Aboriginal Service Specialist

Management & Training Corporation is a global leader in the corrections, detention, training and education sectors operating 23 Job Corps centres, 21 correctional facilities, 5 detention centres, 11 prison and detention medical departments and 2 workforce development sites worldwide.

Our Vision is to be a leader in social impact by transforming lives and strengthening communities. We are proud of the incredible work our +11,000 employees do providing support, giving hope, and providing opportunities for a better life.

We promote a culture of Safety, Respect and Dignity.  MTC instils the BIONIC (Believe It Or Not I Care) philosophy in all our centres. BIONIC means promoting a caring culture for change based upon safety, respect and dignity.

BIONIC drives every interaction between employees and those detained at MTC facilities.  This allows our transferees to feel heard, appreciated and treated with the utmost respect and in a culturally appropriate way.  Our aim is to improve relationships and reduce stressors for transferees, so they feel cared for.

We are seeking a capable and motivated Aboriginal service specialist to support the team at Parklea Correctional Centre.

About the Role:

The Aboriginal Service Specialist provides high-quality support tailored to the specific needs of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inmates at the Parklea Correctional Centre (PCC). This role is critical in addressing the inmates’ needs associated with their culture. By providing effective support through mentoring and coaching, MTC increases the chances of positively changing inmates’ lives and creating better outcomes for them, the community and the State. 

The Aboriginal Service Specialist manages welfare referrals and is responsible for 24 hours check of Aboriginal inmates to ensure their immediate needs are met in custody.This position also has a significant role in modelling pro-social behaviours and and applies case and behavioural management methods and demonstrates culturally sensitive practices and attitudes in actively engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inmates. 

The Aboriginal Service Specialist brings interpersonal, communication and stakeholder management skills. The role coordinates various stakeholders and works with other functional leads and units to ensure that each inmate receives a holistic and targeted level of support. An understanding of modelling pro-social behaviours and an ability to motivate and influence individuals is critical to this role. The Aboriginal Service Specialist also possesses assertiveness and confidence in dealing with individuals who may exhibit challenging behaviours.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Observe, supervise and assess inmate activities and behaviour, monitoring and responding to unsafe, non-compliant and/or at-risk behaviours to maximise safety and security and minimise incidents.
• Respond appropriately and effectively to events and incidents.
• Inform inmates about the services available to them, in a format that is accessible and appropriate to the inmate’s abilities.
• Conduct 24 hours check on the Aboriginal inmates after their reception.
• Facilitate the Yarn circle program with the Aboriginal inmates through the mentoring/ coaching model.
• Participate and contribute to meetings and forum that are relevant to ensure safety in custody. 
• Respond to inmate requests, enquiries and complaints respectfully and in accordance with defined policies, procedures and timelines.
• Promote the MTC’s reintegration offer at induction and engage suitable participants.
• Collaborate with the case planner / custodial case officer to identify inmates’ pre-release needs if required.
• Coordinate various stakeholders to ensure that each inmate receives suitable support, including accommodation and Centrelink referrals pre-release.
• Facilitate participants’ engagement with community support agencies.
• Mentor and review progress and continue to work with participants post-release to reduce the likelihood of reoffending.
• Coordinate internal and external stakeholders for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inmates and custodial patients and ensure they receive comprehensive transition support that is appropriate to their specific cultural and health needs.
• Record case notes regularly and accurately, within required timeframes.
• Engage inmates with respect and humanity, including but not limited to speaking and acting respectfully, recognising individual strengths, being realistic about the difficulty of change, building and sustaining hope, and encouraging progress.
• Model, mentor, coach and encourage pro-social behaviour in interpersonal interactions, negotiation and conflict resolution.

About You:

• Demonstrated previous experience of working with challenging or vulnerable populations at a similar level. 
• Knowledge and experience in case management and group facilitation.
• Knowledge and understanding of best practice principles in offender rehabilitation, including the Risk Needs Responsivity model.
• Ability to manage your work autonomously.
• Demonstrated empathy, cultural understanding and the abilities to connect, build appropriate relationships, influence, negotiate and navigate interpersonal differences with inmates, peers and others.
• Ability to develop and work in partnership with community agencies to gain support for inmates post release.
• Demonstrated ability to be assertive and confident in dealing with individuals who may exhibit challenging behaviours.
• Ability to express and educate your colleagues on Aboriginal cultural practices in a productive and professional manner.

To be successful in this role, you will need

• To pass a in clinic fitness/Medical assessment and Australian federal Police checks
• Obtain and maintain state clearances
• Must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or Permanent resident.
• Fully vaccinated for COVID-19
• Ability to manage difficult situations
• Strong communication skills both verbal and written
• Show initiative and be motivated to succeed 
• Excellent time management skills
• Great team worker 

Please note: When applying please ensure your Resume is up to date and include a 1page cover letter describing your experience in Corrections and which centre/s you have previously worked in.

At Parklea we run a safe, decent & secure centre that reduces reoffending and takes care of our staff, if this sounds like something you would like to be a part of and contribute towards, apply now!