Child protection provider Ruby Jones shares her story

The move from Melbourne's outer eastern suburbs, part gamble and part fresh start, proved to be rewarding decision.

Two years into the role, Ms Jones has shared some of her experiences in child protection - as the state government looks to recruit more practitioners to regional areas.

Ms Jones started working in child protection after studying an undergraduate course in psychology at Monash University.

She had never thought about working in child protection - but when she found an advertisement for a role she said the idea "just clicked".

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"I had never considered it before, but seeing the ad it seemed like an obvious choice for me," she said.

"I had never considered working in child protection before, it was never on my radar before and wasn't something that was ever talked about in my course as an option for graduates.

"I have worked in helping roles previously. That is a motivating factor for me, wanting to be a helpful person and give as much support as I can."

In addition, Ms Jones had never visited Horsham before, which was where the position was located.

After weighing up her options, Ms Jones decided she was keen for a change of scenery and applied - starting her fruitful career in the child protective services.

"At the time I had finished studying psychology at uni, I was looking for jobs for a couple of months, and I was just feeling like there wasn't really a lot happening for me, I was ready for a shake-up. Moving didn't seem like that big of a deal," she said.

"I gave myself 12 months, and if I hated it I would move back to Melbourne - but I am two years into it and still loving it.

"I Love Horsham as well. It has been a big change in pace of life."

Ms Jones began in the Investigations team, where she uncovered information by talking to families, schools, hospitals and the police.

She has since moved to case management, where she works with children already on protection orders following an investigation.

"My day at the moment is basically working reunification plans with families, so connecting families with services, checking in on their progress with those, and making case plans with the families as to how we can address their concerns together," she said.

"Visits to the children themselves and to their parents and carers. Lots of paperwork, lots of visits.

"I think that the thing I enjoy the most about the job is building a relationship with the families, particularly with the kids."

Case management often requires long term involvement with children and families - which Ms Jones said can bear the greatest results.

"Reunification is the big one. Being able to successfully run a reunification plan and have the kids return to parental care if it was assessed that they weren't safe initially," she said.

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"The parents have worked their bums off and they managed to have their children return to their home and we don't see them again.

"There is not a re-report and we do not have any more concerns for them. That is the best thing."

Ms Jones said the most rewarding part of her job was watching the children she worked with grow and health from past trauma, and playing a role in that journey.

"Watching kids who have been taken out of situations where they may have experienced really significant trauma and harm," she said.

"Watching them grow and develop and overcome that trauma, that is something really amazing I get to do in the case management team.

"Getting to see kids who might have been under the department's care for several years come out of their shells, re-engage with school and get part time jobs.

"Finding their own feet and overcoming those early adverse experiences, that is really awesome to see."

The Wimmera region has been identified as a key area in need of more child protection workers.

This comes as the Victorian government launched its new recruitment drive, the Go Where You Are Needed campaign, which looks to recruit more than 280 new child protection workers in key areas across the state.

Ms Jones' role in case management is one of the many different jobs available in the child protection sector.

To learn more about available child protection jobs, visit https://childprotectionjobs.dffh.vic.gov.au.

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