Recovery and Housing Practitioner – Looking Ahead Program

Full-Time | SCHADS Level 5 | ADO Eligible| Melbourne Head Office and outreach across Western, Inner Eastern and Southern Melbourne 

Walk alongside victim survivors from crisis to recovery, safe housing, and independence. 

Are you an experienced case manager who is passionate about providing client-led, trauma-informed support that continues beyond the immediate crisis? 

Refuge Victoria is seeking a Recovery and Housing Practitioner to join our new Looking Ahead Program, an integrated housing and recovery initiative supporting victim survivors from crisis accommodation into safe, sustainable housing and longer-term recovery. 

This is a rare opportunity to work alongside victim survivors over time, supporting them to strengthen safety, housing stability, wellbeing, confidence and connection through an 18–24-month recovery journey. 

About Refuge Victoria 

Refuge Victoria is an independent not-for-profit specialist family violence organisation and one of Victoria’s largest providers of specialist family violence refuge accommodation. 

We support people experiencing serious risk from family violence through refuge and crisis accommodation, safety planning, specialist case management and assistance to build safer and more independent lives. 

Our vision is for people escaping family violence to live safe and free. Our work is guided by our values of being Compassionate, Empowering, Collaborative, Committed and acting with Integrity. 

About the Looking Ahead Program 

Looking Ahead is Refuge Victoria’s new integrated rapid housing and recovery initiative. 

Support begins while victim survivors are residing in specialist family violence crisis accommodation and continues as they transition into longer-term housing, with graduated outreach support provided over 18–24 months. 

The program prioritises victim survivors experiencing repeated crisis presentations and complex barriers to housing, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victim survivors, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people living with disability, temporary visa holders and LGBTIQA+ people. 

Looking Ahead is grounded in three principles: 

• Safety remains paramount throughout recovery. 
• Housing is the foundation for recovery, not the end goal. 
• Recovery is client-led and recognises each person’s strengths, goals and aspirations. 

Case management is guided by the Empowerment Star, supporting collaborative goal setting, client-led Action Plans, regular review and meaningful outcomes measurement. 

About the role 

Reporting to the Team Leader – Looking Ahead, you will provide client-led case management across the full Looking Ahead journey. 

You will begin working with victim survivors while they are living in specialist family violence crisis accommodation and continue supporting them as they transition into longer-term housing and move through phased outreach support. 

You will: 

• Hold an allocated caseload and provide coordinated in-reach and outreach support for up to 24 months. 
• Build respectful, collaborative relationships that promote client voice, choice and self-determination. 
• Complete comprehensive MARAM risk assessments, safety plans and ongoing risk reviews. 
• Use the Empowerment Star to help clients identify strengths, priorities and recovery goals and co-design their Action Plans. 
• Adjust the intensity and focus of support across the Stabilise, Rebuild, Strengthen and Sustain phases. 
• Coordinate advocacy, referrals and practical support across housing, health and wellbeing, parenting, financial capability, legal needs, education, employment and community connection. 
• Work closely with the Housing and Tenancy Worker to identify safe, affordable and sustainable housing pathways. 
• Support clients to establish and sustain private rental, social housing or other appropriate housing options. 
• Respond early to emerging tenancy risks, including financial stress, safety concerns, housing instability or threatened tenancy loss. 
• Work collaboratively with crisis providers, housing services, Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, LGBTIQA+ specialist services and other community partners. 
• Maintain accurate and timely client records, outcomes data and program documentation. 
• Plan safe transitions from the program by strengthening community connections, informal supports and ongoing service relationships. 

Regular outreach is required across Western, Inner Eastern and Southern Melbourne, including work in crisis accommodation, client homes, Refuge Victoria offices and community settings. 

About you 

We are looking for an experienced case management practitioner who is compassionate, organised and committed to client-led recovery. 

You will demonstrate: 

• Case management experience: Experience supporting people affected by family violence, homelessness or complex social needs through assessment, case planning, advocacy and coordinated referrals. 
• Family violence risk and safety practice: Sound knowledge of MARAM, family violence risk assessment, safety planning, information sharing and collaborative risk management. 
• Client-led recovery: The ability to work alongside clients using strengths-based, trauma-informed, feminist and person-centred approaches. 
• Relationship-based practice: The ability to build trust, maintain professional boundaries and sustain engagement with clients over an extended period. 
• Housing knowledge: An understanding of housing and homelessness systems, private rental and social housing pathways, tenancy sustainment and common barriers to safe housing. 
• Inclusive and culturally responsive practice: A commitment to culturally safe and accessible services and an understanding of barriers experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, LGBTIQA+ people, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people with disability and temporary visa holders. 
• Independent outreach practice: The ability to organise and undertake outreach, home visits and community-based work safely, using sound judgement and seeking consultation where required. 
• Communication and collaboration: Strong written, verbal and interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with clients, colleagues and partner agencies. 
• Organisation and accountability: The ability to manage competing priorities, maintain high-quality case records, complete required reporting and work within organisational procedures and delegations. 

The position requires a minimum of three years’ relevant case management experience, including experience supporting people experiencing family violence, homelessness or complex social needs. 

Qualifications 

Applicants must be able to meet Refuge Victoria’s qualification requirements for specialist family violence practice through one of the recognised pathways, including: 

• A Bachelor of Social Work or another equivalent qualification; or 
• Relevant professional experience or a related qualification consistent with applicable mandatory minimum qualification requirements; or 
• Significant cultural knowledge, experience or lived experience where recognised under the relevant pathways. 

Additional training or experience in family violence, housing, homelessness, trauma-informed practice or therapeutic and recovery approaches would be highly regarded. 

Why join Refuge Victoria? 

This is an opportunity to work within a new model that recognises leaving crisis accommodation is not the end of recovery. 

You will have the opportunity to: 

• Support victim survivors beyond immediate crisis and see the longer-term impact of your work. 
• Build sustained, purposeful relationships with clients as they move towards safety, housing stability and independence. 
• Work within a multidisciplinary team bringing together family violence, recovery, housing, tenancy and specialist LGBTIQA+ expertise. 
• Use a structured and client-led approach to goal setting and outcomes through the Empowerment Star. 
• Contribute to the development and implementation of a new recovery-focused program. 
• Work alongside experienced family violence, housing and community-sector professionals. 

The position is full-time at SCHADS Level 5+ Salary Packaging + Super and is eligible for an Accrued Day Off where applicable. Some flexibility in hours, including occasional afternoon or early evening work, may be required to respond to client needs. 

Employment conditions 

The successful applicant will be required to satisfactorily complete Refuge Victoria’s employment screening requirements, including: 

• Australian Criminal History Check 
• International Criminal History Check where applicable 
• Current Employee Working with Children Check 
• Current full Victorian driver licence 
• Evidence required under Refuge Victoria’s workforce immunisation and screening policies. 

Refuge Victoria is committed to child safety and to providing an inclusive, culturally safe and responsive workplace and service environment. 

In accordance with sections 12 and 28 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic), Refuge Victoria exclusively recruits people who identify as female or non-binary for service delivery positions, reflecting the specific needs of the women and children we support

How to apply 

Are you ready to walk alongside victim survivors as they move from crisis towards safe housing, recovery and greater independence? 

Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and what you would bring to the Looking Ahead Program. 

Join Refuge Victoria and help create pathways beyond crisis, towards safety, housing stability and recovery.