Executive Director, Aboriginal Policy and Services
CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK
DEPARTMENT FOR CHILD PROTECTION
Executive Summary
The Department for Child Protection (DCP) works in partnership with families, government and non-government organisations, carers and the community to care for and protect vulnerable children and young people by addressing harm and keeping them safe.
A new position of Executive Director, Aboriginal Policy and Services has been established to assist in driving systemic reform and strategic partnership development, across Government and Non-Government, to strengthen the focus on Aboriginal communities and families and support Aboriginal children and young people to remain safe and supported within family and community care.
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive of DCP the Executive Director is accountable for strategic leadership to ensure the Department’s guiding legislation, and policy and practice are culturally responsive to the needs and issues of Aboriginal children, families and communities. The role will provide quality advice, information and analysis in decision-making, governance, policy, planning and service development within the Department and across government, and lead the Department in forming genuine intentional partnerships with Aboriginal communities, leaders and organisations to develop, design and implement policy and services to enhance outcomes for Aboriginal children and families coming into contact with the child protection system.
If you believe you are a proven leader and change maker in delivering Aboriginal policy or services within the Aboriginal community controlled/non-government sector or public sector and you are immersed in Aboriginal cultural and societal values, beliefs, and customs as a member of the Aboriginal community, we would like to hear from you.
Liz Hlipala, HardyGroup Principal Search Consultant
M: +61 (0)401 122 301
Role Specification
The Executive Director, Aboriginal Policy and Services will demonstrate skill and knowledge in the following:
The Executive Director, Aboriginal Policy and Services is accountable for strategic leadership to ensure:
- 1.The department’s guiding legislation, and policy and practice are culturally responsive to the needs and issues of Aboriginal children, families and communities.
- 2.The provision of quality Aboriginal advice, information and analysis in decision-making, governance, policy, planning and service development within the Department and across government.
- 3.The development and implementation of a departmental wide Aboriginal strategy to achieve positive outcomes for Aboriginal children, families and community.
- 4.Department forms genuine intentional partnerships with Aboriginal communities, leaders and organisations to develop, design and implement policy and services to enhance outcomes for Aboriginal children and families coming into contact with the Department.
- 5.The Aboriginal voice in child protection and family and community services is represented in Departmental and whole of government initiatives.
- 6.The department is abreast of data, trends and patterns in child protection outcomes for South Australian Aboriginal child and young people, and abreast of evidence-based solutions to effect positive change in outcomes and trajectories, and meeting targets.
- 7.The promulgation of Aboriginal priorities in change management and reforms across the Department and broader child protection system.
- 8.The department delivers on its commitments defined in relevant National and State Agreements and Plans for improving Aboriginal outcomes.
- 9.The Department’s organisational development is responsive to its Aboriginal services and Aboriginal workforce and is intentional in building system-wide cultural competency.
- 1. Directly influence the strategic priorities and operational agenda for improving outcomes for Aboriginal children, young people and their families.
- 2.Provide expert cultural advice and strategic leadership to the Department on the implementation of recommendations from inquiries undertaken by the South Australian Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People, namely Commissioner Lawrie’s June 2024 Inquiry Report ‘Holding on to Our Future’.
- 3.Provide written reports and briefings to the Chief Executive and the Minister on key matters pertaining to Aboriginal children and young people.
- 4.Provide strategic leadership and management for the Aboriginal Policy and Services directorate to implement key reforms to meet the Department's Strategic Agenda.
- 5.Provide leadership on implementing Family Matters, the National Safe and Supported ATSI Action Plan and the delivery of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap Target 12 – Reducing the rate of over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out of home care by 45% by 2031.
- 6.Shared decision-making with the Senior Executive Group and providing consultative services to Senior Executive Group members.
- 7.Provide leadership in the development, implementation and review of policy, strategy, operational procedures, and practice to improve outcomes for Aboriginal children, families, and community.
- 8.Provide strategic leadership in the development of strategies and programs that ensure the recruitment and retention of the Departmental Aboriginal workforce, including graduates, trainees, and Aboriginal identified positions under the Equal Opportunity Act 1984.
- 9.Provide expert cultural advice to the Department to inform and respond to government-initiated reviews, investigations, inquiries, inquests, and Royal Commissions such as the Hyde/Alexander/Arney Reviews, the Stott Despoja Royal Commission etc. ensuring optimal outcomes for Aboriginal children, families and community.
- 10.Effective application of assigned delegations to ensure authoritative cultural input and decision-making into sensitive, complex, and unusual case matters pertaining to Aboriginal children and young people.
