General News
1 July, 2024
Inspired to help protect children most vulnerable
Arriving at a home where police and ambulance lights and sirens are on is not the first thing that comes to mind for child protection work, but for Tighearnan Corcoran it is part of the job.
He has a front line role supporting children and families in every town across the Wimmera, and while that brings challenges most of us might shy away from, Tighearnan says the successful outcomes are life-changing - both for himself and the families he supports.
Raised in Ireland, Tighearnan was inspired to work in child protection at just 19 years of age.
He had developed a strong sense of social justice instilled in him by his father's work in the justice system, and set out on his career in youth and homelessness support.
It’s a path that has taken the 34-year-old to South America, Africa, New Zealand, and for the past eight years across the Wimmera.
“We support children and families to keep them safe and together wherever possible," he said.
“The best part is working directly with children and families.
"It’s these interactions, together with a range of support services I coordinate for them, that sees families able to stay together, or kids returning home in most cases.”
Tighearnan recalls a case involving a young boy who was not in school and could barely speak due to the trauma he had suffered.
“With a lot of ongoing support three years on he is now in foster care, attending school, and flourishing,” he said.
In another case, Tighearnan drove three hours to see the father of a child in state care in New South Wales.
“His relationship with the mother had broken down and she was unable to look after the child safely," he said.
"I coordinated support services for the father, and against what I thought was all odds at the time, the child was subsequently able to move in with the father.
"I’ve kept a close eye on them in the four years since and I'm thrilled to see them both thriving."
Meeting such challenges is not always easy, but the satisfaction of succeeding far outweighs the frustrations and difficulties he has to navigate.
“While there are challenging days, far more are life-changing for me, and the families I am lucky to work with,” Tighearnan said.
"It is a unique privilege and it’s everything to me – there really is no more important and meaningful job in the world.”
There are currently 27 local job opportunities with the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing’s Child Protection team - from entry to senior level - across Horsham Rural City, Yarriambiack, Hindmarsh, West Wimmera and Northern Grampians shires.
If you would like to find out more about a career in child protection, visit the Western Victorian Careers Expo at Wimmera Events Centre, Longerenong, on Tuesday June 25, where you can speak with workers directly.
Learn more at childprotectionjobs.dffh.vic.gov.au