Child and Youth Worker/Practitioner

Help children and young people heal from trauma in a respected, impactful organisation

- Earn $100,000 – $105,000 (SCHADS Level 5, pro rata) + 12% super + salary packaging
- Part-time 0.8 FTE role with no after-hours required – enjoy genuine work-life balance
- Join a close-knit, supportive team with ongoing training and professional development

Cairns Regional Domestic Violence Service (CRDVS)

Cairns Regional Domestic Violence Service Inc. (CRDVS) aims to use its specialist knowledge and skills to prevent domestic and family violence in the community and empower those affected by it.

CRDVS's vision is "Making a difference – bringing domestic and family violence to an end". We seek to do this by providing a confidential, comprehensive, and client-centred quality service to all vulnerable clients free of charge. CRDVS at all times strives to uphold high levels of professionalism and accountability.

For more information, please visit our website: https://www.dvcairns.org/

About the Opportunity

CRDVS is seeking a passionate and skilled Child and Youth Worker (0.8 FTE) to join our team, based in Mareeba, working 60 hours per fortnight.

Reporting to the Senior Practitioner, you will provide trauma-informed therapeutic interventions and counselling to children and young people affected by domestic and family violence. You will also support carers and work collaboratively with other services to reduce the impact of family violence across the region.

More specifically, your responsibilities will include:

- Developing and delivering trauma-informed counselling and group work interventions
- Supporting carers of child witnesses through advocacy and information sharing
- Engaging in safety planning and crisis response as part of an integrated DFV model
- Coordinating with police and other services through embedded response work
- Facilitating community education and stakeholder engagement in the region
- Maintaining accurate client records, reports, and data entries
- Providing occasional leave relief across Cairns, Atherton, Mossman, and court settings

To read the full position description, please click here.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counselling, or a related field, and have experience working with children and young people in a therapeutic context.

But just as importantly, we’re looking for someone who is values-aligned, self-reflective, and understands the realities of doing this work.

This is not a job for someone simply wanting to “help people” — it’s a role for a practitioner who is ready to work in the trenches, and who understands that systems often fail the very people they’re meant to protect.

You will thrive here if you are:

- Open to feminist practice and systems-informed approaches
- Committed to critical reflection and professional supervision
- Able to manage complexity and support client agency, even when working within challenging systems
- Willing to learn and grow within a highly experienced team

Additionally, the following knowledge and experience will be highly valued:

- A strong understanding of developmental stages across childhood and adolescence
- A comprehensive understanding of the gendered nature of family violence, and its specific impact on children and young people
- Practical knowledge of a range of counselling models, with emphasis on trauma-informed practice
- Experience with therapeutic modalities such as play therapy, sand tray, or movement-based approaches

You’ll bring cultural sensitivity, emotional intelligence, and a steady presence to this work, not just for the children you support, but for the team around you.

Please Note: All applicants must hold (or be willing to obtain) a current C Class driver’s licence, Working With Children Card, and a formal police criminal history check.

About the Benefits

In addition to a Level 5 SCHADS salary of $100,000 – $105,000 p.a. (pro rata) + 12% super, you'll enjoy a range of generous benefits, including:

- NFP salary packaging to increase your take-home pay by up to $15,900 p.a.
- Flexible, part-time working hours (0.8 FTE) with no after-hours required
- Additional leave loading
- Ongoing professional development opportunities
- Formal training programs to build therapeutic capacity
- On-the-job upskilling in trauma-informed practice
- A close-knit, supportive team culture grounded in equity and empowerment

Relocation assistance may be considered for the right candidate

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you're a practitioner ready to do meaningful, complex work supporting children and families impacted by DFV and you value critical reflection, feminist practice, and team-based learning, we want to hear from you.

CRDVS offers a supportive and stable environment, training and development opportunities, and the chance to be part of a highly respected service.

Apply now – we’re reviewing applications as they come in.

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