Begin your career in the DFV sector
Are you a Community Services Diploma or Certificate student who feels strongly about gender-based violence and wants to understand what it takes to support women and children to recover from it? This 18-month supervised traineeship is designed for you.
You are here to learn. Your role is focused on building knowledge, observing practice, and developing your skills – not providing direct case work or counselling. Based in our supported women’s refuge services, you will see how trauma-informed DFV practice works and will be supported every step of the way by a Senior Practitioner, and Service Manager. As part of the traineeship, your on-the-job learning will be complemented by formal study through TAFE.
This is a hands-on, active role based in a residential setting. It requires you to be fully onsite to maintain consistent, trusting relationships with the women and children you support.
What you will do
- Undertake structured training through your TAFE traineeship, internal facilitated sessions, mentoring and our Go1 learning system to build foundational knowledge of Domestic and Family Violence and the response sector.
- Shadow and support DFV Practitioners and Workers on tasks.
- Engage with the team and partners. Attend team meetings, community engagement events, and stakeholder networking opportunities where appropriate to your scope.
- Engage in regular supervision. Supervision is a core part of this programme, both for your professional growth and for your wellbeing.
Who we are looking for
We are looking for learning and can-do attitude rather than experience. Specifically:
- Genuine interest in working with women and children, and in the broader DFV sector as a career pathway.
- Working towards Diploma, Cert III or IV in Community Services or about to enrol in such TAFE courses.
- A respectful, open, and non-judgemental approach to people from all backgrounds.
- Willingness to learn, ask questions, and act on feedback.
- Ability to organise yourself, manage your time, maintain attendance and follow through on commitments.
- Values that align with our organisational values of: Person-Centred, Excellence, Respect, and Integrity.
- Comfort working in a team and contributing positively to a workplace culture.
Genuine occupational requirement
As Human & Co provides services exclusively to women and children, being female is a genuine occupational requirement for this position pursuant to Section 31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW).
Mandatory requirements
The following are non-negotiable requirements prior to working with us. Your application will not progress if any of these are not met. All items will be verified prior to commencement.
1. NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC)
You must hold or be able to obtain a valid NSW Working with Children Check clearance prior to commencement. We can support you through the application process if you have not yet held one. Applicants under 18 years of age must apply for a WWCC for paid employment in line with NSW requirements.
2. NSW Driver Licence (held or working towards)
You must either hold a current NSW driver licence (any class, including provisional) or be actively working towards one.
3. National Police Check
A satisfactory National Police Check is required. Human & Co will arrange and fund this on your behalf prior to commencement.
4. Parental or guardian consent (where applicable)
If you are under 18, written consent from a parent or guardian and confirmation from your school is required as part of the offer.
Life at Human & Co
Domestic Violence NSW Service Management (trading as Human & Co) is a registered charity that works to prevent and support recovery from domestic and family violence and homelessness.
Our vision is a world where women, families, and communities live free from violence, have equal rights, opportunities, and the freedom to reach their potential.
Our values
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Person-Centred: We listen and embrace diversity to support our clients to define and achieve their own goals.
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Excellence: We bring professionalism and evidence-based practice to every programme and service we deliver.
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Respect: We stay open-minded and non-judgmental in every interaction.
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Integrity: We are ethical, transparent, and accountable, to our communities and to each other.
What Human & Co offers you
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A genuine career entry point: An 18-month structured pathway into the DFV sector.
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Investment in your growth: Access to our learning management system (Go1), facilitated internal training, and a professional development portfolio you can carry into further study or employment.
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Regular supervision and wellbeing support: Supervision is built into the programme, not an afterthought. Your wellbeing is core to our design.
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A certified Great Place to Work®: We hold Great Place to Work certification across multiple years, backed by strong leadership and a culture built together over time.
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Not-for-profit salary packaging: Reduce your tax and increase your take-home pay through NFP salary packaging (FBT exemption up to $15,900 per FBT year).
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A real seat at the table: You will be a member of our service delivery teams, included in team meetings, planning, and community engagement opportunities.
For more information about who we are and what we do, please visit www.humanandco.org.au
How to apply
If you are ready to begin your career in the DFV sector, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your current CV (or a short summary of your school, current studies, work experience, and interests) along with a brief Cover Letter.
Your Cover Letter should be written by you and tell us, in your own words: why this sector matters to you, and what you hope to learn from the traineeship.
We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, LGBTIQ+ women, and women with disability. Reasonable adjustments are available at every stage of the recruitment process — please let us know what you need.
