Team Leader

Overview

54 reasons, in partnership with Ohana for Youth, is excited to announce the launch of a new holistic educational and wellbeing program specifically for young people in contact with the youth justice system in Cairns. 54 reasons will support these young people with a wraparound crew of specialist support staff. We’re looking for a leader to bring this service to life – someone innovative, creative and compassionate.

Our partnership project will have two key pillars:

- Education and wellbeing: Ohana for Youth will operate the Academy, a co-educational, independent, secondary Special Assistance School (SAS)

- Integrated Case Management: 54 reasons’ experienced case managers will provide holistic support to young people within the Academy.

54 reasons is Australia’s leading child rights organisation – no ordinary not-for-profit.

Proudly part of the Save the Children Australia Group and global movement, we’re here to make sure that children and young people have their rights met and thrive, in all their diversity.

With the child’s voice at the centre, we provide quality services to children and their caregivers in every state and territory, and across regions, remote areas and capital cities. From our programs to our support services - this is the place to realise your purpose.

A place to make a difference:

In this full-time, maximum term role (until 31 December 2026, with a strong possibility of extension), you’ll lead the establishment of the Ohana Academy program in Cairns, supporting young people aged 10-16 and their families.

You will make a difference by:

- Leading and developing a passionate team, including providing their professional supervision

- Working in partnership with Ohana for Youth to ensure a cohesive and holistic service

- Proactively building connections with local services providers including schools and education providers, youth justice services, and other specialist supports

- Advocating for young people and their families through local networks and engagement with government agencies

- Overseeing daily operations within the Ohana Academy program and ensuring that practice, compliance and child safeguarding standards are met

- Ensuring compliance with service agreements, policies and procedures, and compiling relevant data to acquit reporting requirements

A place to feel valued:

Your deep expertise in working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth and families, families at risk, and young people involved in the youth justice system will be invaluable. You’re compassionate, flexible and an innovator, with a passion for supporting young people to achieve their goals.

You will bring your best every day by having:

- Proven leadership skills and the ability to build a cohesive and high performing team

- A Bachelor’s degree in a Human Services field or Education, or significant leadership experience

- Experience working with individuals from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families

- Knowledge and understanding of the stresses on vulnerable families and the range of family risk and protective factors which impact on child outcomes

- Experience in building strong networks and partnerships in the community

- Ability to manage competing priorities and de-escalate complex scenarios

A place to belong:

At 54 reasons, we invest in the development and wellbeing of our people. Our workforce is approximately 600 people strong, and proudly diverse, whether in race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexuality, cultures and beliefs.

It takes all types of people to do the challenging work we do. We are diverse personalities, backgrounds and talents, embracing our differences as one strong and united team. We see and celebrate the unique value you bring to our organisation, and offer a range of rewards for your effort, including:

- Award rate salary (Level 6.1, currently $55.72 per hour) plus super and full salary packaging benefits – use this link to see how much this benefit could mean to you

- Individual learning plans to help map and deliver on your career development

- Extra leave to use in a range of ways to ensure you’re able to perform at your optimum

- Supportive Managers – we provide professional supervision training and monthly supervision sessions so you can feel supported and build a career at Save

- Support for workplace wellness, including access to our free, confidential Employee Wellbeing Program

- Celebrate and feel supported in your diversity. We’ve established internal networks to support our diverse workforce, foster inclusion and allow you to bring your whole self to work (if that’s what you want)

Does this sound like the place for you?

We’d love to hear from you. Submit your cover letter and resume below.

You will be encouraged to apply as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidate.

Applications Close: Wednesday 22 October 2025.

We have tested our application process with diverse groups in mind, with the intent to ensure its straightforward and accessible for all to apply. Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our culture and improve our ability to reach our most vulnerable client groups. If we didn’t quite hit the mark for you, please let us know at people.culture@savethechildren.org.au. We’re dedicated to ensuring Save the Children Australia is a place where everyone can feel supported – no matter your race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexuality, neurodiversity, culture and beliefs.

Save the Children Australia is a child-safe organisation. All employees are required to undergo a National Police Check, a Working with Children Check, and sign our Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct. We also support the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.

Save the Children is committed to providing and maintaining a safe working environment for its employees and client groups, consistent with our obligations under OH&S legislation.

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