Welfare Officer (Midland Public)

Your role at St John of God Midland Public Hospital   

Join the team at Midland Public Hospital as a Welfare Officer, where you will play a vital role in supporting patients, their families, and carers throughout their healthcare journey.

Working closely with Social Workers and the multidisciplinary team, you will provide comprehensive welfare assessments, practical assistance, information, and support to help meet the individual needs of patients and their carers. This rewarding role focuses on delivering compassionate, patient-centred care while assisting individuals to access appropriate services and resources.

This role is being offered on a permanent full-time basis, working 38 hours per week.

The Position

• Assesses and prioritises patients in conjunction with the Social Workers and members of the multidisciplinary team to ascertain welfare needs and plan interventions.

• Provides information, assistance and support to patients’ families and/or carers as required.

• Provides advice on eligibility for Centrelink and other benefit entitlements, assists with applications, and liaises with Centrelink and other government agencies to ensure patient’s and carers are accessing their entitlements.

• Liaises with other Government departments and community agencies and advocates on behalf of patients/carers as required.

• Educates patients and disseminates information regarding existing community supports.

• Contributes to group planning and facilitation in conjunction with other clinicians. 

• Assists patients to access essential items such as clothing, personal items, and medical appliances as required by patients, and access emergency welfare support.

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation/record keeping and data management in accordance with service and professional clinical guidelines.

• Attend and contribute to staff meetings and present at professional development sessions as required.

• Assists with Aged Care Placements and required documentation

You will hold a qualification in Welfare Studies or an equivalent relevant discipline, and/or be eligible for membership with the Australian Institute of Welfare and Community Workers (AIWCW). You will bring a strong understanding of welfare practice, together with demonstrated knowledge of cultural considerations and the social determinants of health, particularly as they relate to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The successful candidate will be committed to delivering culturally safe, respectful, and patient-centred support, with the ability to work collaboratively to achieve positive outcomes for patients, families, and carers.

To succeed in this role, you will have well-developed interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage with patients, families, carers and multidisciplinary team members, including through the use of technology. You will be highly organised, demonstrate sound judgement when managing competing priorities, and have the flexibility and adaptability to respond to changing service demands within a dynamic healthcare environment.

All applicants are asked to submit a covering letter (of no more than two (2) pages) demonstrating how you meet the above position requirements.

Above all, people and patient care will be at the core of everything you do, committing to and supporting our Mission and Values.

We can offer you

• Salary: $92,096 to $94,620 per annum plus 12% superannuation

• Permanent, full-time opportunity, working 38 hours per week.

• Salary packaging up to $18,550 on a range of benefits such as mortgage, rent, meal entertainment, holiday accommodation or other everyday living expenses as well as options to salary package benefits above the FBT cap on items such as:

  • Novated leasing 

  • work related expenses

  • self-education and

  • additional superannuation

• A healthy work-life balance through flexible work options, additional purchased leave and well-being programs

• Employee discount on St John of God Hospital & Medical Services and Private Health Insurance

• Free onsite parking

• Employee support through our dedicated free Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

For enquiries, please contact Kym Knight, Social Work Manager, on 08 9462 4031

If suitable applicants are identified advertising may close prior to listed date

At St John of God Health Care, we celebrate diversity and warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Our commitment is to create a safe and nurturing environment for all children and vulnerable individuals in our care and proactively take steps to protect them from abuse, ensuring their safety and well-being.

Our inclusive culture fosters an environment that is respectful and secure, welcoming and accessible, and unified through our diverse community.