Social Worker

About the Role
At New Life Stories (NLS), we believe that the relationship is the client. Every conversation, story, and silence becomes a doorway to healing.

We support parents, caregivers, and children whose lives have been shaped by hardship and disconnection. Our team supports them to make new meaning of how life experiences have influenced their beliefs, relationships, and choices - while building on their strengths, nurturing healthy and supportive relationships, and creating joyful life experiences that foster hope and belonging.

In this specific Pilot Project role, you will be the heart of our child-centred support, providing a safe, reflective space for children to process sudden family transitions. As a rapid-response program, you will work within a swift activation timeline in designated districts to provide immediate support to children following a family crisis, holding the case for a critical 8-week intervention window.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the intake process by assessing the immediate emotional needs of the children and caregivers following a referral.

• Provide immediate support to caregivers to help them regulate which in turn creates a safe environment for the child.

• Help caregivers refine the language used to explain family changes to the child.

• Conduct play-based or child-led sessions during home visits to assess the immediate impact of trauma on the child.

• Identify trusted adults in the child's life who can provide ongoing containment and support during the crisis.

• Assist in the delivery of the Basic Care Pack by ensuring the child's school and support networks are sensitively informed.

• Help the child and family shift from shock to adjustment by helping them process the communication and justice journey.

• Facilitate sessions that support children maintain a healthy connection to their parents despite physical separation.

• Conduct assessments and provide clinical reports for community partners to ensure a continuous, trauma-informed journey of healing post-pilot.

  Requirements

  • Degree or Post-Graduate Diploma in Counselling, Social Work, or Psychology.

  • Have 3 - 5 years experience working with children and families in vulnerable or high-stress environments training and experience in trauma related work is a plus.

  • A deep alignment with systemic thinking and restorative principles.

  • Proficient in creative counseling techniques to engage children in distress strong clinical assessment skills with a focus on strengths and resilience.

  • Practise with cultural sensitivity, a systemic, trauma-aware, and restorative lens that values voice, choice, and accountability.

  • Embody love, compassion, and relational depth, using connection as the foundation for change.

  • Must be able to commit to the initial 6-month pilot, with availability for a potential 1-year extension based on project performance.

    Why Join Us

    At NLS, we know that change happens in relationships. You'll join a team that believes love and compassion - not judgment - open the door to healing and transformation. Together, we support families to recognise their strengths, build healthy and supportive relationships, and create new, joyful experiences that give rise to new life stories of courage, connection, and hope.