Youth Development Worker

• Full Time 6 Month Fixed Term Contract
• Pakenham Location
• Salary (SCHADS Level 4)
• Plus generous tax saving benefit through salary packaging up to $15,900
• Five weeks annual leave plus 17.5% leave loading and generous personal leave entitlements
• Friendly and inclusive Rainbow Tick Accredited Organisation
• Opportunity for professional learning and development

wayss is the largest provider of homelessness, housing and family violence services in the South East Melbourne area. We exist so people can live a life free from family violence and have access to safe, sustainable and affordable housing. Our vision is to be the major provider of social housing services and leading edge client support programs in the Southern Melbourne Metropolitan region.

We deliver funded services and programs across the south east of Melbourne including the local government areas of Greater Dandenong, Frankston, Casey and Cardinia.

Step Ahead is an innovative foyer-based model supporting young people who are experiencing or who are at risk of homelessness to achieve independence through the application of the Advantage Thinking practice framework.

Supporting the culture of developing positive language and talent building within the team and program. Assist in ways to capture, communicate and share innovative ideas and continual practice development.

Contributing to “The Campaign”, an integral part of Advantaged Thinking and the wider foyer movement, which seeks to reform policy and to challenge needs-based deficit models by changing community perceptions, demonstrating that all people have talent that can be nurtured and promoting young people’s talents and providing them with an opportunity to have a voice and influence.

The Step Ahead Program includes participants engaging with Youth Development Workers at suitable times which may include late afternoon or early evening. This requires flexibility in start and finish times between 7am and 9 pm.

About the role

Reporting to the Team Leader, Services for Young People, and working from an Advantaged Thinking approach, you will work as a member of a collaborative and committed team to support young people to achieve independent living.

Duties will include:

• Supporting the development and delivery of professional learning programs for young people at Step Ahead including the facilitation of workshops and activities, 1:1 coaching sessions with young people and the delivery of learning plans.
• Supporting the provision of safe, high quality accommodation for young people including managing and supporting dynamics and complex needs of young people at Step Ahead and under the offer of Place.
• Ensuing the effective, ongoing implementation of the Advantaged Thinking approach.
• Supporting the teamwork and culture at Step Ahead that promotes the aspirations of young people in line with the Advantaged Thinking philosophy.
• Supporting the management of the day-to-day operations of Step Ahead to ensure operating and development plans are achieved.
• Facilitating, empowering and involving young people in the engagement and running of the program through mechanism such as student governance, co-design, and other measures.
• Supporting networks and relationships that lead to opportunities for young people under the Step Ahead service offers and key practice areas of Advantaged Thinking.
• Supporting young people before during and after their participation in Step Ahead, in alignment with the program needs and their requirements.
• Working as part of a team to enhance the delivery of services to young people; participating in team meetings, planning days and handovers as required.
• Ensuring that data, information, and program expenditure is collected and recorded in line with program requirements.
• Liaising and supporting young people in working with Property Services on tenancy matters including promotion of good tenancy with participants and under the offer of ‘Place’.
• Other reasonable duties as requested.

About you

We are looking for a passionate, client-focused individual who can work independently and can demonstrate an ability to support young people to reach their potential.

You will have:

• Tertiary qualifications in Youth Work, Social Work, Social or Behavioural Science, Psychology, Community Services or other relevant discipline at degree level or above.
• A background in, understanding of, or demonstrated ability to quickly acquire such knowledge in one or more of the following areas:
  • Advantaged Thinking
  • Community Housing and social welfare programs
  • Education and learning, including vocational education
  • Employment and Career Pathway Programs
  • Young peoples’ transitions and educational pathways
• Demonstrated experience in building positive relationships and communicating effectively with internal and external contacts with diverse backgrounds and abilities.
• Experience in advocating a culture that promotes the aspirations of young people in keeping with the Advantaged Thinking approach.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to improving service delivery and practice.
• Highly developed interpersonal and problem-solving skills to effectively respond to young people.
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality, self organisation and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated capacity to complete tasks, manage your time effectively and work independently.
• Demonstrated computer skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office.

This role requires a current Driver’s Licence and valid ‘Employment’ category – Working with Children Check. The candidate will need to have successfully completed wayss pre-employment screening and a police check.

Applications

Applications may close sooner if a successful candidate is selected.

Please ensure you include a cover letter, outlining your experience in relation to the criteria outlined in the “About You” section of the ad.

Enquiries about the position or a copy of the position description can be directed to Steve Nidenko, Senior Manager, Housing and Homelessness Services, on 8797 1688.

Working for wayss

Our people matter. Without them, we would be unable to make a meaningful impact in the lives of people facing homelessness and family violence. This is our motivation in creating wayss as a great place to work.

wayss is proud to be an inclusive and child safe organisation.

wayss is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to being an organisation that embraces a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion within our workforce and approach to service delivery. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, people from diverse cultural and linguistic communities, people of all ages and LGBTIQ people. wayss is a proud Rainbow Tick accredited organisation that welcomes everyone across the LGBTIQ community.