Intake Officer - FVPLS
- Posted on: 21 May, 2026
- SCHADS Award Level: Classification Level 3
- Job location: Darwin
- Remuneration: Salary $76,372.40 - $81,905.20 per annum (dependent on experience)
- Hours of work: Monday to Friday - 8.15am to 4.21pm with 30mins lunch break
- Employment Type: Full-time ongoing position (subject to funding)
- Superannuation: 12%
- Leave Entitlement: 6 weeks per annum plus 17.5% leave loading
- Reports To: Executive Director – Practice and Culture
- Information for Applicants: Additional benefits include: Time off in Lieu of Overtime, Wellbeing leave (conditions apply), Travel Allowance, Annual individual training allowance, Paid parental leave applicable to Primary or Secondary Carer (6 weeks’ paid after 12 months service), Study Leave, Defence Leave.
- Additional Information: Mandatory employment requirements: Obtain a working with children clearance (WWCC), Obtain a clear Criminal History Check, Possess a current ‘C’ Class NT Drivers Licence. Conditions of Employment: Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010, National Employment Standards, Fair Work Act.
- Special Measures: This position is identified for an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and is intended to constitute a special measure under section 8 (1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth), and section 57 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1996 (NT).
- Closing date: 03 June, 2026
ABOUT NAAFLS
NAAFLS is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) and independent Family Violence Prevention Legal Service (FVPLS).
We are the only victim-based Aboriginal legal service in remote communities in the Top End region of the NT.
We have offices in Darwin (Larrakia land), Katherine (Jawoyn, Dagoman and Wardaman land) and Nhulunbuy (Yolŋu land), and service over 40 remote communities within the Top End region spanning from the Tiwi Islands down to Lajamanu, Wadeye across to Borroloola. We provide culturally sensitive legal advice, assistance, representation, and support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Top End communities who have experienced domestic, family, and sexual violence.
We offer a holistic and culturally appropriate model of service which sets us apart, seeking practical community-based solutions to the most complex legal problems.
Our primary practice areas are family law, child protection, and domestic violence; though we frequently intervene in coronial inquiries, parliamentary inquiries, and other administrative or criminal proceedings as required.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Intake Officer is an important first point of contact for Aboriginal victim-survivors of domestic, family, and sexual violence (DFSV) accessing NAAFLS’s services. This role collaborates with NAAFLS dedicated administrative and intake to provide a safe, welcoming, and culturally responsive intake process that ensures clients are appropriately assessed, triaged, and referred to legal, or non-legal support services. It is designed to shift initial engagement away from administrative staff, reduce re-traumatisation, and ensure early support for individuals affected by trauma, violence, and distress.
Reporting to the Executive Director – Practice and Culture, the Intake Officer is responsible for culturally informed initial screening and risk assessments to determine the best support response for Aboriginal victim-survivors. This includes identifying immediate safety or wellbeing needs, and facilitating access to internal and external services, such as emergency assistance, legal assistance, file noting.
KEY RESPONSIBILITES
1. Trauma-Informed Intake and Assessment
- Conduct structured intake assessments using a conversational approach, guided by the NAAFLS culturally adapted, healing-informed Case Management Framework.
- Identify presenting needs, risks, and priority concerns (e.g. safety, housing, children, mental health).
- Use strengths-based and non-judgmental language to build trust and reduce stigma.
- Clearly explain the service journey to clients, including their rights and options for support.
2. Eligibility, Triage and Warm Handover
- Determine eligibility for NAAFLS services using clear criteria without placing undue burden on the client.
- Triage clients to the most appropriate internal stream (legal, non-legal and community engagement).
- Escalate high-risk cases for urgent safety planning or clinical follow-up.
- Provide brief supportive interventions where appropriate, including emotional regulation strategies or de-escalation.
- Facilitate warm handovers to legal or case management staff to avoid clients having to repeat their story.
3. Cultural and Reflective Practice
- Participate in regular debrief, reflective practice and cultural mentoring to ensure safe, accountable practice.
- Reflect on lived experience, boundaries, and wellbeing in the context of intake work.
4. Data, Consent, and Administration
- Working together with the Data and Evaluation, Legal and Case Work teams, ensure all intake records are accurately entered into the case management system.
- Support clients in understanding and signing consent forms, with plain-language explanations.
- Identify clients who may need assistance with forms or follow-up.
- Maintain client confidentiality and follow NAAFLS policies, procedures, and legal requirements.
- Complete other duties as directed by the Executive Director – Practice and Culture.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Essential
- Strong knowledge and understanding of the issues facing Aboriginal communities in the Top End of the Northern Territory, including the impacts and contributing factors of domestic, family, and sexual violence (DFSV).
- Demonstrated experience providing culturally safe services to Aboriginal victim-survivors of DFSV.
- Skilled in risk assessment and safety planning for victim-survivors.
- Experience working with case management systems and maintaining accurate records to support service delivery and reporting requirements.
- Proven ability to uphold client confidentiality in accordance with organisational policies and relevant legislation.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal victim-survivors.
- Proven ability to build and maintain partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Commitment to a flexible, non-judgemental, and empowering approach to service delivery.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a challenging and multidisciplinary environment.
- Willingness and ability to undertake professional development and training as required.
Desirable
- Qualifications in Social Work, Community Services or willingness to undertake.
- Experience working with Aboriginal clients at risk due to trauma.
- Understanding of the legal system in relation to DFSV.