Job description
Agency Department of Education and Training Work unit Student Wellbeing and Inclusion Programs and

Services, Professional Practice and Intake
Job title Practice Leader – Duty Worker Designation Professional 3
Job type Full Time Duration Ongoing
Salary $117,625 - $131,735 Location Darwin
Position number 29039 RTF 359925 Closing 09/11/2026
Contact Officer Alana Chapman, Assistant Director Professional Practice and Intake, [email protected] or

0499 789 462
About the agency https://education.nt.gov.au/
Apply online https://jobs.nt.gov.au/Home/JobDetails?rtfId=359925
APPLICATIONS MUST INCLUDE A ONE-PAGE SUMMARY ABOUT YOU, A DETAILED RESUME AND COPIES OF YOUR TERTIARY
QUALIFICATIONS.
Information for applicants – inclusion and diversity
The NTPS values diversity. The NTPS encourages people from all diversity groups to apply for vacancies and accommodates people with
disability by making reasonable workplace adjustments. If you require an adjustment for the recruitment process or job, please discuss
this with the contact officer. For more information about applying for this position and the merit process, go to the OCPE website.

Primary objective
The Practice Leader – Duty Worker provides specialist practice guidance, consultation and coordinated response support to schools and
Student Wellbeing and Inclusion Programs and Services (SWIPS) staff in relation to complex student wellbeing, child safety and critical
incident matters. The role will participate in a rostered phone/online professional services providing real-time, triage, coordinating on-
site support visits for supporting schools, contributes to practice excellence by managing complex consultations, coordinating duty
worker and critical incident responses, and delivering targeted professional learning across the Northern Territory.
Context statement
Student Wellbeing and Inclusion Programs and Services (SWIPS) provides differentiated support services to reform inclusion and improve
engagement and access to learning for children,



students and communities. SWIPS provides advice, guidance and support to clients and
stakeholders to ensure all children and students are welcomed into an inclusive learning environment and are able to engage effectively
with education and learn to their full potential.
Key duties and responsibilities
1. Lead, influence and mentor staff to apply best practice professional judgement and support schools to make decisions on

operational policy, practice and complex casework in line with legislative and policy requirements.
2. Provide expert consultation, advice and guidance to schools and SWIPS staff on complex student wellbeing matters, including

suicidality and self-harm, harmful sexualised behaviours, violent or dangerous behaviours, mandatory reporting concerns, and
targeted support when students are discharged from the Youth Inpatient Program.

3. Identify high-risk areas, emerging practice needs and service pressures, and work with the unit and management team to build
practice capability through research, data, reporting and continuous improvement.

4. Provide expert advice, leadership and coordination for Territory-wide critical incidents, including rostered duty, short-notice
response, pre-incident briefing, incident support for schools and SWIPS staff, post-incident debriefing and staff support.

5. Participate in Child Abuse Taskforce processes by providing relevant information, notifying and supporting schools where students
may be affected, and coordinating timely advice with affected schools.

6. Develop, coordinate and deliver targeted skilled learning via virtual platforms, webinars, phone consultation and face-to-face
delivery.

7.



Participate in the rostered phone and online duty worker service, which may require rostering between 6.00am and 6.00pm to
provide timely support to schools and practitioners.

Selection criteria
Essential
1. Recognised tertiary qualification in social work or psychology, with eligibility for Australian Association of Social Workers

membership or full registration as a psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority.
2. Demonstrated high-level experience, skills and knowledge in preventative, targeted and individual school wellbeing supports,

including complex case management, service delivery, critical incidents and complex wellbeing matters.
3. Strong interpersonal, oral and written communication skills, including the ability to provide clear advice, manage sensitive

conversations, negotiate outcomes, resolve conflict and maintain effective relationships with schools and internal and external
stakeholders.

4. Ability to provide professional practice leadership, coaching and mentoring that supports sound judgement, contemporary
evidence-based, trauma-informed and culturally responsive practice, and continuous improvement.

5. Highly developed analytical, conceptual and problem-solving skills, including the ability to review complex case information, identify
risk and make evidence-based recommendations.

6. Comprehensive knowledge and application of practitioner service provision, including theoretical frameworks, practice standards,
ethical issues, and relevant standards and quality processes.

7. Ability to work independently with limited direction, manage competing priorities, mentor colleagues, engage effectively with
diverse communities, and use self-care and support to manage vicarious trauma.

Further information
The successful applicant must hold a current NT Working with Children Notice (Ochre Card). Corporate conditions apply to this position
with possible travel to schools in urban and remote areas by car and or light aircraft, including overnight stays.

📌 Practice Leader – Duty Worker (Darwin)
🏢 Department of Education and Training
📍 Darwin