Social Worker (Call Centre)

Are you ready to begin your social work journey with purpose and impact? The Department for Child Protection is offering multiple Social Worker, Call Centre positions, where every conversation helps keep South Australian children safe. Based at the Child Abuse Report Line (CARL), you’ll receive and assess allegations of child abuse and neglect via CARL and the online child abuse reporting system (eCARL). You’ll receive full training and guidance to develop your skills in communication, assessment, and decision-making, all while being part of a supportive team that’s passionate about protecting children and helping families.

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.

Income and benefits

• AHP1: $74,230 (4 year degree) – $86,938 p.a. + 12% super
• Exclusive allowance: an extra 4% for social workers in child protection – permanently enshrined in the Enterprise Agreement.
• Professional Development (PD) – a $1,000 allowance increasing incrementally each year + reimbursement of PD expenses up to $1,000 (AHP1 level)
• Additional Qualifications Allowance
• Support – free counselling and wellbeing services for you and your family.
• Recognition – annual DCP Recognition Awards celebrating staff excellence.

Role Details

As a Call Centre Social Worker or Case Manager, you will receive and assess allegations of child abuse and neglect via the Child Abuse Report Line (CARL) and the online child abuse reporting system (eCARL). In this role, you will interact directly with members of the public and professional mandated notifiers, gathering sensitive information on child protection matters and accurately documenting it in the department's approved systems.

This position offers the opportunity to utilise your assessment skills to determine if the information gathered meets legislative thresholds for intervention, followed by taking appropriate actions in line with our policies and procedures.

The role requires capturing accurate information, reporting, and demonstrating strong written communication and relationship-building skills. Superior verbal communication skills are essential to support callers in a calm, controlled, and professional manner.

To be successful

In this role, you will use your knowledge of child development, parenting capacity, and family and environmental factors, including those contributing to child abuse, to effectively address and manage critical situations. Given the necessity to interact with a diverse array of highly emotive notifiers, exceptional communication and comprehension skills are crucial. You must be able to understand idiomatic language and local vernacular accurately and naturally.

Your ability to listen to complex narratives over phone calls, record details clearly and concisely, and provide empathetic and professional responses to a wide range of emotional stakeholders is essential. You will also identify and respond to the needs and risks concerning the safety, wellbeing, and development of children and young people. Quick and effective assessment skills will enable you to form opinions on client needs and determine appropriate courses of action.

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.

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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.