Family Group Conferencing Convenor

The Family Group Conferencing (FGC) Convenor is responsible for delivering a high-quality, culturally responsive service through the facilitation family-led decision-making meetings for children, young people and their families involved with Restoring Families stream. These meetings support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and their families to have active and meaningful involvement in decision making processes.

This role brings families together with their extended Community and support networks to provide a shared understanding of the needs of the children and young people to promote their safety, wellbeing and development. It focuses on recognising the importance of a child or young persons connection to their culture and Community to support identifying how cultural strengths, knowledge and supports can guide solutions that are meaningful and culturally safe.

The convenor works independently from statutory decision-making and case management services while ensuring all safety requirements are clearly understood and culturally responsive in a way that promotes family authority and self-determination.

Under the direction of the Specialist Cultural Services Team Leader, the key responsibility areas for this position are described as follows:

• Provide, promote, and model effective, culturally safe, trauma-informed and client-centred practices and communications across all interactions and service delivery, adhering to RDAC’s Code of Conduct and Values 
• Work collaboratively as part of a broader team and actively contribute to a safe, supportive environment that promotes critical reflection, continuous learning, and positive outcomes for Aboriginal children
• Promote the safety, stability, and wellbeing of Aboriginal children and ensure practice aligns with best interest principles and evidence-based approaches.
• Prepare and plan for Family Group Conferences in line with DFFH Family Group Conference standards and Restoring Families guidelines. including scheduling, venue coordination, facilitating the involvement of family, kinships, community members and other relevant participants and supporting the assessment of family readiness
• Prioritise the children’s cultural identity and connection during the family group conferencing process.
• Apply high-level mediation skills to ensure all conferences are family-led and inclusive of mandatory protected family time.
• Support the implementation and review of family plans.
• Engage children, parents, Community networks and other support networks to build trust, readiness and clear understanding of the family group conferencing process.
• Maintain positive and effective relationships with key stakeholders, statutory bodies, departments, and other partner agencies such as Child Protection, ACSASS and a range of other Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal services to support coordinated and effective service delivery.
• Maintain accurate and timely case notes, meeting minutes, family plans, reports, and documentation using specialist IT and recording systems, in line with RDAC standards and obligations
• Contribute to program evaluation, data collection, monthly reporting and continuous improvement activities
• Comply with RDAC policies, service delivery frameworks, and relevant legislative and regulatory standards including Child Safe Standards, mandatory reporting requirements, Social Services Regulations, CIMS, CISS, FVISS and MARAM, and the Child, Youth and Families Act 2005
• Participate in regular supervision with direct line leadership, external supervision, reflective practice and ongoing professional development opportunities.

Position Requirements

• Qualification in Social Work, Community Services or related discipline with demonstrated experience in child & family services, child protection or related fields.
• Current Working with Children’s Check
• Satisfactory Criminal History Check
• Current Victorian Drivers License
• Satisfactory drug & alcohol testing screening
• Immunisations in-line with Ramahyuck Staff Immunisation Policy