Welfare Support Worker jobs in Victoria

Posted: 10/11/2026

Closing Date: 27/11/2026

Job Type: Contract

Location: Barwon - Refuge

Job Category: Community Services and Development,Voluntary, Charity & Social Work

We are a leading organisation offering a comprehensive suite of services to clients and the community across the Barwon, West Melbourne and Wimmera Regions. Providing specialist sexual assault and family violence programs and services, including 24 hour crisis care support, case management, therapeutic counselling, early intervention and professional education and training, we continue to grow and develop our offerings.

About The Role

The Family Violence Refuge Support Worker provides onsite support to adults and children who are experiencing or have experienced family violence and need refuge and crisis accommodation. Working as part of a dynamic team the primary role of the Refuge Support Worker is to undertake a range of tasks that directly support the Case Management team(s) and the organisation in delivering high quality, client centred support to adult and child clients residing in refuge. This includes working alongside Case Managers to arrange practical support for clients including childcare, medical care, material aid, and transport and maintaining the related record keeping and documentation.

As a key team member, the Refuge Case Management Support Worker enhances service efficiency and effectiveness by arranging practical supports, streamlining administrative processes, and working alongside Case Managers to enable them to focus on direct work with clients. They act as a central point of coordination within the team, ensuring seamless service delivery and timely access to support and resources for adult and child clients of refuge.

Why work for The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre?

The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre takes pride in being an employer of choice; we are passionate about the wellbeing of our team members and we celebrate diversity and inclusion in all we do. We have a high level of employee engagement and satisfaction and provide a number of complementary benefits to our staff, some of our benefits include:

• Generous above award Enterprise Agreement entitlements
• Flexible working arrangements
• Professional development opportunities
• 5 weeks annual leave and access to purchased leave for full and part time employees
• Paid parental leave
• Salary packaging
• Health and Wellbeing initiatives
• Flu vaccinations
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Social initiatives
• Positive workplace culture

The SAFV Centre acknowledges and respects the First Nations ownership of the land where we work.

About You

With certificate or diploma qualification in social work, community services, community development or a related field, you will be a values driven person, motivated to make a difference and hold the client at the centre of everything you do. You thrive working autonomously and also collaboratively within a dynamic, team environment.

If you share our vision for a community free from family violence and sexual assault and are motivated to make a difference, we would like to hear from you. We pride ourselves on being a great place to work. You care for our clients and we care for you, including by investing in your development and wellbeing. You will have access to leading specialists and training and development that supports you in your role and in your longer term career journey. We offer a variety of career pathway options, leading salary packaging benefits and flexible working arrangements that help you manage your work and your life.

The successful candidate will be required to maintain a current Working with Children's Check and National Police Check at their own expense.

Key Selection Criteria

Essential Qualifications and Experience

Your application must address the following:

• Certificate or diploma qualification in social work, community services, community development or a related field
• A foundational understanding of the drivers, dynamics and impacts of family violence
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to develop skills in work with adults, young people, and children from diverse backgrounds facing a range of complex challenges in relation to family violence, homelessness, health and mental health, drug and alcohol use, trauma, and marginalisation.

Essential Skills and Knowledge

• Foundational understanding of risk assessment in the context of family violence and a demonstrated willingness to actively develop skills in crisis intervention and casework with adults, young people, and children from diverse backgrounds who have experienced family violence, supported by supervision, training, and reflective practice
• The ability to manage competing priorities in a busy team environment while maintaining attention to detail and accuracy
• Strong organisational and administrative skills, including proficiency in record-keeping, data entry, and document preparation
• Effective communication skills to liaise with internal teams and external stakeholders professionally and sensitively
• Demonstrated capacity or ability to quickly learn and work with a range of databases, case management systems, and Microsoft Office applications
• Knowledge of the SHIP database is desirable but not required

Referees

Applicants must provide the name and current contact details of 2-3 professional referees including the most recent or current supervisor.

Period of Appointment

This position is fixed term until December 2027 depending on funding.

Hours of work

• The position is full time fixed term (1.0FTE)
• Location of the position is at the Barwon region (Refuge location not disclosed)
• The Hours/ days are based on the needs of the service and hours will usually be worked during business hours of 9.00am to 5.06 pm between Monday to Friday
• Flexibility in working hours will be required from time to time as the need arises.

Salary and Conditions

Annual salary range is Specialist Family Violence Practitioner classification Level 3 pay point 1-4 plus superannuation (pro rata for part time). Salary will be commensurate with experience and skills.

Industrial Instrument: The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre Enterprise Agreement 2023.

Salary Packaging: Provided via Maxxia. PBI status with other expenses available to package above this cap. The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre is a Public Benevolent Institution.

Superannuation: The employer will also make superannuation payments on your behalf in accordance with the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992.

Probationary Period – 6 months with a review conducted during this time.

How To Apply

All applications must address the key selection criteria outlined in the PD. For a confidential discussion, please contact us on 03 5222 4318.

We are currently accepting applications from direct applicants only, no recruitment agency applications accepted.