Honesty     Trust      Respect     Concern      Love  

Family Preservation & Reunification Early Years Practitioner Case Manager  

• Full-Time, Fixed Term (12 months) 

• Based in Dandenong

• $90,138.16 per annum plus super.    

• 17.5% annual leave loading and generous salary packaging options   

• Progressive Workplace Flexibility options that enable genuine work life balance  

About Odyssey Victoria:  

Odyssey Victoria (OV) is a place of hope and positive change for individuals working towards breaking their pattern of addiction. At Odyssey Victoria we believe that every person should have the opportunity to change and grow. Our diverse teams work with individuals, families, and communities to reduce alcohol and other drug (AOD) use, improve mental health, and reconnect people to their family and the community. OV is a dynamic and fast-growing organisation committed to excellence in service provision and innovation in responding to alcohol and other drugs use problems.  

Role Purpose:  

The FPR includes an initial intensive intervention phase, delivered through a mobile and integrated approach, followed by a sustained service support phase, aimed at preventing at-risk children entering or re-entering care or reunifying children with their parents. FPR will link to, align with, and build on (and not duplicate) existing child and family services within the broader service system, providing an enhanced continuum of care across the state. It will be evaluated and continuously developed to enhance the FPR evidence-base for Victorian child and family services (including Child Protection). The model is an integrated and evidence-based/evidence-informed approach to supporting and problem solving with families and preventing children and young people’s re/entry to out of home care. The team will work as a cohesive whole and report directly to the FPR Practice Leader. 

The FPR Practitioner will engage parents and their babies/children/adolescents to build their capacity as parents and functional families. They will support the parent/s to provide for their children’s health, safety and development as well as work towards building their self-reliance and sustainability through access to education, vocational training and employment.  

Key areas of focus:   

• Conduct an initial assessment including review of referral information, identifying, and engaging key participants, identifying systemic strengths and needs, and developing an analysis of the referral concerns/behaviours within the ecological context. 

• Assisting parents and care givers to identify and achieve parenting goals through assessment of parenting needs, and the collaborative development and implementation of intervention plans that strengthen parenting capacity and effectiveness. This includes the provision of parenting skills training and the development of relapse plans.  

• Providing families with social and community support through establishing and strengthening family-community links. This may include improving relationships with extended family, improving links with school, supporting participation in recreational activities and playgroups, and supporting access to child and respite care and other formal support services.  

• Supporting parents to participate in drug and mental health treatment through direct provision of counselling, referrals, and/or linkage to and collaboration with AOD and mental health workers.  

• Liaising with agencies and workers involved with the family.  

• Providing client education on drug and alcohol use during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding, and promoting the use of specialist obstetric, and maternal and child health services  

• Advocating for the needs of family members  

• Ensuring the implementation of the case plans for client is being followed in consultation with the Early Years Practice Leader and other staff as appropriate.  

• Ensuring the rights of the young women and their children are always protected.  

• Assisting, organising and co-facilitating school holiday programs for children and their parents  

• Working collaboratively with other drug and alcohol and mental health agencies to increase the level of child, parenting and family support offered to their clients.  

• Providing peer support to other case managers  

• Contributing to the continuing development of OV Child Safety policy and procedures and ensure that all staff and program areas promote and adhere to child safe practices.  

• Providing secondary consultation to professionals working with substance abuse and family issues  

• Participating in professional forums and the development of professional networks  

• Presenting work and knowledge at forums and conferences  

• Actively participating as part of a multi-disciplinary team to meet the various complex needs of the families in order to achieve their goals. 

• Working in close collaboration with Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), placement services and other stakeholders as appropriate  

• Attending regular staff meetings and in-service training sessions  

• Maintaining records of the activities undertaken (including detailed client case notes) and providing reports as requested  

• Provide high-quality intensive, flexible, and responsive early parenting support suited to client needs, including role modelling, outreach, groups, and centre-based interventions.  

• Providing emotional and practical support and guidance to young pregnant women and young mothers experiencing difficulties in relation to parenting and providing for the health, safety and well-being of their babies and children.  

• Providing information and assistance in building confidence of the parents to access a range of services and support their development towards independence.  

• Supporting therapeutic intervention to young parents in supporting their healing from possible traumatic experiences that may be impacting on their parenting. 

To be successful in this role, you must…   

1. 1. Relevant Tertiary/Degree qualification on Health, Social or Welfare related qualification with one year’s experience. 

