Youth Mentor

Youth Mentor (Identified Position)

2 Full Time Permanent

Based in Cairns

Salary: Wuchopperen Health Service Limited Enterprise Agreement (2023)

Social, Community, Homecare and Disability Employees Grade 4: $87,043.66 – $93,655.19 per annum

Wuchopperen Health Service

'Keeping Our Generations Growing Strong'

Wuchopperen is a Community Controlled Aboriginal Health Organisation providing holistic health care services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Cairns.

Benefits of working with Wuchopperen:

We provide a positive work culture and a diverse and inclusive environment. Our people matter to us, and we are committed to supporting them:

Competitive Salary + 12% Super + Salary Sacrifice (up to $15,899 for tax free benefits and $2,650 p/a for entertainment benefits).

5 weeks annual leave and 15 days personal leave pro rata.

Commitment to professional development.

EAP for employees and family members.

About the role:

The purpose of the Youth Mentor position is to provide appropriate cultural mentoring support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people who have been referred to the service by Queensland Police Service, Diversionary Service, Youth Justice, other community agencies, community members and families to enable connection with their cultural heritage and practices to influence non-offending lifestyles.

The Youth Mentor is supervised by the Manager, Youth and Family Services and the position has no supervisory responsibilities.

This position works closely with other members of the Youth and Family Services team and maintains regular contact with other program staff to ensure effective outcomes for clients.

Key responsibilities:

• Liaise with the Youth Justice Family Led Decision Making Program and other relevant youth and families funded programs to undertake family and support mapping along with the development of genograms for young people accessing the service and identify key cultural supports for the young person.
• Work with young people referred to establish connections with family or kin to strengthen their connection to culture.
• Engage and collaborate with families and other people of significance identified for the young person; to assist with their connections to natural supports, via a trusted adult mentor.
• Provision of activities to support connections between young people and their cultural networks in order to strengthen kinship networks, connection to culture, community and country. These will include quarterly healing camps and other outdoor activities.
• Establishment of key networks to support the undertaking of activities within various locations in the Cairns Region guided by cultural protocols.
• Provide direct individual support, advocacy and referral to young people where the young person has identified additional support requirements and develop case plans based on their agreed goals and supports to be provided.
• Liaise with the Youth and Family Wellbeing Workers and other relevant youth and family funded programs to ensure that young people are engaged with the program for ongoing collaborative case management.
• Develop and maintain strong links with a wide range of service providers, particularly YETI, Queensland Police, Youth Justice and other youth and family agencies within the region to enable the provision of a coordinated service.
• Ensure accurate collection of client information and data, maintain case file notes and upload data on a weekly basis using the digital reporting system.
• Participate in organisational and community activities to advance the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Work within Wuchopperen's Policies and Procedures including the Staff Code of Conduct and the Work Health and Safety requirements and contribute to continuous improvement processes to ensure compliance with relevant standards and safe, effective service delivery.

Core Capabilities:

For applicants to be successful in this role, they should demonstrate:

1. Demonstrated experience in working with young people and families using a collaborative case management model that focuses on engaging culturally safe natural, family and community supports.
2. Knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander societies and cultures from an historical and contemporary perspective, including the ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
3. Demonstrated ability to develop and coordinate activity-based supports that are tailored to individual client requirements including cultural considerations.
4. Extensively developed interpersonal and communication skills including the ability liaise with a range of stakeholders as well as effectively advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
5. Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a multi-disciplinary team environment, prioritise and meet deadlines, deal with matters of a sensitive and confidential nature.
6. Demonstrated ability to meet and work within the core values and behaviours of Wuchopperen.

Qualifications and experience:

• A tertiary qualification/s in community services or in a similar field or demonstrated extensive experience working with vulnerable young people as deemed equivalent by Wuchopperen.

Requirements:

• It is a condition of employment in this role for the employee to be, and remain, vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chicken pox), pertussis (whooping cough) and hepatitis B
• It is recommended for the employee to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
• The Youth Mentor is an Identified position. It is a genuine occupational requirement that an Identified position be filled by an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander person, as permitted by and arguable under section 25, 104 and 105 of the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Act
• It is a condition of employment that all employees are holders of a current and valid 'blue card' or Working with Children Check. This is at your cost. Employment cannot continue or commence if you do not have a 'blue card' or if your 'blue card' is withdrawn or is disqualified.
• All employees are responsible for the safety of themselves, students, visitors, volunteers and fellow staff members. Employees must report any hazards or incidents, co-operate in emergency drills, undertake Workplace H&S training as required, and lodge risk assessments for all external and internal risk activities.
• Possession of a current Queensland "CA" class driver's licence is essential.
• Commitment to work within the principles of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community control including a willingness to develop the leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.
• Ability to use Microsoft products and the ability to use or willingness to gain proficiency in the client information management systems.
• Ability to work outside of core business hours when required, for example facilitating healing camps.
• Proof of qualifications is required to be provided prior to the commencement of duty.
• A commitment to adhere to Wuchopperen's policies and procedures.

Applicants who do not address these requirements, will not be considered for shortlisting.

Note: Revised legislation requires applicants to hold a blue card prior to commencement. Refer to Qld Government's Blue Card Services website for more information.

How to apply:

To be eligible for interview, applicants must submit a cover letter (no more than two pages), addressing the Core Capabilities and an up-to-date Resume including two referees and complete the screening questions.

For more information contact Jamie, Manager, Youth and Family Services on ‪ ‬

The above is an Identified position. It is a genuine occupational requirement that an Identified position be filled by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, as permitted by and arguable under section 25, 104 and 105 of the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Act

Wuchopperen is a Child Safe Organisation and the safety and wellbeing of children is of utmost importance.

Closing date for applications: 5pm on Monday 1st December, 2025