Job Description

Coordinator - Community and Partnerships

Level 5

Permanent Full time

Position Objectives

The Coordinator – Community & Partnerships is responsible for coordinating external partnerships, service integration and community engagement for the Yaakiny Youth Accommodation Service. The role develops and maintains effective relationships and referral pathways across housing, health, mental health, alcohol and other drugs, education, employment, training, justice and community services.

Through collaborative engagement with young people, internal teams and external providers, the position supports coordinated and responsive service delivery, resident participation and access to community opportunities.

The Coordinator – Community & Partnerships plays a key role in reducing service fragmentation, strengthening continuity of support and contributing to positive outcomes for young people experiencing
homelessness or housing instability.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with government, community and specialist service providers to support coordinated service delivery and positive outcomes for young people.
• Develop and strengthen referral pathways across housing, health, mental health, alcohol and other drugs, education, employment, training, justice and community services.
• Represent Indigo Junction in interagency forums, sector networks and collaborative service initiatives.
• Work collaboratively with the Manager – Service Delivery and Coordinator – Service Delivery to coordinate responses for young people with complex needs.
• Support collaborative case discussions and coordinated planning with external providers where required.
• Coordinate a calendar of onsite activities, visiting services and community engagement opportunities that support young people’s wellbeing, life skills, social connection and positive development.
• Facilitate regular resident meetings to gather feedback, share information and promote young people’s participation in the operation of the service.
• Work with Youth Workers and Youth Case Workers to support young people’s participation in appointments, group programs, education, employment, volunteering and community activities.
• Maintain accessible and current information about external services and opportunities available to young people.
• Support coordinated outreach approaches and strengthen engagement pathways for young people who are difficult to reach or disengaged from services.
• Monitor referral pathways and partnership arrangements to improve accessibility, responsiveness and continuity of support.
• Identify service gaps, barriers to access and emerging needs and contribute to service development and improvement strategies.
• Participate in service mapping, stakeholder feedback, data collection, reporting and continuous improvement activities.
• Ensure partnership, outreach and community engagement activities align with trauma-informed practice, Housing First for Youth principles and organisational requirements.
• Undertake other duties consistent with the scope and level of the role as directed.

Essential Selection Criteria

Qualifications and/or training and/or licences

A tertiary qualification in Social Work, Youth Work, Community Services or a relevant human services area and at least three years’ appropriate experience; or demonstrated equivalent.

Experience and knowledge

• Sound understanding of the principles of Trauma Informed Care and Housing First for Youth.
• Experience and demonstrated competence in working with young people experiencing homelessness, housing instability, trauma or other complex needs.
• Experience working in supported accommodation, residential youth services, crisis accommodation or a comparable service environment.
• Demonstrated experience developing partnerships, coordinating interagency responses and working collaboratively across community service systems.
• A commitment to the notion of empowerment and self-determination.
• Understanding of the cultural and social factors contributing to youth homelessness, family conflict, trauma and social disadvantage.
• Sound understanding of case management, advocacy, referral and coordinated service delivery.
• Knowledge of community and government resources.
• Cultural competence and experience working with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience in responding to mental health, alcohol and drug or other complex problems.

Skills and Attributes:

• High level of interpersonal skills.
• High level communication skills, both written and oral.
• High level negotiation and advocacy skills.
• Sound self-management, time-management and organisational skills.
• Computing skills in word processing, spreadsheets and databases.

Training and/or licences and/or clearances

• Current ‘C’ class driver’s licence.
• Current National Police Clearance.
• Working With Children Clearance.
• First Aid Certificate, or willingness to obtain one.

Please contact Yaakiny Manager - Service Delivery, Lindsey Brooks (lindseyb@indigojunction.org.au) on 0404661674 for all queries.