Community & Kinship Care Practitioner
Permanent Part Time
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander People of all ages are strongly encouraged to apply
REFOCUS is in the business of Redirecting and Empowering Families by creating Opportunities through Culturally Unique and responsive Services. Our work is driven by a commitment to strengthening families, celebrating identity, and fostering resilience.
We do this by building genuine connections, valuing emotional intelligence, and taking a ground-up approach to understanding where support is most needed for children and families. Our services are shaped by real-world experience and a deep respect for the communities we serve.
Over the past 15 years, we have supported more than 20,000 community members across the Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, Gympie, and Cairns regions, delivering high-quality support across the Health, Community, and NDIS sectors. We are powered by a dedicated team with more than 800 years of combined lived and professional experience, ensuring culturally safe, person centered, knowledgeable, and effective care.
We are crafting a team of change-makers and we want you!
People who are crazy enough to want to change the world are the ones to do so. If you have just the right amount of crazy, lace up your boots and start wearing your undies on the outside (ok, maybe just lace up your boots) and join our revolutionary new approach to healthy communities.
REFOCUS is seeking a Community & Kinship Care Practitioner to join our team and support carers in creating safe, nurturing and culturally connected environments for children and young people.
About the role
As a Community & Kinship Care Practitioner, you will:
Assess and evaluate the skills and experience of foster parents transferring to our program from other programs using our program standards.
Complete home assessments, abiding by Departmental Home Assessment Guide which includes face-to-face interviews with all family members and interviews with couples, household safety assessments of the home, contact references, schools, and other professionals as necessary.
Negotiate, plan and coordinate placement for children.
Collaborate with Child Protection case planning – help foster family understand case plan, help case worker understand dynamics or foster family and to mediate conflicts that arise as a result.
Complete evaluation of children’s needs to determine financial compensation to foster parents (e.g. Special Rates)
Monitor Child Protection Service delivery in the context of the foster family to ensure optimal information, resources and direction for the foster families in their delivery of service to foster families.
Assist foster families to work with biological families.
Provide skills and Knowledge based training which includes research and development of training material.
Evaluate foster family’s ability to meet service plan as established and advocate for additional responses as required and /or change in plan reflecting foster families situation or input.
Provide support and information in regard to Standard of Care matters.
Pay and Conditions
Permanent part-time position
Hourly pay rates range from:
Level 1 PPT1 $35.93 per hour
Up to Level 5 PPT2 $52.60 per hour
Classification level and pay rate are assessed and determined based on qualifications, experience, and demonstrated capability.
What we’re looking for
We’re looking for someone who:
Has a strong commitment to child safety and family-led practice
Understands, or is willing to learn, Community and Kinship Care practice
Can build respectful partnerships with families, communities, and Child Safety
Is organised, reflective, and confident with documentation and review processes
Values cultural safety, collaboration, and accountability
Qualification & Experience
Relevant qualification in human services, social work, community services, and/or 2 years as a Foster Care worker or in the Child Protection System, or working towards
Experience in child protection, family support, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community services is desirable
Willingness to undertake intensive training in child safety legislation, policies, and procedures.
Position Summary
Additional requirements
• You must hold a drivers licence (minimum green P’s)
• You must hold a current Blue Card (Working with Children Clearance).
• Capacity and willingness to pass a Child Safety and Personal History Screening.
• You must work within the 10 Child Safe Standards.
How to apply
To apply, please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your interest and relevant experience.
COME ON YOU MOB HAVE A GO!
Due to the high volume of applications, only successful applicants will be contacted.
