• Improve access to early years services and programs.
• Increase engagement in child health checks.
• Increase collaboration between early years services and programs.
• Improve service system/service provider understanding about parent’s direct experience with the early years system and the barriers they experience, including why families are not engaging with Child Health Nurses or General Practitioners.

Armadale West is one of four communities working within the Early Years Partnership (EYP). EYP is a partnership between the State Government (Departments of Communities and Education and WA Health), Minderoo Foundation, Telethon Kids Institute (research and evidence partner) aimed at improving the well-being and school readiness of children pre-conception to four years of age.

The Armadale West partnership (local working group) is a collective of community representatives from a variety of organisations that ensures local knowledge, community engagement and ownership of solutions and opportunities for the area. The group includes representatives from the Department of Communities, 54 reasons (Save the Children), City of Armadale, Department of Health, Minderoo Foundation, and other identified local stakeholders. The Family Support Specialist position was initiated by this collective and supports the implementation of the Armadale West Early Years Community Plan.

54 reasons is Australia’s leading child rights organisation – no ordinary not-for-profit.

Proudly part of the Save the Children Australia Group and global movement, we’re here to make sure that everyone understands their rights. So that children and young people have their rights met and thrive, in all their diversity.

We champion the children, young people and families we work with. We are inspired by the curiosity and creativity of children and motivated by the love of those who care for them.

With the child’s voice at the centre, we provide quality services to children and their caregivers, advocating with them so that children develop, learn, and are connected, safe and confident. Our people are proudly local, reflective of the communities we serve – in every state and territory, and across regions, remote areas and capital cities.

Where you come in:

In this part-time maximum-term, SCHADS Level 4.1 position (4 days a week) based in Armadale you’ll individually support vulnerable families in the Armadale West area to access services they need to ensure their children thrive. As part of our Early Years team, you’ll report to our Team Leader.

You will make an impact by:

1. Engaging with families of young children identified as vulnerable by the Armadale West Early Years Partnership local working group
2. Connect families with early years services and program
3. Connect and support families to access services to meet their needs
4. Manage and build relationship with key stakeholders
5. Contribute to local strategy to improve early years’ service provision and collaboration in the area.

Does this sound like you?

You are a creative and out of the box thinker who inspires and mobilises people into action, builds partnerships and is solutions focused. The Family Support Specialist role spans from a one-off provision of information or connections, through to working with families individually to ensure they get the support they require to address needs.

This role requires:

1. Demonstrated experience establishing and maintaining trust with vulnerable families using strengths based, trauma informed, family centred engagement approaches
2. Knowledge and understanding of the circumstances experienced by families with complex needs and the range of risk and protective factors which impact on life outcomes
3. Demonstrated ability to effectively establish and maintain strong working relationships with a variety of key stakeholders, including government agencies
4. Creativity and out of the box thinking that inspires and mobilises people into action, builds partnerships and is solutions focused

Working at 54 reasons is more than just a job.

We are a learning organisation that invests in the development and wellbeing of our people. Our workforce is approximately 600 people strong, and proudly diverse, whether in race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexuality, cultures and beliefs.

We are creative, connected and accountable, bringing energy, guts and ideas to all we do to champion children in Australia and partner with families, communities and partners to bring about change.

Our people work from both home and office, with important moments held in-person to foster belonging and support professional development. Our leave provisions include personal, ceremonial and family violence leave as well as the ability to purchase additional leave. Remuneration is benchmarked and we offer full non-profit salary packaging benefits.

Other benefits include:

• Award rate salary (SCHADS Level 4.1 – $41.52 hourly rate) plus full salary packaging benefits – use this link to see how much this benefit could mean to you!
• 3 days (pro rata) of gifted festive leave between Christmas and New Year, in addition to regular leave benefits
• Health and wellbeing support, including EAP and professional supervision, as well as internal networks to support our diverse workforce
• Opportunity to work on additional projects alongside business as usual
• Internal employment and development opportunities
• Child friendly work environment

For more information regarding the employee benefits of the Save the Children Australia group, please follow this link.

Sound interesting?

We’d love to hear from you. Submit your cover letter and resume by clicking on the ‘Apply’ section.

Applications close 4pm AWST, Monday 2^nd October 2023.

Position Description – Family Support Specialist

For more information about this position, please contact Amanda Splatt on 0458 018 894 or [email protected].

We have tested our application process with diverse groups in mind, with the intent to ensure it’s straightforward and accessible for all to apply. Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our culture and improve our ability to reach our most vulnerable client groups. But we also know there is no one-size fits-all when it comes to recruitment – so if we didn’t quite hit the mark for you, please let us know! We’re dedicated to ensuring 54 reasons is a workplace suitable for all people and can modify our processes to suit you – no matter your race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexuality, neurodiversity, culture and beliefs.

54 reasons is a child-safe organisation. All employees are required to undergo a National Police Check, a Working with Children Check where necessary, and sign our Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct. We also support the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. You can read about the Scheme and our commitment to Safeguarding here.