Reconnect Youth Worker

Position purpose

The Youth Worker is situated within the Mackillop Rural Community Services unit (MRCS), which is responsible for a range of family and children, youth and disability services - providing family support, supported playgroups, parenting and early childhood education, counselling and support to young people who are vulnerable and at risk of homelessness, in home accommodation support to adults living with disability, and early childhood intervention to children with disability.

Reconnect Youth Services is a community based early intervention and prevention program for young people aged 12 to 18 years who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and their families. The Youth Worker will undertake case management, group work and community capacity building to support the young people. Practice is underpinned by a strengths-based and family focused approach.

The Youth Worker is a member of the Reconnect Youth Services team and reports to the Program Manager. The Youth Worker will be based in either Walgett or Lightning Ridge. The role includes daily travel between small towns within the Walgett LGA with occasional overnight stays.

**This is a part time position 3 days a week (22.5hrs)**

Primary objectives

To use a strengths-based and family-oriented approach, to support at risk young people 12 to 18 years to improve their level of engagement with family, education, employment, training, and the community. It is expected that by supporting young people in these areas, that young people will have increased resilience and the risk of youth homelessness will be reduced.

Key selection criteria

The incumbent will have:

·      A knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal culture and values and an awareness of the current issues faced by Aboriginal children, young people and their families

·      Qualifications in Community Services or relevant discipline and/or relevant work or life experience - or be working toward qualifications;

·      Good communication skills and ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.

·      Ability to run group programs

·      Ability to build trusted relationships with families, community members, and service providers.

·      Good computer skills

You must have or willing to obtain:

• Valid and current Driver's License;
• Satisfactory Criminal History Check.
• Valid Working with Children Check.
• Valid and current NDIS Workers Screening Check

Our offer:

• A great opportunity to join a leading provider of community and family services. Succession Plan for career growth. 
• Hourly Rate based on SCHADS Award dependent on qualification and experience. 
• Salary packaging – we can help you to maximize your salary packaging up to $18,550 per year, which allows you to reduce the amount of tax you pay.
• Professional Development- we promote ongoing learning and development and provide study leave, and an enormous amount of training and development within our inhouse learning team.  
• Training- Industry-specific training paid by MacKillop including Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), Sanctuary and Cultural Awareness training.
• Employee Assistance Program- Free access to a wide range of options with all aspects of life such as social, financial, physical, mental health by providing counselling and coaching supporting relating both to your circumstance, even including health advise from qualified nutritionists 
• Sanctuary- MacKillop's work is underpinned by the Sanctuary Model, an evidence-supported, whole-of-organisation framework that brings our values to life. The model reinforces our ability to create a safe environment that teaches people to cope effectively with stress and trauma, and to heal.
• Click HERE to find out more about becoming a member of the MacKillop Family Services team and what further support we have to offer our employees.

Our Commitment:

MacKillop celebrates and draws strength from diversity and respects the dignity of all people. Every person at MacKillop has the right to be safe and to be treated justly. We value every person's ability, cultural or linguistic backgrounds, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, intersex status, relationship status, religious or spiritual beliefs, socio-economic status, and age.

It is our goal that MacKillop Family Services continues to evolve as a culturally safe, culturally competent, and welcoming organisation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, families, and communities.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.