At C&K, our purpose is to make a positive impact on children’s lives. It’s what we’ve been doing for more than 115 years. Through evidence-based thinking, hard work and true compassion, we’ve built a trusted reputation as Queensland’s leading provider of early childhood education. And as a child safe organisation, we put children's safety and wellbeing at the heart of everything we do, creating nurturing spaces where children can learn, explore, play and grow.

“C&K mean what they say. Putting children first is an embedded part of all their thinking and decision making. I love working with like-minded people.” - Rebecca Ireland - Director, Yuingi Childcare Centre

Help Shape Futures at C&K Mackay Children and Family Centre

Mackay Children and Family Centre is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service which provides access to integrated early childhood education and care, parenting and family support and child maternal health services. Our centre incorporates a Long Day Care Centre and a Hub, that are designed to work together as an integrated unit. The MCFC Hub provides many programs and services to support the wider community.

We are now looking for two permanent full time Family Support Officers to join our team for an immediate start.

• Identified role for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates.
• Get a better deal with an annual salary of $73,700 + Super.
• 2 X Permanent Full Time positions working Monday to Friday.

In this role the Family Support Officer will work as member of the Mackay Children and Family Centre (CFC) multidisciplinary team to develop, implement (with parents, carers and other CFC employees) and evaluate a range of culturally sensitive, child-centred, early childhood programs and services which promote the holistic development of young children (e.g. supported play programs, parenting programs, family support, child development screening).  

Your normal day would be:

• Working from a strengths-based perspective to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to meet their identified needs. 
• Providing therapeutic intervention and mediation to families with children aged 0-8 years residing in the Mackay Region 
• Promoting the development of positive parent/child relationships by role modelling, education, and practical support. 
• Developing and delivering programs for individuals and groups including brief interventions to assist parents and other care-givers to manage common mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and stress and programs which develop skills and build family capacity 
• Building on and improve family living skills including home management, child management and effective communication within the family  

What you’ll bring

To thrive and succeed in this role you will have:

• Experience in the delivery of brief intervention, counselling and/or mediation  
• Knowledge and understanding of the stresses on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and the range of family risk and protective factors which impact on child outcome  
• Demonstrated understanding of and an ability to practice: strength based approaches when working with families; effective parenting and behaviour management techniques; and exceptional knowledge of child development  
• Sound knowledge of child protection issues  
• High level of oral and written communication skills 
• Previous experience in working as a member of a multidisciplinary team and an ability to work collaboratively as well as independently  
• Ability to manage a number of key relationships and to work in collaboration with stakeholders both internally and externally  
• Current open driver’s license and a willingness to drive a 12-seater bus if required 

This is an Identified Position, and you MUST identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent OR be able to provide a reference from a member of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Community that demonstrates cultural competence and ability to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Find Your Better Way and Enjoy the Benefits 

Every C&K career helps children belong and grow. We’ll set you up for success with a range of benefits, programs and opportunities to help you earn, be well and grow. 

• Be rewarded with an annual salary of $73,700 + super and salary-sacrificing options.
• Find a healthy work-life balance with family-friendly priority access to C&K childcare centres and discounts of up to 75% of the gap fee. 
• Be well and prosper with an Employee Assistance Program that includes financial counselling, nutrition coaching, individual counselling and specialist support for LGBTIQA+ and First Nations individuals. 
• BUPA health insurance discounts 
• Funded Blue Card, Police Check and First Aid certifications. 
• Take your career to new heights with the Beginning to Teach program, specialized mentoring and professional development opportunities. 

Join us and find a better way with C&K - for children, for you, for always.  

C&K is a child-safe organisation and all C&K employees are required to undergo a police check and not be a ‘Restricted Person’ or Suspended Educator under the QLD Blue Card System. 

We welcome applicants who identify as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, have a Culturally and /or Linguistically Diverse background and/or those with additional needs.