Job Description

Position purpose

The Youth Worker is situated within the Mackillop Rural Community Services unit (MRCS), which is responsible for a range of family and children, youth and disability services - providing family support, supported playgroups, parenting and early childhood education, counselling and support to young people who are vulnerable and at risk of homelessness, in home accommodation support to adults living with disability, and early childhood intervention to children with disability. Reconnect Youth Services is a community based early intervention and prevention program for young people aged 12 to 18 years who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and their families. The Youth Worker will undertake case management, group work and community capacity building to support the young people. Practice is underpinned by a strengths-based and family focused approach. The Youth Worker is a member of the Reconnect Youth Services team and reports to the Program Manager. The Youth Worker will be based in either Walgett or Lightning Ridge. The role includes daily travel between small towns within the Walgett LGA with occasional overnight stays.

*This position is a part time opportunity 22 hours, 3 days per week reporting to the program coordinator*

Primary objectives

To use a strengths-based and family-oriented approach, to support at risk young people 12 to 18 years to improve their level of engagement with family, education, employment, training, and the community. It is expected that by supporting young people in these areas, that young people will have increased resilience and the risk of youth homelessness will be reduced. The Youth Worker will work towards achieving the objectives of the programme which intends to support young people by: Stabilising and improving the young person’s housing situation which means fewer entries into homelessness including;

• Preventing homelessness
• Few young people end up homeless
• Effective early intervention for people who have recently been homeless
• More young people in safe, secure and stable housing

Achieving family reconciliation, wherever practicable and safe coma between the young people and their family. Family reconciliation includes:

• The young person returns home
• Ongoing positive family relationships are created which provide the young person with emotional and physical support
• Conflict is reduced or dealt with more positively
• Reconciling the young person with other family members, for example with grandparents or siblings
• Both parents and the young person accepting that independence is appropriate for the young person
• Establishing a viable support system for the independent young person that includes a member of their family

Reengaging or strengthening their engagement with educational training, the community and employment, including;

• Increase school attendance
• Finish school or training
• Increased social correctedness, such as with sporting groups 
• Improved employment opportunities

Key selection criteria The incumbent will have:

• A knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal culture and values and an awareness of the current issues faced by Aboriginal children, young people and their families
• Qualifications in Community Services or relevant discipline and/or relevant work or life experience - or be working toward qualifications;
• Current First Aid Certificate with a minimum of 6 months validity
• Good communication skills and ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to run group programs
• Ability to build trusted relationships with families, community members, and service providers.

Must Have or Wiling to Obtain:

• Valid and Current Driver's Licence
• Valid and Current Workers with Children's Check
• Current NDIS Worker Check
• Satisfactory Criminal History Check

MacKillop Family Services acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as Australia’s First Peoples and as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which we live, work and play. We pay our deep respects to Elders past and present and acknowledge all Aboriginal children, young people, families and staff who are a part of MacKillop Family Services.

MacKillop celebrates and draws strength from diversity and respects the dignity of all people. Every person at MacKillop has the right to be safe and to be treated justly. We value every person’s ability, cultural or linguistic backgrounds, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, intersex status, relationship status, religious or spiritual beliefs, socio-economic status, and age.