2. Certificate IV in AOD or have completed the required competencies (or able to complete within the first 12 months of employment).* (Refer Appendix A)  

3. Knowledge and understanding of:  

-Child, adolescent, and family developmental processes  

-risk and protective factors for child and adolescent development; and  

-relevant legislation and policies  

-family violence interventions; including Safe & Together practice model  

-alcohol and other drug /mental health issues  

4. Understanding of and demonstrated experience working with issues such as attachment, trauma, and intergenerational disadvantage.  

5. Direct use of pragmatic (i.e., structural, strategic, and functional) family therapies and/or behavioural therapy targeting behavioural change in children at home and school  

6. Commitment to a strengths-based approach to practice  

7. Ability to develop client plans (collaboratively with clients) and manage clients in accordance with those plans as well as undertaking therapeutic, child and family interventions in groups, families and with individuals.  

8. High level communication skills, both written and oral, particularly in relation to:  

- working as part of a multi-disciplinary team  

- establishing rapport with children of all ages and their families; and  

- forming and maintaining effective relationships with internal and external parties  

9. Ability to work in a highly motivated, self-directed, ethical and results driven manner.  

10. Sensitivity to the needs of all family members including children, adolescents, and parents.  

11. Understanding of attachment and trauma theories related to Aboriginal children, young people and families and ability to use this knowledge to guide practice with Aboriginal children, young people, and families.  

12. Demonstrated understanding of cultural safety with sound knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal history, values, the stolen generation, practices, and culture  

13. Strong organisation and time management skills with the ability to work autonomously.  

14. Ability to find and implement effective and timely solutions to problems.  

15. Commitment to the Sanctuary Model:  

-Non-Violence  

- Mean what you say and don’t be mean when you say it  

-Emotional Intelligence  

- Look out for yours and other people’s feelings  

-Social Learning  

- We all learn from, and teach each other -Democracy  

- Everyone is heard  

-Open Communication  

- Be honest and share information  

-Social Responsibility  

- We all help each other … It takes a village to raise a child -Growth and Change - Open to new ideas and ways of thinking 

For a copy of the position description which outlines the full list of responsibilities and key selection criteria, please click HERE (http://odyssey.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/POSCS4072-Family-Preservation-Reunification-Early-Years-Practitioner-Case-Manager.pdf) 

*Appendix A (AOD Competencies)   

OV requires people in clinical positions to have the following competencies (or their equivalent). Where people do not already have these competencies, OV will invest in the person’s professional development by providing them through its RTO.   

The competencies required in the first 12 months of employment are:   

• CHCAOD001 - Work in an alcohol and other drugs context   

• CHCAOD004 - Assess needs of clients with alcohol and other drugs issues.   

• CHCAOD006 - Provide interventions for people with alcohol and other drugs issues.   

• CHCAOD009 - Develop and review individual alcohol and other drugs treatment plans  

What we can give YOU!  

In return we are committed to offering you an inclusive and transparent workplace culture where our people can develop to be their very best by:    

• Ongoing learning and development opportunities  

• Access to 24/7 counselling through our Employee Assistance Provider (EAP)  

• Generous leave options such as 48/52 Purchase Leave, Study Leave and Sabbaticals  

• Flexible working arrangements such as monthly RDO’s for full-timers (arrangements will vary based on role requirements).  

In addition to the above, staff will also be provided monthly Clinical Supervision sessions for professional development and personal wellbeing.  

Application information  

Please apply directly via our careers website (applications via external recruitment websites or via email will not be considered)  

Applications should be addressed to Emma Shaw and include your CV and a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria.   

If you have any questions relating to the position, please contact Emma Shaw Clinical Manager – Child, Youth & Families on, eshaw@odyssey.org.au.   

We will be assessing applications on a rolling basis, and suitable candidates will be shortlisted immediately. This role will be open for one week and close once a suitable candidate has been selected, which may be prior to the application deadline, so please don’t wait to apply!   

Our commitment to diversity  

At OV we value diversity and believe that a range of backgrounds brings a variety of ideas, perspectives and experiences that will enhance our effectiveness. We promote a workplace that actively seeks to include, welcome and value unique contributions by encouraging people with disability, Aboriginal Australians, LGBTQIA, young people and people from culturally diverse backgrounds to apply for this position.  

Safety screening  

OV is committed to child safety and is a child safe organisation. All OV employees must undergo Police Records and Working with Children Checks. Any person issued with a negative notice on their Working with Children Check will not be eligible for employment with us.  

All Odyssey Victoria sites are smoke free for all employees