Are you the steady adult a young person can finally count on and want to walk alongside?

At Fall Forward, we put connection first — walking alongside children and young people as they rebuild safety, trust and a sense of who they are.

We’re seeking resilient, compassionate Residential Youth Workers to join our team in Cairns and surrounding areas. This is relational, trauma-informed work with young people who have experienced abuse, neglect, family separation and significant loss. It’s demanding, and it matters.

Why Join Fall Forward?

• Above award wages + travel allowance

• $30K annual training and mentoring package

• Fully supported pathway from Certificate III to Diploma level

• Trauma-informed and de-escalation training provided

• Clear opportunities for personal and skilled growth

• Inclusive and supportive workplace culture – you’re not just an employee, you’re part of the Fall Forward Family

About the Role

You’ll provide therapeutic, person-centred care to children and young people in a residential setting, supporting them to:

• Feel safe, settled and genuinely cared for

• Build life skills, routines and independence

• Stay connected to school, culture, community, family and Country

• Develop emotional regulation and healthy relationships

• Work towards the goals in their Case Plan

Day to day, you’ll also:

• Respond to escalations and challenging behaviour using de-escalation first

• Complete accurate daily notes, incident reports and handovers

• Work alongside Child Safety Officers, families, carers and external services





• Meet all mandatory reporting and duty of care obligations under the Child Protection Act 1999

This role involves both independent and team-based work, with weekend, after-hours, sleepover and awake-night shifts required.

Required:

• Resilience, consistency, and the ability to stay calm when things get hard

• Current Blue Card (Working with Children Check)

• Willingness to obtain and maintain Licensed Care Service employee suitability clearance

• Minimum Certificate III in Community Services, Youth Work or equivalent— with commitment to commence Diploma-level study within 6 months of employment (fully supported by us)

• Current First Aid/CPR and open Queensland driver’s licence

• Your own insured vehicle and smartphone

• Sound understanding of mandatory reporting obligations

Highly Commended:

• Experience in residential care, out-of-home care or youth justice

• Experience supporting young people with complex trauma, mental health needs or challenging behaviours

• Training in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), MAPA or similar

• Familiarity with the Hope and Healing Framework for Residential Care

• Understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, kinship and the Child Placement Principle

Our Values

Integrity, Leadership, Accountability, Teamwork

About Fall Forward

Based in Cairns, Fall Forward delivers quality care and support services across all life stages. We focus on connection, creativity, and sustainable outcomes for the children, young people and families we work with.

📌 Residential Youth Worker (Stratford)
🏢 Fall Forward Claims
📍 Stratford