Youth Worker

Location: Western Region | Ballarat

Job type: Part time / From 02/10/2023 - 20/12/2024

Organisation: Schools (Government)

**Salary**: Salary not specified

Occupation: Education and Training

Reference: 1362659

**Selection Criteria**:
**SC1¿**¿¿¿¿¿An ability to use culturally sensitive; evidence-informed practices when working to address the needs and goals of students.

**SC2**¿¿¿¿¿¿Demonstrated capacity communicate effectively with members of the school community and relevant external human service organisations.

**SC3**¿¿¿¿¿¿Capacity to work cooperatively with a range of people including teachers, education support, students and parents.

**SC4**¿¿¿¿¿¿A commitment to professional learning and growth.

**SC5**¿¿¿¿¿¿Demonstrated skill in the ability to record and manage information in an ethical and confidential manner.

**Role**:
**ES Range Description**:
An Educational Support Range 3 position is distinguished by the introduction of responsibility and accountability for the delivery of professional support services. A position at the range will provide professional student supports where standard professional services are being delivered. Professional autonomy within this position will be determined by standard procedures and school policy.

This is the minimum range for positions that carry a mandatory qualification requirement of not less than four years. Professional student support positions become a feature at range 3 (e.g. therapists, psychologists) where standard professional services are delivered. Professional support and guidance will be close at hand and deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.

An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students, but must not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students cannot be required except where it is an integral part of the employee’s position or involves supervision of students individually or in small groups, in controlled circumstances, where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.

**Position Description (Health and Wellbeing Services)**:
Youth Workers work with families, students, educators, and agencies to identify, engage, and support children that have multiple and complex wellbeing needs. A Youth Worker works within a team of student support staff and will contribute to the development, implementation, and evaluation of the Wellbeing strategic priorities of the school.

Youth Workers will respond to immediate/acute wellbeing concerns of students and critical incidents as well as being part of the team around the learner for identified students. Youth Workers will support students to access internal support within the school as well as identifying and facilitating external wellbeing services by making referrals and supporting access to services as required.

**Responsibilities**:

- Promote a whole school approach to wellbeing to students, staff and families.
- Support teachers and school staff to expand their capacity to embed evidence based wellbeing strategies, interventions and programs and build mental health literacy to identify and support primary school students with mental health concerns.
- Coordinate clear referral pathways internally (within school) and externally (to community services) for students identified as requiring further assessment and intervention.
- Proactively work with and support regional staff, school wellbeing and leadership teams, teachers, parents/carers and other external agencies to coordinate wellbeing programs and interventions.
- Contribute to the school’s existing wellbeing team.

**Who May Apply**:
Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.

**EEO AND OHS Commitment**:
**Child Safe Standards**:
Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the Department’s exemplar available at:
Child Safe Standards: Policy | education.vic.gov.au

**DE Values**:
The Department’s employees commit to upholding DE’s Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. DE’s Values complement each school’s own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the DE values is available at:
**Conditions of Employment**:

- All staff employed by the Department and schools have access