Therapeutic Specialist

• Make a meaningful difference in the lives of children, young people and families
• Fixed term 0.7 EFT opportunity till 30^th June 2026 with a NFP organisation based in Morwell
• $55.72 - $58.19 p/hr + Super + Salary Packaging up to $15,900

About the opportunity

As a Therapeutic Specialist, you’ll play a central role in the Therapeutic Residential Care Program delivered jointly by Junction Support Services and ACF, acting as both a specialist consultant and practitioner. You’ll provide therapeutic guidance, and support to carers, residential staff, and other professionals working with children and young people.

In this role, you will:

• Provide specialist therapeutic support to residential carers and care teams.
• Deliver training on trauma and therapeutic care to professionals, carers, and volunteers.
• Work directly with children and young people to build safety, trust, and connection.
• Lead and shape individualised therapeutic approaches that meet the unique needs of each child or young person.

This is an opportunity to use your expertise in trauma-informed care to support children and young people, and the teams who care for them—making a lasting impact every day.

Australian Childhood Foundation

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 you - Key Selection Criteria:

• 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 therapeutic support 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 working therapeutically with children and young people who have experienced trauma and have complex needs and presentations.
• Demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively and positively within a team environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively and the capacity to communicate and liaise with volunteers, carers, DFFH, 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 Victorian driver’s licence or equivalent.

What we offer

• Salary Packaging – Increase your take-home pay with up to $15,900 of tax-free benefits.
• Wellbeing Support – Access to confidential Employee Assistance program
• National Network – Connect with a passionate professional community across Australia.
• Guided Supervision – Regular individual and group supervision to support your growth.
• Values-Driven Culture: Be part of a trauma-informed, child-focused organisation that puts children’s needs and voices at the centre of everything we do.
• Real Impact – Contribute to innovative programs that create meaningful change for children, young people and families.

To learn more about our work and the impact we’re making for children and families, please visit: https://www.childhood.org.au/

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 along with a cover letter, addressing each of the Key Selection Criteria.

🔎 For a copy of the Position Description please visit: https://auschildhood.sharepoint.com/sites/HumanResourcesHub/Shared Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx?viewid=4331ad9e-bc83-4125-b7da-8b4da2d43d07&id=/sites/HumanResourcesHub/Shared Documents/External Access/Position Description/PD - Therapeutic Specialist - TRC Inner and Outer Gippsland VN 445.pdf&parent=/sites/HumanResourcesHub/Shared Documents/External Access/Position Description

Applications close on 3 December 2025, unless a suitable candidate is appointed earlier.

Australian Childhood Foundation is committed to protecting children and young people from harm. We require all applicants to undergo an extensive screening process prior to appointment including National Police Check, Working with Children Checks and additional State based program checks.
Australian Childhood Foundation 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.