Aboriginal Youth Justice Caseworker

**Aboriginal Youth Justice Caseworker -**

**Wollongong Youth Justice Community Office,**

**Youth Justice**
- **Ongoing, Full time**:

- **Location: Wollongong**:

- **Clerk Grade 6/7, Salary ($100,011 - $109,194 pa), plus employer's contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading**

**This position is open to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people only.**

**Your role**

This role is committed to improving outcomes for the benefit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Provide front line services to young people at a Youth Justice Centre or Community Office. This involves providing a range of quality externally and internally sourced services to detainees, youth justice conferencing clients, victims of crime and court mandated young people and their families. The role is part of a multi-disciplined team that aims to reduce re-offending of young people, enhance their functioning and support reintegration into their families and the community.

**What you’ll do**
- Develop and maintain relationships with the Aboriginal community and key stakeholders to successfully provide and deliver front line services to young people.
- Undertake case management activities that target appropriate areas of need/risk to the young person re-offending. This includes case planning, organising and facilitating case conferences and delivering offence focused intervention programs to young people.
- Work collaboratively with Youth Justice staff such as other YJ Caseworkers, Youth Officers and Psychologists, along with a range of government and non-government stakeholders to connect young people to services appropriate to their individual case plan and monitor the progress of the young person.
- Work closely with courts, parole authorities, review panels and legal professionals and provide clear and concise advice, briefings, reports and other formal written communication for internal and external stakeholders.
- Use detailed structured screening and assessment tools to identify the risks and needs of young people and determine the level and types of interventions/programs required, including family and crisis interventions.
- Monitor outcome plans and case plans for compliance and progress in line with required operational standards and take appropriate actions.
- Maintain accurate records and data integrity of relevant information systems to ensure accurate, up to date client information is available to support effective case management, planning, decision making and quality assurance.
- Provide young people and their families with the tools, information and support to create positive change in their lives and contribute more productively within their community.
- Contribute to the therapeutic nature of Youth Justice services including behaviour management of young people and reflective practice with staff.
- Adapt to changes and comply with Departmental policies, procedures, standards and best practice guidelines.

**What we’re looking for**
- Relevant tertiary qualifications (diploma or higher) in social work, welfare, psychology, criminology, education or related field or equivalent experience.
- Current NSW Working with Children Clearance
- Current Driver’s Licence
- Regional and rural based Youth Justice Caseworkers travel larger distances to meet with clients

As an Identified role, this role is open only to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons, Australia’s First Nations people.

Where a position is identified, an applicant’s race is a genuine occupational qualification and authorised by Section 14(d) of the _Anti-Discrimination Act 1977_.

There are two alternatives to confirming your Aboriginality, one of which must be uploaded to be considered for the role as follows. **Either will be accepted**:
Confirmation of Aboriginality form

or

Written confirmation from 2-3 Aboriginal organisations within the community in which you live/work, which addresses the three criteria listed below:

- is of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, and
- identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, and
- is accepted as a such by the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

Download the role description.

**We do work that really matters**

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It’s work that really matters.

**Are you ready to join us?**
- What knowledge, skills and relevant experience will you draw upon to ensure best practice casework is available for young people with complex needs and their families, carers and others.
- Provide an example of where you have developed partnerships to achieve better outcomes for your specific client group in a cul