Team Leader, McAuley House Footscray

ABOUT US

McAuley Community Services for Women helps women and children who have faced family violence and homelessness to take control of their lives. Through a range of supports including accommodation, legal, health, recreation and social responses, we support women to leave us with restored capacity and greater opportunities for safe housing, economic capability and wellbeing. We work alongside women and children, recognising their strengths and fostering their resilience to create a new future.

Feminism, intersectionality and anti-oppressive practices are imbedded within our client practice and our culture.

About the role:

Team Leader – McAuley House Footscray

Location: Footscray | Full-Time

Are you a passionate leader who thrives on making a difference in women’s lives? Do you believe safe housing is a human right? Join us at McAuley and take the lead in supporting women experiencing homelessness to reclaim their lives with dignity, independence, and hope.

As Team Leader at McAuley House Footscray, you’ll lead a dedicated and compassionate team of Residential Support Workers and Case Managers delivering holistic, trauma-informed care to women who are homeless or at risk. This is more than just a leadership role – it’s an opportunity to drive real change, empower frontline staff, and support women on their path to long-term safety, wellbeing, and housing stability.

What you'll do:

• Lead and Inspire: Motivate a dynamic team committed to delivering person-centred, empowering support.
• Champion Client Outcomes: Guide your team in creating strength-based, solution-focused support plans tailored to each woman’s goals and needs.
• Support Complex Needs: Provide expert support across mental health, family violence (including using the MARAM framework), housing navigation, social inclusion, and recovery.
• Foster Connection: Encourage assertive engagement, build rapport, and celebrate client milestones – from small wins to life-changing progress.
• Promote Safety and Empowerment: Ensure every woman receives the trauma-informed, culturally safe care she deserves.
• Drive System Navigation: Help clients find pathways to long-term housing and greater independence, while breaking the cycle of homelessness.

What you'll bring:

• A passion for equity and justice, particularly in housing and women's safety.
• Strong leadership experience in homelessness, housing, mental health, or community services.
• An in-depth understanding of trauma-informed practice, family violence frameworks, and strengths-based case management.
• A collaborative spirit, ready to inspire and uplift others, including clients and colleagues.

This is a Permanent Full-Time (38 hours per week) opportunity based in Footscray within our Community Services program. The position reports to the Manager, Homelessness Services.

Key Selection Criteria:

To be successful in this role, you will have:

•  Relevant tertiary qualification and experience in social work, or a related field.  
•  Professional experience in mental health and homelessness field highly regarded. 
•  Experience leading a team to work with women facing a range of systematic complex challenges in accessing holistic support in relation to their experiences of homelessness, family violence, health and mental health, drug and alcohol use, trauma, and marginalisation.

Please address the full Key Selection Criteria outlined in the PD as part of your application.

For a full position listing, please click APPLY. The Position Description is available for review at the bottom of the page.

For more information, please contact:

Phillippa at phillippad@mcauley.org.au or on 03 9362 8931. 

Our offer

• Hourly Rate of $53.84 to $56.22 as outlined in the SCHADS Award Level 6, dependent on qualification and experience. 
• Salary packaging – we can help you to maximize your salary packaging up to $18,550 per year, which allows you to reduce the amount of tax you pay.
• Paid Training that is industry specific including Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), Sanctuary and Cultural Awareness training.
• Fitness Passport - which is a discounted workplace health and fitness program available to you and your family. For a fraction of the price of a regular gym membership.
• Employee Assistance Program- Free access to a wide range of options with all aspects of life such as social, financial, physical, mental health by providing counselling and coaching supporting relating both to your circumstance, even including health advice from qualified nutritionists.
• Supportive Environment - Monthly supportive meetings with your direct manager.
• Sanctuary Organisation - MacKillop’s work is underpinned by the Sanctuary Model, an evidence-supported, whole of organisation framework that brings our values to life. The model reinforces our ability to create a safe environment that teaches people to cope effectively with stress and trauma, and to heal.

 You must have a:

• Valid and current Driver’s Licence;
• Satisfactory Criminal History Check (paid for by MacKillop);
• Valid Employee Working with Children Check;
• Valid and current NDIS Workers Screening Check (for risk assessed / client facing roles). MacKillop can assist successful candidates with their application.

Please note, we are only considering female identifying candidates for this position. McAuley Community Services for Women has an exemption to gender equality requirements.

Our Commitment:

McAuley is part of MacKillop Family Services and celebrates and draws strength from diversity and respects the dignity of all people. Every person has the right to be safe and to be treated justly. We value every person’s ability, cultural or linguistic backgrounds, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, intersex status, relationship status, religious or spiritual beliefs, socio-economic status, and age.

It is our goal that we continue to evolve as a culturally safe, culturally competent, and welcoming organisation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, families, and communities.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Shortlisting for this position may commence immediately so please submit your application as soon as possible