Carer Recruitment and Community Engagement Practitioner

Could you help grow Foster and Kinship Care across Gippsland? 

Berry Street Yooralla's Foster Care and Kinship Care programs support children and young people who are unable to live safely at home, including those who have experienced trauma and require additional therapeutic support. 

We are looking for confident and passionate individual to help grow and strengthen our Foster and Kinship Care community across the Gippsland region.

The Opportunity 

• Located in Morwell on Gunaikurnai Country. 
• Permanent, Full Time role
• $105k + Super + Salary Packaging 

This role is all about connection, communication and community!

You'll connect with prospective carers, strengthen relationships with existing carers and build awareness of the important role carers play in the lives of children and young people.

No two days will be the same. You might be representing Berry Street Yooralla at a community event, building partnerships with local organisations, facilitating a carer hub, or supporting potential carers as they begin their journey.

Working across Gippsland, you will create meaningful community connections and contribute to increasing the number of caring homes available for children and young people.

In this role you will: 

• Promote Foster and Kinship care through community engagement, presentations, events and local partnerships. 
• Build awareness of the need for Foster and Kinship carers and encourage people to take the first step towards becoming a carer. 
• Develop relationships with community organisations, businesses, schools, sporting clubs and local services.
• Create and deliver innovative recruitment and engagement initiatives that increase carer enquiries and participation. 
• Coordinate carer hubs, information sessions and community events.
• Support the engagement and retention of existing carers. 
• Collaborate with internal teams to enhance the carer experience.
• Identify trends and opportunities to strengthen future engagement activities.

About You 

You are a confident communicator and natural relationship builder who enjoys getting out into the community, meeting new people and turning ideas into action. 

You may come from a background in community engagement, stakeholder engagement, marketing, communications, recruitment, social work or community services. Most importantly, you're passionate about engaging people, building partnerships and making a difference in the lives of children and families.

You will bring: 

• Strong communication, networking and relationship building skills. 
• Confidence presenting to community groups and representing our organisation in the community. 
• Experience in community engagement, recruitment, marketing, communications, stakeholder engagement or a related field. 
• Initiative and creativity to identify new opportunities and ideas.
• Experience building partnerships and community networks.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities. 
• The ability to work autonomously and collaboratively.
• A commitment to trauma-informed and person - centred practice.

Qualifications 

• A Bachelor qualification in one of the following areas Social Work, Community Development, Marketing, Public Relations, Community Services or a related discipline.  
• Experience with marketing initiatives, working with volunteers and knowledge of the foster care service system will be highly regarded. 

Our Benefits 

• $15,900 p.a. salary packaging (pro rata)
• Additional salary packaging for meals and accommodation. 
• 10 weeks paid parental leave plus other generous leave conditions. 
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program, including support for immediate family members. 
• Regular reflective supervision. 
• Ongoing learning and professional development opportunities. 

How to Apply 

If you are passionate about connecting with communities, building relationships and encouraging more people to consider becoming foster carers, we would love to hear from you!

• Please submit your resume and cover letter outlining your suitability for the position. 
• Applications will be reviewed as they are received, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. 
• This role will close 11pm Friday 13 November 2026 - however this role will close early for the right candidate!
• For enquiries about the position, please contact: Holly Ames, Senior Manager, Home Based Care on 0409 441 709

We believe in diversity, inclusion and equality and are committed to ensuring that our workplaces are a reflection of the Victorian community. We recognise the benefits that diversity and inclusion brings, and in turn encourage talented people from all backgrounds, abilities and identities to apply to our vacancies. 

We encourage applications from people with lived experience of disability. You'll receive adjustments and support throughout the whole process — from the application stage to starting in the workplace. If you require the position description in a different format or any accommodation or assistance during the application and interview stages please contact the person listed on the ad or alternatively email recruitment@berrystreet.org.au

Berry Street Yooralla is committed to being a child safe, child friendly and child empowering organisation. In everything we do we seek to protect children. We are committed to the cultural safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children; children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds; children with a disability; children who identify as LGBTIQA+. We aim to ensure every individual is treated with dignity and respect regardless of their cultural background, ability, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, spirituality or religion. 

Please Note; the successful applicant will be subject to comprehensive reference and background checking prior to employment, including a NDIS Screening Check, Working with Children Check and National and International Police check (if required) and NDIS training. Torres Strait Islander people; people from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds and people with a disability are encouraged to apply.