Youth Support Officer jobs

Want a challenge that could be life changing? Become a youth justice worker.

• Earn up to $107,278 per year, with a base of $81,496 (including standard penalty rates).
• Secure job doing tough work that matters.
• 8 weeks of paid training and upskilling.
• On site clinical and peer support available.
• Varied life experiences and maturity highly valued.

Youth justice workers are based across our three precincts of Cherry Creek, Parkville and Malmsbury.

The role of a youth justice worker

Youth justice workers are the frontline staff who supervise and support young people on remand or serving a sentence in custody.

This is not a dedicated case management or youth work role. You will follow and promote important security procedures every day and be a positive role model for complex young people. You will also set boundaries and reinforce expected behaviours.

Your work will help young people get their lives back on track by:

• creating a safe and secure environment for both staff and young people
• helping young people establish healthy routines and work to a daily structure
• redirecting anti-social and challenging behaviour to the standards expected by the community
• responding to incidents as they occur
• helping young people develop positive family and peer relationships
• facilitating support from other services, including health and mental health providers, educators and disability organisations.

What you will get

This job can be tough. It can be physically and mentally draining. At times, the pressure will feel relentless and your resilience will be tested.

However, if you commit to putting in the hard work, you will see young people make small shifts in their thinking that can have a major impact on their lives. You will also be backed by a skilled team of fellow youth justice workers, senior leaders and mentors.

Our training and development program will set you up to be an influential role model from your first day.

You will receive:

• 8 weeks of fully paid training
• a fair salary with generous penalty rates
• personalised professional development plans, and the chance to unlock countless career opportunities if you thrive in your role
• Extensive in-house clinical and peer support available through our staff-wellbeing programs
• 5 weeks of paid annual leave per year.
• Up to $10,000 in relocation allowance if you choose to move within an hour's drive of our Cherry Creek and Malmsbury facilities.

What we look for in new youth justice workers

Our recruiters search for a variety of personal characteristics when shortlisting candidates. These include:

• Dedication and resilience - you can maintain positivity and commitment even after setbacks.
• Life experience - you can adapt and manage challenging situations
• Passion and empathy - you're willing to work with young people from complex backgrounds to ensure their basic needs are met.
• Interpersonal skills - you can find common ground with young people and diffuse conflict.
• Problem solving - you can make smart decisions quickly.

Career information sessions

You can register for our monthly online Q&A sessions here

They are a great opportunity to ask questions about day-to-day work and better understand career pathways available within youth justice.

Eligibility

To be considered for a youth justice worker role you must be either:

• an Australian citizen - a birth certificate, citizenship certificate or current passport is required as proof of eligibility
• a permanent resident of Australia
• a New Zealand citizen who has entered Australia on a valid passport, or eligible to work in Australia for a period of more than six months.

You will also need to pass a pre-service health and fitness assessment. Learn how your current fitness levels match up and the best ways to prepare.

Prior to starting work, all successful candidates must independently obtain:

• Current First Aid Certification (HLTAID011)
• Current CPR Certification
• A valid Working with Children Check (Employee)

Please note, all certificates must be valid for at least three months from employment start date.

A driver's licence is desirable but not mandatory.

CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT:

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.