Job Description

If you're passionate about education, advocacy and making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families, we'd love to hear from you.

At McAuley, we support women and children who have experienced family violence and homelessness to reclaim control of their lives. Through a holistic range of services - including accommodation, legal, health, recreation, and social support - we empower women to rebuild their futures with increased safety, stability, economic capability, and overall wellbeing.

We are seeking an Education Practitioner, specialising in Family Violence to join our team at McAuley, in a full time ongoing capacity.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

As the McAuley Family Violence (Education) Practitioner, you will work alongside children, parents and carers to overcome barriers to learning, navigate education pathways and advocate for safe, positive school engagement.

Through short-term, outcomes-focused support, you'll assist with school enrolments, transitions, learning adjustments and education advocacy, while collaborating with schools and community services. Using a child-centred and family violence-informed approach, you will help create safer, more stable educational futures for vulnerable children and young people.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide Education Support – Support children to reconnect with school and learning through tailored education support.
• Family Empowerment - Equip parents and carers to navigate education pathways and advocate for their child's needs.
• Advocacy & Access – Remove barriers to enrolment, attendance and participation in Education
• Collaboration & Risk response - Partner with schools and services to coordinate safe, child-centred education outcomes and respond to family violence risks.
• Continuous Improvement - Share insights and feedback to strengthen service delivery and outcomes.

Please refer to the PD for a full position description.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA:

Please note, we are only considering female identifying candidates for this position. McAuley Community Services for Women has an exemption to gender equality requirements.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Relevant qualification in Social Work, Community Services, Youth Work, Child & Family Welfare or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Knowledge of school enrolment, transitions, attendance and learning support processes, with strong education advocacy skills.
• Experience supporting children, young people and families facing family violence, homelessness, housing instability or other complex challenges.
• Understanding of family violence-informed and MARAM-aligned practice, including child-centred risk assessment and response.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Understanding of feminist, intersectional, and anti-oppressive practice

We value the unique knowledge, perspectives, and cultural contributions of First Nations peoples. Your experience and insights are important to us, and we strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates to apply.

For more information, please contact: Helen Whitehead at helen.whitehead@mackillop.org.au

You must have a:

• Satisfactory Criminal History Check;
• Valid Employee Working with Children Check;
• Valid and current Driver’s Licence.

WHAT WE OFFER:

• SCHADS LEVEL 5 – Based on experience & qualifications.
• More money in your pocket – up to $18,550 per year, which allows you to reduce the amount of tax you pay.
• Wellbeing that matters - Free, confidential support for mental, physical, financial and social wellbeing.
• First Nations career pathways - Warrungarli Strategy supporting recruitment, retention and professional development
• Community & connection - Opportunity to join Ngindaay Guumaldanha, our Aboriginal Staff Network
• Sanctuary Organisation - MacKillop’s work is underpinned by the Sanctuary Model, evidence supported, whole of organisation framework that brings our values to life. The model reinforces our ability to create a safe environment that teaches people to cope effectively with stress and trauma, and to heal.

OUR COMMITTMENT:

McAuley is part of MacKillop Family Services and celebrates and draws strength from diversity and respects the dignity of all people. Every person has the right to be safe and to be treated justly. We value every person’s ability, cultural or linguistic backgrounds, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, intersex status, relationship status, religious or spiritual beliefs, socio-economic status, and age.

It is our goal that we continue to evolve as a culturally safe, culturally competent, and welcoming organisation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, families, and communities.

Shortlisting for this position may commence immediately so please submit your application as soon as possible