- 11.Coordinate Aboriginal staff engagement and consultative processes to promote Aboriginal staff development and cultural input into policy and service development.
- 12.As a member of the DCP Executive team, provide strategic input of matters to ensure the highest quality of assessment and planning for Aboriginal children and young people.
- 13.Provide strategic advice to the Chief Executive and senior managers regarding the impacts on Aboriginal children and young people as a result of proposed legislative and policy reform.
- 14.Represent the Department on relevant committees and government advisory bodies and promote and advance awareness of Aboriginal issues and strategies needed to address those issues.
- 15.Develop and maintain relevant strategic relationships with both internal and external stakeholders and represent the Chief Executive and the Department both, within the State and at a national level in senior executive meetings, forums and steering committees.
- 16.Provide leadership and direction to the Directorate including the effective management of staff, budget and expenditure that reflect continuous improvement and business excellence in meeting agency objectives.
- 17.Develop and implement effective risk management strategies and systems to deliver safe and effective corporate governance.
- 18.Development of the Directorate’s business plan in line with agency objectives.
- 19.Contribute to the development of Departmental and across-government policies and practices.
- Addressing new and emerging issues in a dynamic and complex environment that may be subject to a high level of media scrutiny and where conflicting interests and opinions of key stakeholders require constant monitoring and analysis.
- Driving systemic reform and strategic partnerships across Government and Non-Government to strengthen the focus on Aboriginal communities and families and support Aboriginal children and young people to remain safe and supported within family and community care.
- Inter-agency collaboration in child protection matters for effective responses to families in need.
- Driving collaborative policy and service development in early intervention and prevention to reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect in South Australia.
The Executive Director, Aboriginal Policy and Services reports directly to the Chief Executive.
The Director, Aboriginal Practice will report into this role.
Internal Relationships :
- Chief Executive, DCP
- Deputy Chief Executive, DCP
- Chief Operating Officer, DCP
- Executive Director, OOHC
- Regional Directors
- Director, Quality and Safeguarding
- Director, Aboriginal Practice Directorate
- Lead Practitioners
- Senior Executives, DCP
- Directors and Senior Officers across DCP
External Relationships:
- Minister for Child Protection
- Other State and Commonwealth authorities
- Senior officers across other government agencies
- Aboriginal child protection leads across state and territory governments
- Aboriginal community-controlled organisations
- Non-Government organisations
- Aboriginal child protection and Aboriginal child and youth development research leaders
- Public Service Association
- Guardian for Children and Young People
- Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People
- Wakwakurna Kanyini Peak Body
Tertiary qualifications in social work, sociology, health and human services, law, business management or other relevant fields.
- 1.Superior proven capability in executing Aboriginal services or policy initiatives with results.
- 2.Proven capability in driving policy and service reform leading to better outcomes for Aboriginal people.
- 3.Proven ability in leading and managing Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal employees to achieve a common goal.
- 4.Superior relationship development, leadership and management skills, communication, advocacy, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
- 5.Proven ability to select and apply appropriate leadership methods and strategies in a challenging environment.
- 6.Advanced communication skills, both written and verbal to communicate to a wide audience ranging from the Aboriginal community to senior government officials.
- 7.Proven ability to undertake financial management of a large budget in a climate of fiscal constraint.
- 8.Strong project management & corporate government skills.
- 9.Advanced capability to design and implement innovative work practices to achieve strategic outcomes.
Service Location: Adelaide
Remuneration: For information about the remuneration band for this role please contact the Consultant.
Classification: SAES 2
Term: The position is offered on a 3 year contract basis.
This position is only open to applicants of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent only pursuant to Section 56 (2) of the Equal Opportunity Act, 1984
The Department for Child Protection
The Department for Child Protection (DCP) was formed in November 2016 in response to recommendations from the Child Protection Systems Royal Commission, led by the Honourable Margaret Nyland AM.
The DCP works in partnership with families, government and non-government organisations, carers and the community to care for and protect vulnerable children and young people by addressing harm and keeping them safe.
Where children and young people cannot stay safely in the family home we will find a place for them to live, preferably with members of their family and kinship networks, or with foster carers.
We aim to give young South Australians in our care every opportunity to reach their full potential. We value children and young people's voices and consider their views.
Responsibilities
The department administers the following legislation:
- Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017(external site)
- Children and Young People (Safety) Regulations 2017(external site)
- Family and Community Services Act 1972(external site).
