguarding, therapeutic or play-based interventions, parenting support or related fields.

Desirable Criteria:

· Experience working in a women's refuge, specialist domestic and family violence service, homelessness service, family support program or comparable community services environment.

· Experience supporting children with complex behavioural, developmental or emotional needs.

· Experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families and culturally and linguistically diverse communities within the Northern Territory context.

· Current First Aid Certificate or willingness to obtain.

Key Duties

Child and family support

Provide individual and group support for children affected by domestic and family violence, including assessment, safety planning, emotional support, advocacy and developmentally appropriate therapeutic activities. Assist children to strengthen resilience, wellbeing, safety and recovery.

Parenting support and family relationships

Work collaboratively with mothers to strengthen parenting confidence, attachment, emotional regulation, positive behaviour support and family relationships following experiences of domestic and family violence. Support mothers to understand and respond to the impacts of trauma on children.

Case management and coordination

Contribute to case planning, review processes, referrals and coordinated service delivery for children and families. Participate in case discussions and provide information regarding children's needs and progress within delegated authority.

Risk, safety and child safeguarding

Identify and respond to child protection concerns, safeguarding matters and indicators of risk or harm. Ensure concerns are documented, escalated and managed in accordance with legislation, organisational procedures and mandatory reporting obligations.

Programs and activities

Design, coordinate and facilitate age-appropriate children's activities, school holiday programs and therapeutic group opportunities that support wellbeing, development, recovery and positive family connection.

Stakeholder engagement and advocacy

Maintain constructive relationships with schools, health services, child protection, legal services and community organisations. Advocate for children's needs and participate in interagency collaboration within delegated authority.

Records, data and reporting

Maintain accurate and timely case notes, assessments, plans, SHIP records, program records and mandatory reporting documentation in accordance with organisational and legislative requirements.

Organisational contribution

Comply with Dawn House policies, procedures, confidentiality, privacy, WHS and professional conduct requirements. Participate in supervision, professional development, reflective practice, service improvement initiatives and after-hours arrangements as required.

📌 Children's Support Worker (Wulagi)
🏢 Dawn House
📍 Wulagi