Child and Family Coordinator – Wellington

Child and Family Coordinators support children, young people and their families and friends when visiting. The Wellington Correctional Centre in the Visits area and through the Child Parent days.  

SHINE for Kids employees and volunteers provide age-appropriate activities for children/young people to have ‘time out’, to experience playtime, to connect with other children in the same situation and to have an opportunity to have a more pleasant experience when visiting their parent.

 Our programs support family and friends with information, referral services and advocacy.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Child & Family Coordinator will offer important services to visitors: 

• Prison In-Visits Program – The Prison In-Visits program supports positive family interaction and provides a variety of arts, crafts and diversionary activities for children to share with their parents. This program is conducted within the relevant visiting area of Wellington Correctional Centre
• Child/ Parent Activity Days – This program ensures that children are able to stay connected to their parent in custody, maintaining their child-parent bond despite the barriers of prison. This child focused program emphasizes the importance of the parent in custody having sole responsibility for their children, having an opportunity to practice their parenting skills and to connect with their children over a longer period of time (up to 4 hours). This program is only offered in school holidays and is conducted  twice a year per complex
•  Ensure necessary resources are available for the smooth running of the prison in-visits programs and that COVID-19 safe procedures are followed
• Run the adaptive service delivery approved programs during visit closures due to Covid restrictions such as -Art and Craft days and storytime (one session model) as required and directed by SHINE for Kids executive team and after consultation for approval with Wellington Correctional Centre management    
• During third party restrictions run adaptive service delivery activities- Family Connection packs and other activities as directed 
• Ensure all resources in the invisits area have prior approval with Wellington  Correctional Centre 
• Complete volunteer  recruitment  work as needed and  ensure volunteer induction processes are completed 
• Complete training with Volunteers on SHINE for Kids policies and procedures
• Train /support volunteers to facilitate the in-visit program at each of the  contracted locations at  Wellington Correctional Centre

Your paperwork

• Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care, Certificate III  Early Childhood Education and Care or lived experience
• Current Working with Children Check (Paid)
• National Police Check
• COVID-19 Vaccination
• Our organisation undertakes several screening processes to ensure the appropriate protection of children in its care. This includes reference checks, Identity check, qualification checks, Criminal History Records Check (where applicable) and professional registration checks.
• Current Drivers License and own transport

Key Selection Criteria

• Minimum 3 years experience working with children, young people and their families
• Experience in working with children/young people and programming child-centered activities
• Experience in working with volunteers as an integral part of a service delivery model.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the issues and challenges that children of prisoners face.
• Understand the issues and challenges facing Aboriginal young people who have a parent in prison and culturally and linguistic diverse backgrounds

The base rate for this position is $32.54 + superannuation.  Additional penalty rates will apply for weekend work.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.