Job opportunity

Looking for more than just a job?
Discover a lifestyle opportunity across the East Kimberley, West Kimberley, and Pilbara — where career growth meets adventure, community, and balance.

Have you ever considered a career in Northwest Western Australia? Living and working in these regional communities offers a unique and affordable lifestyle where there’s no shortage of adventure and where your work makes a genuine difference. The Department of Communities plays a vital role in protecting and caring for children and young people in need, while supporting families and individuals who may be at risk or experiencing crisis.

Choose a setting that suits your lifestyle. In the East Kimberley, vast horizons, ancient ranges, and iconic waterways like Lake Argyle create a landscape unlike anywhere else, where community and country are deeply connected. Along the Kimberley coast, dramatic red cliffs meet turquoise waters, and remote wilderness shapes a truly unique rhythm of life. Further south, the Pilbara offers its own rugged beauty, with sweeping plains, ancient gorges, and rich red earth that make every day feel both grounding and extraordinary.

Imagine finishing work and stepping straight into some of Australia’s most breathtaking landscapes. These are places where your downtime truly feels like a break, and your work connects you to something bigger.

Benefits of working in North-West WA

• Relaxed pace of life — less traffic, less stress, and more time to enjoy what matters
• Close-knit communities — where relationships matter and your work has real impact
• Unmatched natural beauty — waterfalls, gorges, coastlines, and outback landscapes at your doorstep
• Outdoor lifestyle — fishing, camping, hiking, boating, and exploring iconic locations like El Questro, Horizontal Falls, and Karijini National Park
• Year-round sunshine and unforgettable sunsets that make every day feel different

You will also be rewarded with the following benefits (subject to eligibility, and provided on a pro-rata basis) including:

• Additional 3 Days Public Service Leave per annum
• Travel Concessions (Annual return flight to Perth for you and your dependants after 12 months service)
• District Allowance (up to $7,436 without dependants or $14,872 with dependants in addition to salary)
• Cultural Leave for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees
• 5 weeks of annual leave
• Salary packaging of remote benefits
• 3 months long service leave for every seven years consecutive service
• 18 weeks paid parental leave
• 10 days Disability Leave
• 5 days Reproductive Health Leave
• Working for a nationally recognised Accredited Carer Friendly Employer through the Carers + Employers program.

The role
The Senior Child Safety Practitioners/Officers (Care Services) work collaboratively with District staff, foster carers, community groups and other stakeholders, to build local capacity and resources to meet the placement and care needs of children in the care of the Department.

Duties include:

• Providing and coordinating support to foster carers and promoting local practice.
• Participating in planning decisions involving children in our care.
• Ensuring Departmental statutory obligations and practice standards are complied with in relation to child placements.

Please refer to the attached Job Description Form (JDF) for more information. For any position specific enquiries, we encourage you to contact Jamie King, Assistant District Director, on 0432 840 878 during business hours or via email to jamie.king@communities.wa.gov.au.

Qualification requirements
Under our Child Protection Workforce Model, priority will be given to qualified applicants in the first instance to maintain a qualified workforce. Should a qualified applicant not be identified then this selection process will be used to fill the vacancy.

If you have a Bachelors degree in Social Work, Psychology or relevant human services area, please apply for the Senior Child Safety Practitioner Care Services position. Refer to our website for information about the qualification requirements.

If you do not hold an approved qualification, please apply for the Senior Child Safety Officer – Care Services position.

The opportunities
We have various vacancies available across both regions. Suitable applicants will be placed in a pool from which appointments will be made for this or similar future vacancies that arise within the next 12 months across the Department of Communities. 

Want to join us?
Apply online by clicking the ‘Apply for Job’ button (above or below) and provide the following documents in Word or PDF format only:

1. A current resume/CV, including copies of any qualifications referenced within.
2. A two (2) page written application addressing all the Essential Work Related Requirements (Selection Criteria) as stated on the JDF. Please refer to the JDF of the position you are applying for (see ‘qualification requirements’ section above).
3. If applying for qualified role: A copy of your degree certificate and academic transcript (plus unit descriptors and/or overseas qualification assessment if applicable).

For technical difficulties while applying online, general recruitment enquiries, or to request any document in an alternative format, please contact the HR Recruitment team at HRRecruitment@communities.wa.gov.au.

We can also be contacted via the National Relay Service on the following numbers:

TTY/voice calls - 133 677
Speak & Listen - 1300 555 727
SMS relay - 0423 677 767

Integrity and honesty
The public sector is built on a strong foundation of integrity where employees act ethically, and public sector bodies promote and maintain integrity. 

In line with Communities policies, applicants may be asked for consent to undergo criminal record screening and integrity checks during the application process. For more information on these requirements, click here.  

Equity and diversity
The Department of Communities embraces diversity and firmly believes that the best services come from a workplace, where varied viewpoints are welcomed and encouraged every day. We are committed to creating an equitable and diverse workforce, where we encourage applications from people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, people from the LGBTQIA+ community, women, and youth.

If you have any access needs that may require adjustments to allow you to fully participate in the application and interview process, or alternative methods of communication, please contact HR Recruitment team via HRRecruitment@communities.wa.gov.au.

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.