Join the Department for Child Protection as a Senior Practitioner within the Elizabeth. This role offers the chance to influence high quality practice and contribute to meaningful outcomes for children, young people and families. As a senior member of the practice group, you will strengthen case management capability, support consistent decision making and guide practitioners as they develop their skills and professional confidence.

Make Your Qualification Go Further

Same degree, more reward. At DCP, social workers receive the highest pay in the SA Government, thanks to an exclusive 4% allowance permanently secured in our Enterprise Agreement. Combine that with up to $2,500 annual professional development support, clear pathways for advancement, and the chance to leave a lasting legacy in child protection, and your qualification goes further here than anywhere else.

Why Work with DCP? At the Department for Child Protection, you’ll find more than just a job. You’ll discover a career where your skills are valued, your impact is meaningful, and your rewards are unmatched. We play a key role in protecting children, young people, and their families in South Australia, providing support to help vulnerable individuals be safe, strong, and connected.

What We Offer

• Employee Wellbeing: Free annual flu vaccination, Employee Assistance Program (confidential counselling for you and your family), and other wellbeing initiatives.
• Career Development: Permanent roles, annual increments, up to $2,500 in professional development support, and clear career pathways.
• Parental & Partner Leave: Paid leave options to support you and your family.
• Recognition: Annual DCP Recognition Awards celebrating staff excellence.
• Learning & Development: Strong commitment to ongoing professional growth and learning opportunities.

Essential Qualification

• AHP (Allied Health Professional) positions are designed for applicants who hold a Social Work qualification and are eligible for full membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
• PO (Professional Officer) positions are open to applicants with qualifications in Community Services, Human Services, Social Sciences, Health, or other related fields.

AHP Position

Income & Benefits

• Salary: AHP2: $91,785 – $106,330 p.a. + 12% super
• Exclusive Allowance: Additional 4% for child protection social workers, permanently enshrined in the Enterprise Agreement – making DCP the highest-paying government employer in SA.
• Professional Development:
  • $1,000 PD allowance, increasing incrementally each year
  • Reimbursement of PD expenses up to $1,500 (AHP2 level)
• Support: Access to free counselling and wellbeing services for you and your family.
• Recognition: Annual DCP Recognition Awards celebrating staff excellence.

Additional Allowances

• Qualifications Allowance: Available for eligible higher qualifications relevant to the role.

PO Position

Income

• Salary: PO2 – $88,255 – $97,667 p.a. + 12% super

In this role, you will:

• Provide mentoring and professional guidance to Social Workers and Case Managers.
• Lead quality assurance and promote consistent case management standards.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to support effective practice.
• Deliver coaching and learning opportunities to strengthen workforce capability.
• Provide expert advice on complex cases and contribute to policy and service improvements.

To be successful:

You will bring a strong understanding of social work and case management principles, with the ability to apply theory to practice in complex and sensitive situations. Your experience in mentoring staff, providing professional guidance, and evaluating casework outcomes will support the continuous improvement of services within your team. You will be confident in collaborating across multidisciplinary settings and skilled at fostering professional growth in others through coaching and constructive feedback.

If this sounds like you, we encourage you to apply.

Essential: A degree level qualification in Social Work which gives eligibility for full membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.

Persons of Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, who have the appropriate background and skills but do not have the essential qualification, may apply for and be engaged/assigned to the role of Social Worker and will be entitled to apply for any Allied Health Professional roles requiring a qualification in Social Work within the Department for Child Protection (DCP).

To find out more about this role, including the key selection criteria and special conditions, please click on the attached role description.

PLEASE NOTE: As the system times out after 20 minutes of inactivity, it is recommended that you click 'SAVE AND NEXT' to ensure that your application is retained. This ensures that you will be able to resume your application by clicking 'CONTINUE'.

The Department for Child Protection (DCP) plays a key role in the protection of children, young people and their families within South Australia. The department provides support to vulnerable children and young people to be safe, strong and connected.