Family Finding Safety Officer
Department of Children and Families
Agency Department of Children and Families Work unit Family Assessment and Safety Taskforce
Job title Family Finding and Safety Officer Designation Professional 1
Job type Full time Duration Fixed for 12 months
Salary $70,971 - $90,331 Location Darwin, Palmerston
Position number 77260055 RTF 350823 Closing 06/07/2026
Contact officer Department of Children and Families Recruitment on 08 8922 7000 or ***email_hidden***
About the agency https://families.nt.gov.au/
Apply online https://jobs.nt.gov.au/Home/JobDetails?rtfId=350823
APPLICATIONS MUST INCLUDE A ONE-PAGE SUMMARY ABOUT YOU, A DETAILED RESUME AND COPIES OF YOUR TERTIARY
QUALIFICATIONS.
Information for applicants – inclusion and diversity and Special Measures recruitment plans
The NTPS values diversity. The NTPS encourages people from all diversity groups to apply for vacancies and accommodates people with
disability by making reasonable workplace adjustments. If you require an adjustment for the recruitment process or job, please discuss
this with the contact officer. For more information about applying for this position and the merit process, go to the OCPE website.
Aboriginal applicants will be granted priority consideration for this vacancy. For more information on Special Measures plans, go to the
OCPE website.
Primary objective
The Family Finding and Safety Officer is responsible for information and evidence gathering and network discovery to assist culturally
informed safety planning for children and families in involved in various parts of the child protection continuum. The position works in
partnership with Aboriginal staff in urban, regional and remote areas.
Context statement
The Family Assessment and Safety Taskforce (FAST) has been established to enhance frontline child protection services by providing
increased capacity and capability to the existing workforce. With an experienced cohort of Aboriginal, paraprofessional, professional and
leadership staff, the FAST team will strengthen proactive efforts in case management and evidence gathering, to better support frontline
teams under a new legislative landscape and further enhance culturally informed practice across child protection services.
Key duties and responsibilities
1. Work with Aboriginal staff to undertake family finding, safety planning and information gathering to ensure family and cultural
connections and child safety are at the forefront of child protection case management decisions.
2. Effectively engage with family, community members, and service providers involved with a child and their family for early identification
of kinship and natural networks.
3. Support the use of interpreters for meaningful engagement and inquiries, where necessary.
4. Using the Department’s case management system (CARE) record and manage information related to family contact, engagement,
family mapping, natural networks, and cultural considerations.
5. Build and maintain respectful relationships with diverse stakeholders internal and external to the Department.
6. Manage complex and sensitive matters with professionalism and integrity.
7. Travel across rural and remote areas of the Northern Territory in order to meet support the timely completion of child protection
functions.
8. Participate in the Department’s Emergency Management functions and requirements within the context of an emergency management
situation.
Selection criteria
Essential
1. A degree of an Australian tertiary institution relevant to the human services sector.
2. Previous experience working in a government or comparable regulatory environment and/or investigation and information gathering
exercises.
3. Strong interpersonal skills including sound written and verbal communication.
4. Strong conceptual, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
5. Well-developed organisational skills with a proven ability to work in an environment of continuous change with attributes of flexibility
and adaptability.
6. Knowledge of and experience in government structures, processes and protocols, or ability to obtain such knowledge quickly and the
ability to handle confidential and sensitive matters.
7. Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with people from diverse cultures, including a demonstrated knowledge and understanding
of Aboriginal culture, family and community structures.
8. Preparedness to undertake overnight travel to remote communities, travel in 4WD vehicles and light planes, and hold a current NT
driver’s license.
Desirable
1. Qualifications in government investigations and/or related discipline.
Further information
The recommended applicant will be required to hold a current Working with Children Clearance notice and undergo a criminal history check
(a criminal history will not exclude an applicant from this position unless it is a relevant criminal history).
Approved: June 2026 Peter Fletcher, Executive Director
Page 1 of 2
Agency Department of Children and Families Work unit Family Assessment and Safety Taskforce
Job title Family Finding and Safety Officer Designation Professional 2
Job type Full time Duration Fixed for 12 months
Salary $92,910 - $110,781 Location Darwin, Palmerston
Position number 77260055 RTF 350823 Closing 06/07/2026
Contact officer Department of Children and Families Recruitment on 08 8922 7000 or ***email_hidden***
About the agency https://families.nt.gov.au/
Apply online https://jobs.nt.gov.au/Home/JobDetails?rtfId=350823
APPLICATIONS MUST INCLUDE A ONE-PAGE SUMMARY ABOUT YOU, A DETAILED RESUME AND COPIES OF YOUR TERTIARY
QUALIFICATIONS.
Information for applicants – inclusion and diversity and Special Measures recruitment plans
The NTPS values diversity. The NTPS encourages people from all diversity groups to apply for vacancies and accommodates people with
disability by making reasonable workplace adjustments. If you require an adjustment for the recruitment process or job, please discuss
this with the contact officer. For more information about applying for this position and the merit process, go to the OCPE website.
Aboriginal applicants will be granted priority consideration for this vacancy. For more information on Special Measures plans, go to the
OCPE website.
Primary objective
The Family Finding and Safety Officer is responsible for information and evidence gathering and network discovery to assist culturally
informed safety planning for children and families involved in various parts of the child protection continuum. The position works in
partnership with Aboriginal staff in urban, regional and remote areas.
Context statement
The Family Assessment and Safety Taskforce (FAST) has been established to enhance frontline child protection services by providing
increased capacity and capability to the existing workforce. With an experienced cohort of Aboriginal, paraprofessional, professional and
leadership staff, the FAST team will strengthen proactive efforts in case management and evidence gathering, to better support frontline
teams under a new legislative landscape and further enhance culturally informed practice across child protection services.
Key duties and responsibilities
1. Work with Aboriginal staff to undertake family finding, safety planning and information gathering to ensure family and cultural
connections and child safety are at the forefront of child protection case management decisions.
2. Effectively engage with family, community members, and service providers involved with a child and their family for early identification
of kinship and natural networks.
3. Support the use of interpreters for meaningful engagement and inquiries, where necessary.
4. Using the Department’s case management system (CARE) record and manage information related to family contact, engagement,
family mapping, natural networks, and cultural considerations.
5. Build and maintain respectful relationships with diverse stakeholders internal and external to the Department.
6. Manage complex and sensitive matters with professionalism and integrity.
7. Travel across rural and remote areas of the Northern Territory in order to meet support the timely completion of child protection
functions.
8. Participate in the Department’s Emergency Management functions and requirements within the context of an emergency management
situation.
Selection criteria
Essential
1. A degree of an Australian tertiary institution relevant to the human services sector.
2. Extensive experience working in a government or comparable regulatory environment and/or investigation and information gathering
exercises.
3. Demonstrated highly developed interpersonal skills, excellent written and verbal communication.
4. Strong conceptual, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
5. Highly-developed organisational skills with a proven ability to work in an environment of continuous change with attributes of
flexibility and adaptability.
6. Knowledge of and significant experience in government structures, processes and protocols, or ability to obtain such knowledge
quickly and the ability to handle confidential and sensitive matters.
7. Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with people from diverse cultures, including a demonstrated knowledge and understanding
of Aboriginal culture, family and community structures.
8. Preparedness to undertake overnight travel to remote communities, travel in 4WD vehicles and light planes, and hold a current NT
driver’s license.
Desirable
1. Qualifications in government investigations and/or related discipline.
Further information
The recommended applicant will be required to hold a current Working with Children Clearance notice and undergo a criminal history check
(a criminal history will not exclude an applicant from this position unless it is a relevant criminal history).
