Recovery and Housing Practitioner - Looking Ahead Program

Full-Time | SCHADS Level 5 | ADO Eligible | Melbourne Head Office and outreach across Western, Inner Eastern and Southern Melbourne

Walk alongside victim survivors from crisis to recovery, safe housing, and independence.

Are you an experienced case manager who is passionate about providing client-led, trauma-informed support that continues beyond the immediate crisis?

Refuge Victoria is seeking a Recovery and Housing Practitioner to join our new Looking Ahead Program, an integrated housing and recovery initiative supporting victim survivors from crisis accommodation into safe, sustainable housing and longer-term recovery.

This is a rare prospect to work alongside victim survivors over time, supporting them to strengthen safety, housing stability, wellbeing, confidence and connection through an 18-24 month recovery journey.

About Refuge Victoria

Refuge Victoria is an independent not-for-profit specialist family violence organisation and one of Victoria’s largest providers of specialist family violence refuge accommodation.

We support people experiencing serious risk from family violence through refuge and crisis accommodation, safety planning, specialist case management and assistance to build safer and more independent lives.

Our vision is for people escaping family violence to live safe and free. Our work is guided by our values of beingCompassionate, Empowering, Collaborative, Committed and acting with Integrity.

About the Looking Ahead Program

Looking Ahead is Refuge Victoria’s new integrated rapid housing and recovery initiative.





Support begins while victim survivors are residing in specialist family violence crisis accommodation and continues as they transition into longer-term housing, with graduated outreach support provided over 18-24 months.

The program prioritises victim survivors experiencing repeated crisis presentations and complex barriers to housing, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victim survivors, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people living with disability, temporary visa holders and LGBTIQA+ people.

Looking Ahead is grounded in three principles:

- Safety remains paramount throughout recovery.
- Housing is the foundation for recovery, not the end goal.
- Recovery is client-led and recognises each person’s strengths, goals and aspirations.

Case management is guided by the Empowerment Star, supporting collaborative goal setting, client-led Action Plans, regular review and meaningful outcomes measurement.

About the role

Reporting to the Team Leader – Looking Ahead, you will provide client-led case management across the full Looking Ahead journey.

You will begin working with victim survivors while they are living in specialist family violence crisis accommodation and continue supporting them as they transition into longer-term housing and move through phased outreach support.

You will:





- Hold an allocated caseload and provide coordinated in-reach and outreach support for up to 24 months.
- Build respectful, team-oriented relationships that promote client voice, choice and self-determination.
- Complete comprehensive MARAM risk assessments, safety plans and ongoing risk reviews.
- Use the Empowerment Star to help clients identify strengths, priorities and recovery goals and co-design their Action Plans.
- Adjust the intensity and focus of support across the Stabilise, Rebuild, Strengthen and Sustain phases.
- Coordinate advocacy, referrals and practical support across housing, health and wellbeing, parenting, financial capability, legal needs, education, employment and community connection.
- Work closely with the Housing and Tenancy Worker to identify safe, affordable and sustainable housing pathways.
- Support clients to establish and sustain private rental, social housing or other appropriate housing options.
- Respond early to emerging tenancy risks, including financial stress, safety concerns, housing instability or threatened tenancy loss.
- Work collaboratively with crisis providers, housing services, Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, LGBTIQA+ specialist services and other community partners.
- Maintain accurate and timely client records, outcomes data and program documentation.
- Plan safe transitions from the program by strengthening community connections, informal supports and ongoing service relationships.

Regular outreach is required across Western, Inner Eastern and Southern Melbourne, including work in crisis accommodation, client homes, Refuge Victoria offices and community settings.

About you

We are looking for an experienced case mana

📌 Recovery and Housing Practitioner (Melbourne)
🏢 Refuge Victoria
📍 Melbourne