Vocational Specialist

**headspace **has an exciting opportunity for a **Vocational Specialist **to join our established **Bankstown** team**:
The position is:

- **Closed-term part-time **(30.4hrs/fortnight) until June 2025
- **Working between Monday and Friday**:

- **Attractive salary starting at $85,000p.a. (pro-rata) + 11.5% super + Tax-Free Benefits**:

- Based in **Bankstown**

**About the Opportunity**:
headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation supporting young people aged 12-25 years with their mental & general health care needs. headspace provides young people with the opportunity to seek help early. headspace brings together local health services under the one roof making it easier for young people and their families to find the information they need.

As the headspace Vocational Specialist you will support young people experiencing mental health issues to achieve their vocational and education goals. Reporting to the headspace Vocational Coordinator, you will work within the Individual Placement Support (IPS) program which aims to improve the educational and employment outcomes of young people with mental health concerns, who are at risk of disengaging from education and employment.

On a day-to-day basis you will:

- Work with young people to develop individual support plans that set realistic goals and plan strategies, to overcome identified barriers to engage in employment and/or education
- Support young people to achieve their vocational and/or education goals
- Engage young people to ensure they link to suitable employment opportunities
- Facilitate professional development workshops to promote the vocational recovery program
- Work closely within a multidisciplinary team to provide integrated and holistic care to young people, including active participation in clinical review meetings and other meetings to promote the vocational program to clinical staff.
- Develop partnerships with employers, training providers, educational institutions, community organisations and other health professionals

To find out more about what it means to be a Vocational Specialist, please review the Position Description.

**About headspace and Flourish Australia**:
**Flourish Australia** is one of Australia’s most experienced community mental health organisations. Our purpose is to support people to flourish, believe in their futures, and become contributing members of the community. Our services are comprehensive and highly personalised because each person’s experience will be different and their needs, as an individual, are unique. Together we set goals, connect individuals with the right people, support services and opportunities to meet their needs.

**Selection Criteria**:

- Essential:_
- Demonstrated experience in employment services, vocational rehabilitation, career development or a related field.
- Emerging knowledge of issues that impact young people with mental health issues when accessing employment and/or educational opportunities.
- Proven ability to meet program achievables within agreed timeframes.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Well developed interpersonal and organisational skills with the ability to effectively manage competing demands.
- Demonstrated ability to fully use Microsoft Office Suite and the client information management system.
- Current Australian Driver’s Licence.
- Desirable:_
- A personal lived experience of a mental health issue.
- Emerging knowledge of the local area and its health services and other community services.
- An understanding of the Individual Placement and Support model.
- Good knowledge of the employment services sector, Centrelink and other state and federal employment initiatives that impact young people.

**About the Benefits**:

- **Level 4 (SCHCADS) on the Flourish Australia Enterprise Agreement (2018)**:

- **Tax-Free Salary Packaging** available up to $15,900
- Exclusive personal **Fleet pricing discounts with our preferred automotive supplier**:

- Generous leave provisions including **17.5% leave loading + 2 additional days of personal leave + Christmas/New Year Gratis Day + 10 weeks paid parental leave**:

- Family-friendly and **flexible working conditions**:

- Opportunities for **professional development and training** such as Mental Health First Aid and ASIST
- **Employee Assistance Program** for confidential wellbeing support
- Regular **supervision (reflective practice)**, ongoing 1:1 **mentoring**, strong **team support **and a **comprehensive induction **program
- **Inclusive initiatives** such as our **Rainbow Network and YarnUp** for Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander staff
- **Employee discounts at 400+ popular retailers **(Woolworths, Expedia, Myer, Kmart etc)