We use a child centred, trauma-informed practice approach that focuses on cultural safety, strengthening families, supporting carers, and working in partnership to meet children and young people’s need for safety.
We are responsible for:
- responding to concerns about children and young people who have experienced harm or are at risk of harm
- placing children and young people in care when they are unable to live safely with their families
- providing case management and support for children and young people under the custody or guardianship of the Chief Executive
- supporting the reunification of children and young people with their families where it is safe to do so
- managing the adoption process
- supporting children and young people from a refugee background through the Commonwealth Guardianship team.
Strategic Plan 2022 - 2026
Vision:
Is for all children and young people to grow up safe, health, connected and feeling loved so they reach their full potential.
Purpose:
The Department for Child Protection protects, cares for and empowers children and young people at risk and in care. We do this by working together with our key partners to respond to abuse and neglect, keep children and young people safe from further harm, help them heal from trauma and reach their full potential.
Aboriginal Children and Young People
The Department for Child Protection is committed to working with Aboriginal children and families in a culturally appropriate manner.
The Department for Child Protection is committed to working with Aboriginal children and families in a culturally appropriate manner. The SNAICC Aboriginal Child Placement Principle(external site) recognises that Aboriginal people have the knowledge and experience to make the best decisions about Aboriginal children and recognises the importance of each child staying connected to family, community, culture and Country.
The Principle has a precursor and five core elements:
- Precursor: Identification
- Element 1: Prevention
- Element 2: Partnership
- Element 3: Placement
- Element 4: Participation
- Element 5: Connection.
The Department for Child Protection supports Family Matters, Australia's national campaign to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people grow up safe and cared for in family, community and culture.
Family Matters aims to eliminate the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in care by 2040.
The campaign's key principles are:
- Applying a child-focused approach
- Ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations participate in and have control over decisions that affect their children
- Protecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children's right to live in culture
- Pursuing evidence-based responses
- Supporting, healing and strengthening families
- Challenging systemic racism and inequities.
Each Aboriginal child in care will have a cultural maintenance plan. These help the child or young person establish, reconnect, and maintain connection with family, community, country and culture.
Preparation of the cultural maintenance plan is the responsibility of the caseworkers in partnership with the Principal Aboriginal Consultant, Principal Social Worker, the children/young people’s Youth Worker and other relevant stakeholders.
Linked to the cultural maintenance plans, Youth Adventure and Recreational Services (YARS) provide Cultural Camps for Aboriginal children and young people, they engage Aboriginal Elders who support their learnings about their Land, family, law, ceremonies, and art. This assists Aboriginal young people to embrace their cultural identity.
The Metropolitan Aboriginal Youth and Family Services (MAYFS) in the Department of Human Services is a dedicated Aboriginal service with a focus on diverting young people away from the justice system and toward improved life outcomes.
MAYFS is a restorative and family inclusive service with a focus on strengthening Aboriginal young people’s connection to family, community and culture and ensuring that young people are at the centre of decision making.
Life story work records a life story of children and young people who are under the Guardianship of the Chief Executive.
It records the child’s history and personal development, and can help them maintain a connection to their identity, their birth family, and their origins.
HOW TO APPLY
The closing date for applications is Monday, 21st October 2024
The reference number to include in your application is H24_4929
Note: Please use the online platform to submit your application. It will not be accepted via email.
If you require assistance in submitting your application online, please contact Executive Search Coordinator, Natasha Tirado via [email protected]
Applications submitted on-line will receive an automatic receipt. If a receipt in not received within 12 hours we request, you contact the search coordinator listed above to arrange a re-submission of your application if necessary.
APPLICATION
Your application must include:
- 1.A cover letter, addressed to the Principal Consultant, including a response to how you meet the Selection Criteria.
- 2.A copy of your current Curriculum Vitae
Please view HG’s Written Application Procedure prior to preparing your documentation and applying for the role.
You will need to provide details of three (3) professional referees. To do so, complete the relevant fields in the Candidate Profile. You should carefully consider who you select to approach to provide reference advice. Your current manager must be included. It is customary for referee reports to be requested after interview and if you are the preferred candidate, your permission will be requested prior to contacting your referees.
HG complies with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), all applications are treated by HG in strict confidence, however in submitting an application you are extending permission to share your application with the Selection Panel.
Personal Information will be used to assess your suitability for appointment to this Positions Health Services. As part of the selection process, personal information will be dealt with in accordance with HG’s Privacy Policy and the Information Privacy Act 2009.
For a confidential discussion, please contact:
Liz Hlipala
Executive Search Consultant
(M) +61 (0)401 122 301
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