Summary:

Based within The Orange Door (Morwell), the Team Leader, Aboriginal Response Team provides leadership, practice guidance and operational support to the Aboriginal Response Team to ensure the delivery of high-quality, culturally safe, responsive and inclusive services to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

The role provides day-to-day leadership, supervision, mentoring and professional development to Aboriginal Response practitioners, supporting high-quality practice and embedding trauma-informed, strengths-bases and culturally responsive approaches across service delivery.

The Aboriginal Response Team supports Aboriginal women, children and families experiencing family violence; people who use violence; and families seeking support with the care, development and wellbeing of their children. The role contributes to responses that recognise the impacts of family violence and intergenerational trauma, support recovery and healing, promote respectful and healthy relationships, and connect Aboriginal people with culturally appropriate services and supports.

A key focus of the role is to strengthen Aboriginal cultural safety, self-determination and choice within The Orange Door. The Team Leader works collaboratively with the Aboriginal Practice Leader, Hub leadership and Aboriginal services, organisations and communities to build and maintain effective partnerships, improve pathways to culturally appropriate supports, and ensure Aboriginal perspectives and expertise inform service delivery and practice.

The role also contributes to building the cultural capability of the broader The Orange Door workforce, supporting an environment where Aboriginal people experience culturally safe, respectful and inclusive engagement and have meaningful choice in the services and supports they access.

Responsibilities:

- Provide strong, culturally safe,



trauma-informed leadership that models the behaviours expected of others including compliance with RDAC’s Code of Conduct and Values.
- Build and maintain a cohesive, high-performing team through effective supervision, coaching, reflective practice, and performance management, while promoting a supportive working workplace that allows for critical reflection and learning that encourages positive outcomes for Aboriginal individuals, children, and families.
- Oversee recruitment, onboarding, and ongoing professional development to ensure staff are skilled, supported, and ensuring continuous quality improvement and alignment with best practices.
- Promote and model effective communication, cultural safety, cultural awareness, and client-centred practice across all interactions and service delivery. Ensuring high-quality, culturally appropriate, and trauma-informed services are delivered to Aboriginal peoples.
- Provide support, case direction, secondary consultation, and general case oversight to practitioners working with caseloads of varying needs and complexities.
- Manage task allocation and workflow across an integrated team, balancing strategic and operation priorities, service demand, and practitioner workload.
- As required, hold and manage a caseload of complex and/or sensitive cases, particularly where a higher-level oversight is required and/or during periods of increased demand.
- Collaborate with The Orange Door Team Leaders, Aboriginal Practice Leader, and The Orange Door Hub leadership team to promote consistent practice, workforce development,



culturally responsive practices and effective service delivery across the partnership.
- Work closely with sector stakeholders such as Victoria Police, Child Protection, and Aboriginal services to maintain positive and effective relationships and referral pathways that support coordinated responses.
- Ensure staff practice align with evidence-based approaches and comply with RDAC policies, service delivery frameworks, and relevant legislative and regulatory standards including Child Safe Standards, Social Services Regulations, CIMS, CISS, FVISS and MARAM, and the Child, Youth and Families Act 2005.
- Oversee accurate, timely case notes, data entry, and program documentation to meet reporting and compliance requirements.
- Identify, monitor, and escalate practice, client, or workplace risks to the General Manager as required.
- Contribute to continuous improvement by identifying and implementing opportunities to enhance program effectiveness and efficiency.

Qualifications:

- A relevant Bachelor qualification in Social Work, Community Services, Psychology, Children & Families studies and/or other related discipline
- All specialist family violence response roles hired after 1 July 2021 must hold or be ‘working towards’ an Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) Level 7 or above qualification in family violence or a related discipline. Please see: Mandatory minimum qualifications for specialist family violence response roles | vic.gov.au, for further information.
- Current Working with Children’s Check
- Satisfactory Criminal History Check
- Current Victorian Driver’s License
- Satisfactory drug & alcohol screening
- Strong understanding of Aboriginal culture, history, and the challenges faced by Aboriginal families.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.

📌 The Orange Door Aboriginal Response Team Leader (Morwell)
🏢 Ramahyuck District Aboriginal
📍 Morwell