Youth Worker (Residential)

Position Overview

The Youth Justice and Adolescent Services department is seeking enthusiastic and dedicated Youth Workers to become part of their team, working within the Youth Justice Community Residential Services. These roles are centered around guiding and supporting young people, facilitating positive behavioral changes and promoting their engagement with community and educational activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as exemplary role models by helping young people establish constructive daily routines and structure.
• Guide young individuals to redirect challenging or anti-social behavior toward community-accepted positive conduct.
• Encourage participation in education and skill-building through continuous support and mentoring.
• Assist young people in building healthy relationships with family, peers, and community members.
• Coordinate access to community services including health, mental health, education, employment, training, and disability organizations.
• Ensure a safe, supportive, and culturally respectful residential environment focusing on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and practices.

Essential Skills and Attributes

• Deep commitment and enthusiasm for working with youth and fostering positive life changes.
• Resilience and dedication to adhere to procedures, effectively handle confrontations, and embrace challenges.
• Innovative and proactive problem-solving abilities.
• Cultural responsiveness, demonstrating awareness and support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in a respectful and inclusive manner.
• Maturity and openness to connect with young people from diverse backgrounds, facilitating meaningful communication.

Work Conditions

This position requires participation in shift work to provide continuous supervision and support of young people, including managing their daily activities and behavior.

Equal Opportunity and Inclusivity

The directorate actively supports reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in child protection and youth justice systems, valuing the unique contributions of individuals with Indigenous cultural heritage. The workplace welcomes applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disabilities, culturally diverse backgrounds, veterans, mature workers, and the LGBTIQA+ community.

Training and Development

Successful candidates will receive paid induction training focusing on legislative responsibilities, human rights, trauma-informed and therapeutic approaches, de-escalation techniques, and behavior management.

Mandatory Qualifications and Other Requirements

• Completion or substantial progress toward Youth Worker Level 3 or 4 certification or behavioral sciences qualification is preferred but not required.
• Experience or aptitude for working respectfully with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and youth is highly valued.
• Holding a valid Working with Vulnerable People Check is mandatory.
• Possession of a current First Aid Certificate is required.
• A valid driver’s license is essential.

Additional Information

A merit list from the selection process may be utilized to fill future vacancies over the ensuing 12 months.

Applicants are encouraged to seek more details through the relevant government job portal.