Therapeutic Specialist

• Make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families
• Full time 12-month opportunity from 4 Sep 2025 until 4 Sep 2026 (maternity leave cover) based in Canberra
• $110k - $114k + Super + Salary Packaging

The Australian Childhood Foundation is a leading not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting children and young people to recover from the impacts of abuse, neglect, and family violence. We provide specialist therapeutic services, advocacy, and education programs underpinned by the latest research in neuroscience, attachment, and trauma. Our work is driven by a commitment to creating safe, supportive environments where every child can thrive.

About the program
In Canberra, the Australian Childhood Foundation plays an important role in the ACT Government's transformative Out of Home Care (OOHC) 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.

About the opportunity
The key role of the Therapeutic Specialist is to act as a specialist therapeutic consultant and practitioner within the OOHC and Care & Protection system. The position has a clinical leadership role with regard to the development and implementation of appropriate therapeutic support for children and young people in care living in or at risk of entering OOHC, as required.
The Therapeutic Specialist is a key member of the care team developed for each child or young person and is primarily responsible for the provision of specialist therapeutic support to the families/carers and other members of the child’s care team, direct therapeutic work with children and young people and their caregivers, and the delivery of specialised training about trauma and therapeutic care to families/carers and key stakeholders.

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• An appropriate tertiary qualification in Psychology, Social Work or a related discipline.
• Eligibility for membership of the relevant professional association.
• Demonstrated ability to provide leadership and direct service in the clinical assessment and treatment of children, young people and families.
• Highly developed ability to provide secondary consultation and advice to clinicians and other professionals.
• Demonstrated capacity to lead and manage in an area of challenging and complex practice.
• Demonstrated knowledge of trauma, attachment and neurobiology frameworks and theories.
• Substantial experience in the area of child abuse and/or in working with traumatised children and young people.
• Demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively and the capacity to negotiate and liaise with volunteers, including carers, child protection services, other agencies and the community.
• A sophisticated understanding of the complexity of the service system and the issues involved in providing services to statutory clients.
• A current ACT driver’s license 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: Access to confidential counselling and wellbeing support services for you and your immediate family.
• National Professional Community: Collaborate and connect with a passionate network of professionals working to make a difference in children’s lives across the country.
• Guided Supervision: Regular individual and group supervision for clinical guidance.
• 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 28 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.