Therapeutic Group and Family Practitioner

Therapeutic Group and Family Practitioner

Back on Track Program

Part-time: 22.5 hours per week

Contract: 12 months (extension dependent on funding)

SCHADS: Level 5

Location: Melbourne North-West Metro with some training and meetings in the South-East

About Emerge

Emerge Women and Childrens Support Network is a specialist family violence service based in Melbournes Southern Region and primarily funded by the Victorian Government. We support women and children toward safety autonomy healing and recovery after family violence.

Our work is grounded in feminist theory intersectionality human rights and trauma-informed practice. We are committed to collaboration respect courage creativity inclusivity impact and kindness and to delivering innovative evidence-based programs that disrupt cycles of family violence.

About the Program Back on Track

Back on Track is Emerges sector-leading early intervention program for children aged 314 who are experiencing behavioural and emotional challenges related to family violence and trauma.

The program takes a whole-of-family approach working with children safe caregivers and siblings through therapeutic casework dyadic interventions and group programs. The focus is on strengthening childcaregiver attachment building emotional regulation and interrupting intergenerational cycles of violence.

The program has been running successfully in Melbournes South-East and will be expanding to the North-West Metro region in 2026.

Back on Track is underpinned by trauma-informed and neuro-affirming practice and draws on evidence-based modalities including attachment-focused interventions play therapy trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy and dyadic therapy.

About the Role

Emerge is seeking a Therapeutic Group and Family Practitioner to deliver therapeutic interventions to children and their safe caregivers participating in the Back on Track program.

This is a practice-focused role ideal for a clinician who enjoys working directly with families and children within a supportive specialist team. The Practitioner will work closely with the Principal Practitioner and a small dynamic team to deliver high-quality therapeutic services in line with Emerges practice framework.

Key Responsibilities

The successful applicant will:

Deliver therapeutic interventions in line with the Back on Track program model and Emerges therapeutic framework

Hold and manage a therapeutic caseload

Co-facilitate therapeutic groups for children and for parents/caregivers

Provide dyadic therapy to strengthen childcaregiver attachment

Monitor and respond to family violence and related risks

Maintain high-quality case notes data collection and reporting to meet compliance and evaluation requirements

Work collaboratively with Emerge staff including case managers and other practitioners and participate in secondary consultations

Participate in supervision reflective practice and professional development

Contribute positively to a collaborative respectful and trauma-informed team environment

About You

You will bring:

A relevant tertiary qualification in a related field (e.g. social work counselling psychology allied health or similar)

Experience delivering trauma-informed recovery-oriented therapeutic interventions with children and caregivers

Experience co-facilitating therapeutic groups and delivering dyadic or family-based interventions

An understanding of family violence trauma early intervention and/or child and family systems

Strong collaboration and communication skills and the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team

Well-developed documentation time management and organisational skills

Specialist family violence training is desirable but not essential Emerge provides training in relevant frameworks including MARAM and specialist family violence practice.

Mandatory Requirements

Relevant tertiary qualification in a related field

Police Check

Working With Children Check

Current Victorian Drivers Licence

Right to work in Australia

What We Offer

Study leave

Maternity leave

Birthday leave

Salary packaging benefits

Supportive collaborative and trauma-informed team environment

Professional development and training opportunities

Additional Information

We strongly encourage applications from individuals with lived experience of family violence. We also welcome applicants from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds and people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Please note: As a specialist family violence agency we hold an exemption under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984. Female applicants only need apply.

To Apply

To apply please submit your resume and respond to the three screening questions addressing your suitability for the role. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. For further information or queries regarding this position please contact HR at