Youth Support Worker – Youth and Family Led Decision Making Program

Please note that, in accordance with s25 of the Anti-discrimination Act 1991 (Qld), it is a genuine occupational  requirement that this position be filled by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person.

• Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Family-Led Decision-Making Program
• Work with young people to make positive decisions and achieve change in their lives
• Make an impact by providing ongoing cultural and practical support needs

Are you experienced in Youth Justice strategies? Do you have experience working with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander young people and their families? Help to support young people to make positive decisions to achieve change in their lives.

If you identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and you can meet the criteria for the role, then this could be the job for you. There is a competitive remuneration and salary sacrifice benefits package available as well as the provision of ongoing training and professional development.

About Kurbingui Youth and Family Development

Kurbingui Youth and Family Development is a not-for-profit community service organisation that supports around 13,600 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – approximately seven percent of Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population – living in the greater Brisbane, Moreton Bay and Bayside regions. Kurbingui has a sound established and maintained footprint throughout these regions, which began in 2001 with the delivery of various community services covering areas such as employment and training, family support, domestic and family violence, alcohol and substance abuse, cultural education and engagement programs, education support for families and children from preschool to tertiary, recreation and sports, early years, youth, women’s and men’s programs and cultural group activities, and health and nutrition.

About the Program

The overall aim of the program is to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to make positive decisions to achieve change in their young person’s behaviour and safety, and ongoing cultural and practical support needs.

The program supports practical self-determination in finding sustainable solutions to a child or young person’s offending behaviour. The meetings are held in a culturally safe and supportive environment for children, young people and their families and supporters to have their say, be heard and take action.

About the Role

The role focuses on young people and supporting them to create changes in their lives that diverts them away from involvement with the youth justice system and achieve a better quality of life for them and their families.

The role specifically targets young people involved with or at risk of involvement in the Youth Justice system. Young people may be incarcerated or on orders such as probation/parole.

An FLDM process takes time, with best practice being 4-6 weeks. Specifically, the successful applicant will:

• With the young person, the worker will identify the relevant family members and stakeholders they would like involved in the meeting.
• Organise and arrange the meeting that brings everyone together. The FLDM support worker will facilitate the meeting, with the aim to:
  • identify relevant information through a discussion about the situation how each of the family members can support the young person ;
  • together  create a support plan identifying needs, actions and responsibilities and
  • implement the support plan in collaboration with the young person, their family and stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain effective collaborative working relationships with government and non-government agencies and service providers including but not limited to:
  • local Youth Justice Service Centres and Youth Detention Centres;
  • Queensland Police Service and Child Safety Service Centres
  • Health, Education, alternative educational organisations
  • Employment and Training services
  • Neighbourhood Centres and other community service providers.

Qualifications / certifications required for the position includes:

• Qualifications and/or equal professional experience in psychology, social work, community services, youth work with a focus on youth justice.
• Current Drivers Licence (QLD)
• Possession of a ‘Positive Notice’ Working With Children Blue card
• Current First Aid, CPR or ability to obtain

Key Selection Criteria

To be successful in the role, you will have:

• Ability to develop and demonstrate constructive working relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, parents, caregivers and families, youth justice systems as well as other community members and groups.
• Ability to liaise and work collaboratively with relevant Government and non-Government organisations.
• Sound knowledge of restorative justice, community-based orders and detention.
• Sound knowledge of the community service sector specifically and culturally safe for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander children, young people and their families.
• Demonstrated knowledge, skills and experience in Family Led Decision Making framework or the ability to rapidly aquire.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively plan, organise and coordinate own workload with colleagues within the service.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement case plans.
• Demonstrated ability to provide information, referral pathways and advice to families specific to their circumstances that is sound, accountable and accepted.
• Demonstrated knowledge of culturally appropriate strength-based approach within a family support context.
• Effective communication skills – written, verbal and interpersonal.
• Demonstrated competence in use of business technology, internet and desktop applications. For example, MS Outlook, Word, Excel spreadsheets, and database packages.

This full time position offers a competitive remuneration package in line with the ‘Fisher’ & ‘316 Regulation’ pay scale and Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award.

Address your application to Deb Keen, Team Leader. Applications must include a resume and a cover letter that includes brief responses to the Key Selection Criteria as listed above. To request a copy of the position description please email Lisa Russell on lisa.russell@hrandco.au. Applications who do not respond to the Key Selection Criteria will not be considered.

Employment is conditional upon maintaining a clear personal history screening checks prior to and throughout employment.

Interviews will be held as soon as possible.