You make the difference
At Cafs, the work we do makes a lasting difference to the lives of children, young people, individuals and families in our community. As a leading community service organisation, the support we provide is inclusive and collaborative. Every day, we strive to empower the people we help.
If you’re driven by making a difference in the lives of others, if you have a deep commitment to improving the lives of children, families and young people, if you want to do good work in a supportive and innovative environment, then you should come and work at Cafs.
A message from our CEO, Wendy Sturgess
“Cafs is proud to be an inclusive and equal opportunity organisation. We embrace it, value it, celebrate it and support it for the benefit of our employees, our volunteers, our service users and our community. We welcome applications from a range of people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, people with disabilities, LGBTIQA+ people and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.” – Wendy Sturgess – CEO
Diverse and inclusive
Cafs is proud to be an inclusive and equal opportunity organisation. We are officially recognised as an Inclusive Employer by the Diversity Council of Australia. We are Rainbow Tick Accredited and provide an LGBTIQA+ inclusive environment for our staff, clients and community. We are also one of the original eight organisations in Australia to receive White Ribbon Accreditation, underscoring our commitment against any form of violence against women.
We embrace, value and celebrate diversity, and encourage employment applications from:
- People interested in full-time, part-time or casual employment
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
- LGBTIQA+ people
- People of all abilities
- People from all races and religions
We care
At Cafs, we care… for our clients, our community and our people. We pride ourselves on delivering a safe, diverse and inclusive work environment where the wellbeing of our team is front and centre.
By looking after our people, we know we’re providing our team with the best possible opportunity to support our clients.
As an officially recognised inclusive employer, Cafs offers significant benefits, including:
- Generous salary packaging arrangements
- Full-time, part-time, casual and flexible work options
- Family-friendly culture
- Professional development opportunities
- Generous paid personal, carer and parental leave provisions
- Paid special leave between Christmas and New Year
- Opportunity to purchase up to four weeks additional leave per year
- Paid community services leave
- Ability to hold dual roles equating to one EFT
- Paid and unpaid cultural, ceremonial and religious leave.
CAFS stories
Cafs Thread Together is leading the change in the local community
The new Cafs Thread Together clothing hub in Ballarat is a life changing moment for those who walk through its doors. However, it isn’t just the “shoppers” who are discovering its power but also the volunteers.
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How Step Up helped a young boy overcome violent behaviour toward his mum
Dylan was the last child anyone expected to be violent or aggressive. He’s the quiet one in the family. When Dylan was nine, he started lashing out at home.
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How June and Robert found the right time to become Cafs foster carers
Becoming foster carers can be a life affirming experience. June and Robert always knew that fostering would be in their future; it was just a question of timing.
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How Cafs financial counselling helped
a dad battling with cancer
When you’re a self-employed dad, being sick comes with more concerns than your own health. With no money coming in, Tony was stressed about his family.
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Housing Support: How Cafs ATAR team helped a father avoid eviction
Bruce was admitted to hospital for three months, and while he was in there, he asked his adult sons to take care of the home he'd been renting for the past eleven years.
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How Cafs helped Chloe and her family find hope
Chloe was 16, and her young life was falling apart. She’d dropped out of school and had started drinking and taking drugs. She also started stealing and self-harming.
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How Cafs day stay helped one young family establish a healthy bedtime routine
For Bianca and Josh, the excitement of becoming new parents was giving way to exhaustion. They were desperate for more sleep.
Read moreCafs acknowledges our past. In the spirit of reconciliation, we give deepest respect to Australia's First Nations Peoples. Their histories, their stories, their resilience. Their connection to culture and land. The wisdom of their Elders past, present and emerging.
