Initial Response Practitioner

• Make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families
• Full time 12-month contract opportunity with a NFP organisation based in Mitcham
• $110k - $114k + Super + Salary Packaging up to $15,900

About the opportunity
This role sits within the Child Trauma Service in Melbourne’s eastern metro region, providing counselling and support to children, young people, their families and care systems. The service supports those impacted by sexual abuse, family violence, or harmful sexual behaviour.

The Initial Response Practitioner plays a key role in intake and brief intervention, ensuring timely and therapeutic responses for those accessing the program. Working alongside Aboriginal and local organisations, the role contributes to coordinated, trauma-informed responses that support recovery, placement stability and meaningful participation.

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 degree in Social Work, Psychology, Occupational Therapy or other relevant discipline.
• Eligibility for full membership of the AASW, APS, or other relevant professional body.
• Substantial experience in the area of child abuse and/or working with traumatised children.
• Experience in working with children and young people who have engaged in harmful sexual behaviour, and the system supporting them.
• Demostrated knowledge of trauma, attachment and neurobiology frameworks and theories.
• Demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively and positively within a team environment.
• Highly developed ability to provide secondary consultation and advise to families and other professionals.
• Highly developed ability to provide brief therapeutic responses to children, young people and their families.
• Demonstrated capacity to provide therapeutic counselling and support to children, young people and families using a variety of client focused, trauma informed modalities that support healing from trauma.
• Demonstrated capacity to undertake therapeutic assessments using psychometric tools to enhance understanding, assessment and need of the child or young person.
• Demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively and positively within a team environment and with external partners and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively and have the capacity to negotiate and liaise with parents, carers, external stakeholders and government departments.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously and build relationships with stakeholders.
• An understanding of the complexity of the service system and the issues involved in providing services to statutory clients.
• A commitment to ongoing learning and reflecting on practice.
• A current Victorian driver’s license or equivalent.
• A current Victorian Working With Children Check.

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.
• 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.
• Guided Supervision – Regular individual and group supervision to support your growth.

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/:b:/r/sites/HumanResourcesHub/Shared Documents/External Access/Position Description/PD - Initial Response Practitioner Position Description VN482.pdf?csf=1&web=1&e=M4D03k

Applications close on 15 May 2026, 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.