Job opportunity

Note this advert closure date has been extended

Work for the Department of Communities in Cocos (Keeling) Islands! 

The Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sports and the Arts (Infrastructure), the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Western Australian Department of Communities’ (Communities) Community Services Division provide child protection services to the families and children residing on Christmas Island (CI) and Cocos (Keeling) Islands (CKI).

Communities currently have a fulltime Senior Child Safety Practitioner living and working on CI, with this position currently being responsible for delivering child protection services to both CI and CKI.

Communities are seeking to appoint a second full time Senior Child Safety Practitioner, to live and work on CKI. The position is managed by the Statewide Referral and Response Service and therefore remotely line managed from Perth. 

The Role

The Senior Child Safety Practitioner works in the areas of child protection, children in care and family support and is responsible for:

• Deliver services that support and encourage young people and families to reach their potential and promote safety in the community.
• Provision of case management for children and young people who are in the care of the State Agency’s Chief Executive Officer.
• In accordance with the Children and Community Services Act 2004 (WA)(CI)(CKI) investigate safety and wellbeing concerns of children and young people.
• Maintain links and share information with other government and nongovernment agencies.
• Provide collaborative interagency and community responses to children and young people deemed to be at risk.
• Identify and work with target groups or communities of interest to increase their capacity to develop long term solutions to child protection and community safety issues.

The people who live on CKI are geographically isolated from mainland Australia, and many of the people who live on Home Island may be further isolated by cultural and linguistic barriers.

This role will focus on proactively engaging with the community and stakeholders on Island frequently across sensitive child protection matters. The successful applicant will be expected to work through these barriers and complexities whilst taking into consideration all necessary intersectionality’s that are present in this remote setting.

Working autonomously, building trust, maintaining connections, confidentiality and strong professional boundaries will be key to the role. There will also be a need to work collaboratively across multiple agencies based in CKI and Western Australia where required.

The successful applicant or applicants assessed as suitable through this process may receive further offers of contract employment and/or offers of permanent employment in this or similar roles.

The attached Job Description Form (JDF) provides more information about the position. For further information we encourage you to contact Emma Brown, District Director, on 08 9460 8581.

About Cocos (Keeling) Islands

CKI is a half-day flight away from Perth, and 900km from Christmas Island.

CKI is made up of 27 islands, with just two inhabited – West Island and Home Island.  The total population is around 600 people and is mainly comprised of the Cocos Malays. The Cocos Malays descend from people brought to the Islands in the 19^th century from Malaya, East Africa, China, Java, India and Ceylon. They are predominantly Malay, speak a local variant of Malay known as Cocos Malay and follow the Islamic faith.

There are two main seasons, The trade wind season is from May-June to September-October, while the calmer doldrum season is from November to May. With an average annual rainfall of 2000mm, most days on CKI are sunny and warm. Higher rainfall typically occurs from March to July.

Surrounded by a turquoise lagoon and teeming with marine life, CKI has many water-based activities.  Home island offers a deeper look into the Cocos Malay way of life, from traditional customs and daily rhythms to the island’s colonial history.

Benefits and Allowances

This role attracts the below benefits and allowances:

• Accommodation provided and rent, utilities and fuel paid
• Relocation package for yourself and family
• Travelling Allowance in line with Circular 09/2021 – Travel allowance for Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands. This Circular prescribes the daily amounts employees are entitled to when the employee leaves their headquarters, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and travels to Christmas Island for work purposes.
• Overnight Travel Allowance
• District Allowance
• Accrual of Northwest Leave
• Eligible for annual leave travel concession if returning to Perth

Qualification Requirements
You must have a Bachelors degree in Social Work, Psychology, or relevant human services area to be eligible for this position. All overseas qualifications must be assessed for Australian equivalency. Refer to our website for information about the qualification requirements for this role, and how we will be assessing your qualifications.

Join the Department of Communities

1. Current resume/CV
2. Two (2) page written application addressing Essential Work-Related Requirements (Selection Criteria) 1, 2, 3, & 4 as stated on page 8 of the JDF.
3. A copy of your degree certificate and academic transcript (If an overseas qualification please also include unit descriptors and overseas qualification assessment)
4. An application form (for hard copy applications only).

Applicants who are short listed will be assessed on all the Work Related Requirements (Selection Criteria) during the selection process.

Equity and Diversity

Communities welcome applications from people from a diverse range of backgrounds and lived experiences, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, people with disability, people with diverse sexualities and genders, youth, women, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Please let us know if there are adjustments we can make to allow you to fully participate in the application and interview process, as well as in the workplace. Please contact Courtnie Hayes, A/HR Consultant via email at HRRecruitment@communities.wa.gov.au or via phone at 0466 517 569.

If you are an Aboriginal person who would like assistance with your application, please contact Jobs and Skills WA on 13 64 64.

Lodgement is system generated. Any emailed applications or late submissions on or after 4:00pm will not be accepted.