Youth Development Worker

  • Part Time, Fixed Term until September 2025
  • Dandenong location
  • Professional development and career advancement opportunities
  • Inclusive and diverse team environment
  • Wayss encourages creativity and innovative thinking
  • Opportunity to work from home up to 1 day per week
  • Salary range $85,126 to $91,587 (SCHADS Level 4)
  • Generous Salary Packaging benefits up to $15,900 per annum
  • Five weeks annual leave


Working for wayss
Our people matter. Without them, we would be unable to make a meaningful impact in the lives of people facing homelessness and family violence. This is our motivation in creating wayss as a great place to work.

Wayss is the largest provider of family violence, homelessness, housing and services in the South East Melbourne area.  We exist so people can live a life free from family violence and have access to safe, sustainable, and affordable housing. 

We deliver funded services and programs across the Southern Melbourne Area including the local government areas of Greater Dandenong, Frankston, Casey and Cardinia. 

Services for Young People provide transitional support and access to crisis and supported accommodation options for young people aged between 16 and 25 who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The service aims to increase the capacity of young people to live independently through improving access to long term stable and affordable housing; providing assistance with securing income support and connecting young people with a range of social supports.

About the role
Reporting to the Team Leader, Services for Young People, and working from an Advantaged Thinking approach, the position provides initial assessment, referral and short to medium-term support to young people experiencing homelessness crisis or who are at risk of homelessness.

Duties will include:

  • Assessing a client's immediate safety risk and support needs.
  • Undertaking safety planning and crisis intervention.
  • Identifying the client's presenting housing and support needs, including the clients social support needs and ability to live independently.
  • Providing short to medium term episodes of support to young people experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness.
  • Participating with partnership agencies in the development and delivery of complimentary programs for young people including the Living and Life Skills Program.
  • Facilitating referrals and supporting young people to access services.
  • Ensuring the effective and ongoing implementation of the Advantaged Thinking approach.
  • Working effectively as part of a supportive and cohesive team and participate in teamwork to enhance the delivery of services to young people including but not limited to the participation in team meetings, planning days and completion appropriate handovers.
  • Ensuring that data and information is collected in line with organisational requirements.
  • Providing advocacy and support activities.
  • Other reasonable duties as required.


About you
We are looking for a passionate, client-focused individual who can work independently and can demonstrate an ability to support young people to reach their potential.
 
You will have:

  • Tertiary qualifications in Youth Work, Social Work, Social or Behavioural Science, Psychology, Community Services or other relevant discipline at degree level or above.
  • A background in, understanding of, or demonstrated ability to quickly acquire such knowledge in one or more of the following areas:
    • Advantaged Thinking
    • Community Housing and social welfare programs
    • Education and learning, including vocational education
    • Employment and Career Pathway Programs
    • Young peoples’ transitions and educational pathways
  • Demonstrated experience in building positive relationships and communicating effectively with internal and external contacts with diverse backgrounds and abilities.
  • Experience in advocating a culture that promotes the aspirations of young people in keeping with the Advantaged Thinking approach.
  • Demonstrated ability to contribute to improving service delivery and practice.
  • Highly developed interpersonal and problem-solving skills to effectively respond to young people.
  • Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality, self organisation and attention to detail.
  • Demonstrated capacity to complete tasks, manage your time effectively and work independently.
  • Demonstrated computer skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office.

This role requires a current Driver’s Licence and valid ‘Employment’ category - Working with Children Check. The candidate will need to have successfully completed wayss pre-employment screening, including a police and identity check.
 
Applications
Applications close 27th November 2024, however, may close sooner if a successful candidate is selected
  
Please ensure you include a covering letter, outlining your experience in relation to the criteria outlined in the "About You" section of the Position Description.   Enquiries about the position and request for Position Description can be directed to Claire Lilburne Manager Services for Young People, on 7037 6023.

Working for wayss
Our people matter. Without them, we would be unable to make a meaningful impact in the lives of people facing homelessness and family violence. This is our motivation in creating wayss as a great place to work. 

wayss is proud to be an inclusive and child safe organisation.  

wayss is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to being an organisation that embraces a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion within our workforce and approach to service delivery. We encourage people with lived experience to apply for roles at wayss. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, people from diverse cultural and linguistic communities, people of all ages and LGBTIQ people.  wayss is a proud Rainbow Tick accredited organisation that welcomes everyone across the LGBTIQ community.

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