Team Leader

• Make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families
• Full time opportunity based in Canberra
• Competitive salary + Super + Salary Packaging

The Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF) plays an important role in the ACT Government's transformative Out of Home Care reform outlined in the Next Steps for Our Kids strategy. This reform aims to create a responsive OOHC system, emphasising key priorities such as stability for children in care, greater involvement of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), early restoration, well-prepared transitions for young people leaving care, strengthened cultural connections, and a flexible, needs-driven service system.
ACF has been awarded a number of contracts to deliver OOHC services in the ACT, including Therapeutic Services, Therapeutic Kinship Care and Aftercare. ACF also currently delivers family violence services for children and young people in the ACT.

About the program
The Therapeutic Services program includes a range of programs that seek to address the impact of developmental trauma on the child’s emotional, psychological, behavioural and social functioning and support and resource key relationships and systems around the child to support the healing process for children and young people.
We're currently looking for a Team Leader who's passionate about making a real difference - someone who can guide and support a dedicated team of Therapeutic Specialists working with children and young people affected by trauma, abuse, and family violence.


About the opportunity

The Team Leader is responsible for providing effective support and supervision to a team of Therapeutic Specialists in the program and works in collaboration with external stakeholders to promote the therapeutic needs of children and young people. The Team Leader provides clinical leadership and direction regarding therapeutic assessment, intervention, and service system responses.
The Team Leader, in collaboration with the Senior Manager, will be responsible for the development and delivery of high-quality therapeutic programs, including:

• provision of consultation, training, support and strategic advice to carers, non-government and government staff caring for or working with children and young people in out-of-home care.
• specialist assessment and review of children’s needs in out-of-home care placements.
• development of ongoing service system responses that will meet the therapeutic needs of vulnerable children in the ACT.

The successful applicant will also be responsible for implementing quality assurance and program development measures to ensure the program performance remains of a high quality and reflective of best practice in therapeutic care.

The Team Leader will be expected to travel to Melbourne from time to time to participate in relevant ACF management meetings as required.

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• Tertiary qualification in Psychology, Social Work or a related discipline.
• Eligibility for membership with the relevant professional body.
• Extensive experience working in out-of-home care with traumatised children and families.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, supervise and support clinical staff.
• Knowledge of trauma, attachment, and neurobiology frameworks.
• Experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and communities.
• Current driver’s licence and Working with Children Check (or equivalent).

What we offer

• Salary Packaging: Maximise your take-home pay with generous packaging options of up to $15,899 per year.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Access to confidential counselling and wellbeing support services for you and your immediate family.
• Dedicated Clinical Support: Receive regular individual and group supervision to enhance your professional practice.
• National Professional Community: Collaborate and connect with a passionate network of professionals working to make a difference in children’s lives across the country.
• Learning and Development: Annual training budget, access to ACF’s extensive resource library, and opportunities for professional development to help you grow in your role.
• Values-Driven Work: Be part of a child-safe, trauma-informed organisation that puts children’s needs and voices at the centre of everything we do.
• Impact and Purpose: Contribute to innovative programs that create meaningful change for children, young people and families across Australia.

To Apply:
If you are interested in making a difference in the lives of children, please click APPLY and attach a copy of your current resume.
For a copy of the position description, please contact Human Resources at hr@childhood.org.au
Applications close on 17 August 2025.

Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF) is committed to protecting children and young people from harm. We require all applicants to undergo an extensive screening process prior to appointment.

ACF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people with a disability are strongly encouraged to apply.
Members of the LGBITQ+ community are strongly encouraged to apply.