Community Protecting Boorais Team Leader

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 an opportunity for an enthusiastic and committed Community Protecting Boorais Program Manager to join BADAC on a Full Time Ongoing basis.

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

Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative will be the third ACCO in the state to deliver the Community Protecting Boorais Program. This will allow BADAC to take on the role of investigation reports that are made to Child Protection for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander children. The program aims to understand the story of the family and work together in a holistic, culturally safe way, placing early interventions when safe to do so. To reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal children in care, by prioritising self-determination and facilitating Aboriginal models of care delivered by ACCOs.

Working alongside Gobata Burron Program (ACAC), BADAC have developed their own practice approach designed to ensure Aboriginal families are engaged in a way that is culturally appropriate.

The Community Protecting Boorais Program will actively work with the child’s family, community and other professionals to develop and implement protective interventions, services and case planning in a way that is that culturally safe and in the best interests of the child. Aboriginal children and young people continue to be overrepresented in child protection and care systems. Actions to reduce the growth of Aboriginal children in care are required.

With the support of the Program Manager, the Team Leader will take a lead role in managing serious and complex case issues, incident response and worker safety issues.

The role involves:

- Providing leadership and mentoring staff in the Community Protecting Boori Program to improve and support the decision making for Aboriginal children where a report has been made. To hear families stories.

- In collaboration with the Practice Lead & Cultural Support Workers will assist in developing. implementing and maintaining Aboriginal children’s cultural identity to ensure the child’s ongoing connection to family, community, culture and country.

- Ongoing assessment of the safety and well-being of the child and engagement of a support network of family and professionals to ensure best outcomes for the child.

- Case Manage a small case load.



Supervise and support other workers to ensure a high standard of care. Support Aboriginal children to stay home with their parents or extended families where it is safe to do so or support the identification of culturally safe alternative care.

- Ensuring children maintain connection to Culture and Community through facilitating return to Country, connecting to cultural programs, and developing culture care plans.

The Community Protecting Boori Team Leader may facilitate family conferencing where necessary, to maximise support for family members to best meet the needs of the children.

A commitment to Aboriginal self-determination, sound knowledge of Aboriginal placement principles culture important pre-requisite for this position.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

- Using the Best Interests Framework, assess and support the ongoing safety and well-being of Aboriginal children and young people and develop case plans that ensure a child’s development, long term stability, and that build a child’s ongoing connection to culture, family and community.
- Provide effective leadership, mentoring and supervision to the Community Protecting Boori to assist them in assessing and management of complex and vulnerable children and families. Support staff to integrate theoretical frameworks and trauma informed practice. Ensure that the programs meet all KPIs required in project plans and program guidelines.
- Together with the Program Manager & BADAC Executive team, assist with the implementation the Community Protecting Boori program operating procedures including the service delivery guidelines, practice frameworks, assessment tools and policies and procedures.
- Support and develop staff to ensure the provision of Best Practice Case Management services to Aboriginal children and their families.
- Exercise a wide range of legal delegations in accordance with the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 to ensure the safety and well-being of children and young people in BADAC’s care.
- Work in a culturally respectful way to ensure children, young people and their families are empowered to develop and maintain cultural connections.
- Provide leadership and role modelling in strengths based, child-centred, family focused and culturally attuned practice to Aboriginal children and their families.
- Work constructively with children and families; provide information, referral and interventions that enable the family with self-determination & to develop plans through a care team approach. The engagement of the child’s family & extended family network in decision making processes is a fundamental goal.
- Support the Community Protecting Boorai Program Manager in ensuring program objective and policies are adhered too and compliance requirements are met. Contribute to program development.
- Build strong partnerships and maintain positive working relationships with between BADAC programs and services, the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, Child Protection and the broader community services sector/relevant services.
- Manage communication with the stakeholders and governance committees as required.
- Ensure effective administration and keep appropriate records within the Looking after Children Framework; maintain case records, data collection, reporting requirements, develop and submit in a timely manner.
- Prepare & Review reports,



present information and make recommendations to the Children’s Court and other relevant courts and legal processes.
- Compile statistical data records of services provided and supply reports to BADAC Executive & DFFH as required.
- Maintain strict standards of confidentiality & act at all times in a professional manner in accordance with the policies & procedures of the Ballarat & District Aboriginal Co-operative.
- Engage in regular supervision, reflective practice and opportunities for planned professional development.
- Complete other duties as required and requested by the Community Protecting Boorai Program Manager and the Chief Operations Officer.

Key Selection Criteria:

- Demonstrated ability to work in a way that promotes Aboriginal children’s cultural identity and promotes their connection to family, community and culture acknowledging that connection to culture, community and country is fundamental to supporting the safety and identity of Aboriginal children.
- Sound knowledge of the legislation, policy and practice requirements relating to Aboriginal children, their families and carers.
- A relevant qualification in Social Work, Community Services, Welfare or similar and significant experience (4 years or more) in Child and Family Welfare sector.
- Demonstrated experience leading and mentoring practitioners in delivering culturally safe child and family responses for Aboriginal children, young people and families.
- Demonstrated ability to deliver best practice and guide staff in culturally appropriate assessments, case planning and case management, including court work, in accordance with the Program Service Delivery Framework.
- Demonstrated ability to manage serious/complex case issues, critical incidents, worker safety issues and quality of care concerns.
- Demonstrated ability to assess risk, develop evidence-informed safety plans, and implement strategies that promote the wellbeing of children, young people and families.
- Demonstrated ability to undertake complex casework and utilise culturally safe therapeutic approaches with children and their families who have experienced trauma and may present with challenging behaviours.
- Demonstrated experience & skills in risk assessment and intervention, child development and trauma informed practice.
- A proven & well developed understanding of a range of parenting & other intervention strategies.
- High level of 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 the development of effective liaison with families, government & community, health, education & welfare services.
- Well-developed administrative skills including maintaining accurate files, detailed assessments, computer data records & report writing.
- A sound knowledge of the Children, Youth & Families Act 2005, including the information sharing provisions.

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.

Applications close C.O.Bon 31st August 2026

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply

BADAC is a Child Safe organisationand 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 LGBTQIA+ employees feel included,protected and supported.

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📌 Community Protecting Boorais Team Leader (Ballarat East)
🏢 Ballarat & District Aboriginal Co-operative
📍 Ballarat East