Youth Worker

• Application close: Monday 22nd September 2025
• Part-time (45.6 hours per fortnight)
• Fixed term until June 2026
• Remuneration SCHCADS level 5 dependent on qualifications and experience + superannuation
• 5 Weeks Annual Leave
• Up to $15,900 for living expenses + up to $2,600 towards meals and entertainment can be tax-free through NFP Salary Packaging

About us

Youth Support + Advocacy Service (YSAS) is one of Australia's largest and most comprehensive, youth specific community service organisation that enables young people experiencing serious disadvantage to access the resources and support they require to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

YSAS is a Child Safe organisation. We actively promote the safety and wellbeing of young people, and are committed to protecting young people from harm or abuse who come into contact with and/or access our service.

At YSAS we are committed to people of a diversity of backgrounds and identities being included, represented, and having the opportunity to participate equally in the life of our organisation and the communities in which we provide our services. We strive to create the conditions where people feel safe, enfranchised and valued. We value lived-living experience wisdom, insight, and knowledge.

About the position

The role of the Day Program Youth Worker is to provide support and leadership to young people within a day program with substance use issues using a harm minimisation framework including basic health, facilitating life skills, group programs and activity-based programs, as well as out posting to other services. This role also requires completion of household duties to support the upkeep of the program such as food ordering, shopping, cooking, cleaning, emptying of dishwasher. There is an expectation that some out of hours work will be required.

Key Selection Criteria

1. Understanding of and experience working with young people with support needs, especially in areas of mental health, homelessness, alcohol and other drug use and primary health needs.
2. Demonstrated ability in assertively engaging and supporting young people from a range of backgrounds, genders and age groups.
3. Knowledge of theories and frameworks, including trauma informed care and adolescent development, and demonstrated ability to relate these to case management practice.
4. Ability to work collaboratively within a team and strong crisis and risk assessment skills.
5. Demonstrated experience of participation in collaborative work practices with other services.

For full details of the position and more about YSAS benefits please visit our employment website

What our young people request from our workers:

Young people across YSAS have spoken out and given feedback about the qualities that best describe a good YSAS worker:

"A good worker takes the time to understand your interests and doesn't treat everyone the same."  "Young people believe that a good YSAS worker is empathetic and good at actively listening in a non-judgmental way, is relatable, down-to-earth and able to build trust and rapport in a consistent manner". "It takes time to trust someone, but it's worth it when you know they've got your back". Young people have also raised that genuine human connection is an important quality, "being authentically human", while having a holistic, flexible, and adaptable approach that considers the entire context of a young person's life and their intersectionalities. "It's about making sure workers don't just tick boxes but genuinely want to see us thrive"

Regardless of where they are based or what position a worker has, everything we do at YSAS is about young people and their families.

Why work with us?

• YSAS has a true commitment to flexible working, ensuring that individual, team and client needs are met
• YSAS offers additional leave entitlements such as gender affirmation, ceremonial leave for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, fertility leave, blood donors leave, a generous Parental Leave Scheme and the ability to purchase additional leave.
• Access to learning and development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Please note:

1. As part of our Employment screening process you will be required to undertake a National Criminal History check and have a current Working with Children Check.
2. You must have Australian work rights to apply for this position.

Further Enquiries

For a confidential discussion about the position, please contact, Sophie Ahern, Senior Practitioner, on regarding the role of Youth Worker (Day Program), Recruitment Ref. Number – 088_2025.

• YSAS is an equal opportunity employer, and we welcome applications from all sectors of the community.
• YSAS has a zero tolerance for child abuse and is committed to the provision of a child-safe organisation.