Program Manager, Staying on Track Youth Program

At Life Without Barriers, we're driven by the belief that every young person deserves safety, connection and opportunity.

Whether it's through foster care, early intervention, or tailored family services, we walk alongside children, young people, families and carers to help create brighter futures.

Join us to discover a purpose you can wrap your heart around

Staying on Track Program

Life Without Barriers is proud to deliver the new Staying on Track program, part of the Queensland Government's Making Queensland Safe plan. Staying on Track is an outreach program that supports young people aged 10–17 leaving detention to successfully return to their families and communities.

Through a dedicated team of Youth Advocates, the program engages with young people while they are still in detention, building trust and connection. This support continues as they transition home, helping them to re-engage in education, employment and community life, while reducing the risk of reoffending.

We are seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead this important initiative.

About the Role

Employment Type: Permanent Full Time

Location: Gold Coast

As Program Manager, you will provide operational leadership and subject matter expertise to ensure Staying on Track delivers high-quality, person-centred support to young people. You will guide your team, manage risks, and maintain compliance with legislative and contractual requirements while driving positive outcomes for clients and communities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate, and support program teams to deliver safe, high-quality outreach services.
• Manage program operations in line with budgets, policies, and compliance standards.
• Promote and implement organisational practice initiatives, embedding Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) and the CARE model across programs.
• Foster a culture of client voice and participation in service delivery and program design.
• Ensure young people are supported to reconnect with family and/or carers, education, and community networks.
• Oversee risks, staff concerns, and client complaints with professionalism and care.
• Build strong partnerships with key stakeholders, including Queensland juvenile justice services, government agencies, and community organisations.
• Provide advice to senior leadership on program performance, risks, and opportunities.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, creativity, and client choice.

About You

You are a confident leader with proven experience in Queensland's juvenile justice system and a passion for supporting young people to achieve positive futures. You bring strong operational management skills, resilience, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic environment.

You will also have:

• A degree in Human Services or a related field.
• Demonstrated leadership experience within the human services sector.
• In-depth understanding of Queensland's youth justice framework and service systems.
• Strong skills in managing competing priorities and achieving results under pressure.
• A commitment to the safety, wellbeing, and empowerment of young people.

Why Join Us?

• Ongoing training, support and career advancement opportunities

• Generous Employee Benefits – Access to salary packaging, Fitness Passport + More

Successful candidates will be required to clear probity checks including National Criminal History Record Check, Queensland Blue Card Working with Children Check, and LCS Check.

How to Apply

Include your resume and covering letter in one document, click 'Apply' and follow the prompts. For general role enquiries contact

Candidates with disabilities who require adjustments to the recruitment process or the application form in an alternate format can visit for information on our access and inclusion work and how to contact us directly.

Applications close at midnight 14th of September

We want to employ people who reflect the diversity of our clients to ensure we can support each client's individual needs and wants. We encourage people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background and people with disability to apply