Aboriginal Liaison Officer

Job Location: Perth Fremantle & Southern Suburbs
Employer: Ngala Community Services
Salary packaging available. Annual leave loading.

• Newly created role
• Contract until end June 2024
• Up to 0.6FTE position with salary packaging available
• Flexible and rewarding working environment

 

The Position

We are seeking a Connect and Care Aboriginal Liaison Officer, to be based at Ngala, Kensington to help us deliver the national Perinatal and Infant Mental Health – Connect and Care Program in Western Australia. 

The Connect and Care Aboriginal Liaison Officer will provide culturally sensitive and responsive support to pregnant women and their families during pregnancy and the first 12 months following the birth of their baby. They will help facilitate access to appropriate perinatal infant mental health services in Western Australia for Aboriginal people.  

This is an exciting and unique opportunity to both work for Ngala and also with a national team in the implementation and ongoing development of a new, exciting and highly impactful care navigation service with a leading non-profit parenting support service provider.

Working as a key member of the Ngala Connect and Care team, the Aboriginal Liaison Officer will also help improve health outcomes and wellbeing of Aboriginal families by providing culturally sensitive care navigation for the family. Care will be provided through telephone, telehealth and/or in place-based community settings as appropriate. The Aboriginal Liaison Officer will work in partnership with the family, a small team consisting of a Connect and Care Navigator and Administrative Support Officer ; and more broadly with perinatal infant mental health services across Western Australia to connect families to the level of care that best meets their needs.

About the National Perinatal and Infant Mental Health – Connect and Care Program (NPIMH-CCP)

The National Perinatal and Infant Mental Health – Connect and Care Program (NPIMH-CCP) is a new national program that provides a care and navigation system designed to improve access and connection to support services for parents; particularly those experiencing moderate/severe PIMH concerns. The intent is to help parents navigate the complex and fragmented perinatal and infant mental health service landscape. A key component of the program is cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.

The NPIMH-CCP will establish a national Connect and Care contact number, will have a “no wrong door” approach and will leverage existing services and pathways to ensure parents are referred to the right intensity of services that best matches their support needs. In supporting the needs of Aboriginal families we recognise the value of applying an Aboriginal lens to considering additional factors and approaches when working with Aboriginal people.

NPIMH-CCP will have a Connect and Care team based in every state and territory at an Australian Association of Parenting and Child Health (AAPCH) partner site. In Western Australia, Ngala is the AAPCH partner and the team will consist of a Connect and Care Navigator, Aboriginal Liaison Officer and Administrative Support Officer.

About Ngala

The story of Ngala is a community story. It’s the future of Western Australian families guided by 130 years’ experience in parenting and child development. This guidance has the power to give parents and carers a sigh of relief, a feeling that they are in safe hands with our team, but this is just the beginning of the journey.

At Ngala, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to be their best, and that raising children should be a joyful and rewarding experience. In the same way that a child’s world is made up of a collection of experiences and encounters, our story includes all the people we work with. Community is at the heart of the Ngala story and together, we will work towards “Raising happiness”.

Ngala’s services and facilities are subject to a number of Health Directions pertaining to mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination including: the Health Worker (Restrictions on Access) Directions (No 3) and Community Care Services Worker (Restrictions on Access) Directions. Therefore, applicants must provide evidence of COVID-19 full vaccination prior to commencement (or willingness to obtain).

Key Responsibilities

1. Identify appropriate state wide perinatal and infant mental health services and referral pathways in Western Australia for Aboriginal families.
2. Build and nurture relationships with internal Ngala staff and teams; and with external individuals and groups such as families and service providers (including Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Services) to connect those families seeking help and support.
3. Undertake culturally sensitive and informed Connect and Care specific tasks including but not limited to intake, triage and support for families from Aboriginal communities that are seeking help with perinatal and infant mental health issues.
4. Work closely with the Care and Connect Navigator to ensure effective implementation of the National Perinatal and Infant Mental Health – Connect and Care Program.

 Essential Experience and Knowledge

• Aboriginality: Applicants for this position must be of Aboriginal descent, identify as being Aboriginal and be accepted in the community as such. Exemption is claimed under Section 14 of the Anti-Discrimination Act.
• Knowledge of issues in pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period, including maternal and infant health, particularly as they relate to Aboriginal people.
• Demonstrated experience in providing a culturally responsive and safe service to Aboriginal people; including working with families with young children; person-centred care and treatment; and an understanding of barriers to families accessing support services
• Demonstrated understanding of Aboriginal history leading to the current health issues impacting Aboriginal families and children and demonstrated engagement with Aboriginal community and service providers.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and liaise with other health professionals, including perinatal infant mental health support services to facilitate health services for Aboriginal families and their children.

About you

• Good interpersonal and problem solving skills; particularly an ability to build relationships with Aboriginal communities and people from a wide range of backgrounds; and ability to establish respectful, collaborative relationships
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve results (for example: time management and prioritisation, project management)
• Ability and desire to identify opportunities and gaps in service provision and quality and suggest solutions
• Experience in preparing monthly, quarterly and annual reports
• Keep accurate and up-to-date records of client contact, and maintain confidentiality
• Gather, record and collate information, including case studies
• Enjoy and can work effectively in a small team.

 

Enquiries: Contact Maggie Tait at [email protected]     

To apply: To be considered for this role please upload a current CV and a cover letter outlining your suitability.  

Closing Date: Applications are due by close of business Monday 13 December 2021.

Please Note: All applications will remain in our secure system.

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples are encouraged to apply.

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the Traditional Custodians of this land and pay respect to Elders past and present in the spirit of reconciliation.

Ngala is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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