Marist180 is a not-for-profit organisation strongly committed to creating positive change for vulnerable young people and their families. Our teams are our valued partners and key to Marist180’s success. We strive in providing quality therapeutic care, team efficacy and inclusiveness within our programs. Job Description The position The Practice Manager provides strategic and operational leadership to a multidisciplinary team of Practice Leads and Specialists, ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive practice. The role is responsible for embedding the program’s therapeutic model, driving practice excellence, and supporting the professional growth and performance of specialists working directly with children and young people with complex trauma in statutory care. Through reflective supervision, coaching, and quality assurance, the Practice Manager ensures that care planning and service delivery align with the principles of child safety, healing, permanency, and cultural connection under the NSW Permanency Support Program (PSP). Key accountabilities of the Practice Manager include, but are not limited to: Lead, supervise, and support a team of Practice Leads and Specialists across therapeutic, casework, and cultural streams. Facilitate reflective practice, supervision, and performance development to ensure staff accountability, wellbeing, and professional growth. Participate in and contribute to PSP forums such as Intake Panels, Therapeutic Advisory Groups (TAG), and critical incident reviews. Drive consistent, high-quality implementation of trauma-informed, therapeutic, and culturally responsive practices across the PSP program. Provide area and director-level consultation on high-risk or complex cases, ensuring coordinated therapeutic responses that balance child safety, healing, and permanency. Conduct or lead case reviews or contribute to investigations on more serious matters. Represent Marist180 in escalated care team decision-making, cross-agency forums, or legal matters. Participate in service / tender development for new or extended programs. Lead the strategic implementation of Marist180s therapeutic framework (ARC) across PSP programs, ensuring systemic integration of trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and permanency-focused practice. Act as a principal advisor to senior leadership on emerging practice trends, workforce capability needs, and clinical risk exposure. Drive the use of evidence, data, and evaluation to inform innovation, shape strategy, and continuously improve outcomes across the PSP service continuum. Design and drive practice development initiatives that elevate therapeutic, casework, and cultural capability across the workforce. Oversee practice performance reporting, contributing to compliance with PSP contract deliverables, reforms, and quality standards. Contribute to the Strategic and Operational Planning of Marist180. Identify systemic practice issues and contribute to organisational learning, policy review, and practice refinement through participation in governance processes. Strengthen systemic collaboration with the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), and health and education sectors to influence integrated, culturally safe care pathways. Represent Marist180 in policy working groups, peak body forums, or interagency panels to shape sector direction and respond to reforms. Desired Skills and Experience The candidate Qualifications: A tertiary qualification in social work, psychology, or associated degree and membership or eligibility for membership to the relevant professional body (e.g. AHPRA, AASW). Demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development. Experience & Skills: At least 10 years demonstrated experience in working effectively with the issues faced by children and young people who have a complex trauma background; including at least 5 years in a senior leadership or governance role. Proven experience leading clinical or therapeutic governance structures, including complex case management, supervision systems, and critical incident oversight. Thorough understanding of the NSW Child Safe Standards, the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998, PSP reform and other relevant statutory requirements. Strong working knowledge of the ITC service system, casework practice, and cultural and therapeutic care frameworks. In-depth understanding and applied knowledge of trauma-informed, attachment-based, child and adolescent development, and therapeutic models relevant to children and young people in out-of-home care (e.g., ARC, TCI, PACE). Comprehensive understanding of child and adolescent development, mental health, and complex trauma impacts. Demonstrated knowledge of Aboriginal culture, self-determination, and the importance of culturally embedded care. Familiarity with regulatory and accreditation frameworks (e.g., Office of the Children’s Guardian, NDIS Quality and Safeguards, WHS, incident reporting). Work Requirements: Current First Aid and CPR certificate. Current Working with Children Check. Clear National Criminal History Check. Unrestricted NSW Driver’s Licence. Eligibility to work in Australia. Intrastate travel might be required. Provide Marist180 consent to complete a verification of the Residential Care Workers Register managed by the Office of the Children’s Guardian. Marist 180 provide Equal Employment Opportunities for everyone. We value the benefits of diversity and strongly encourage applications from people with disabilities, mental health as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and mature aged applicants. ONLY SHORTLISTED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED
