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
Explicit opportunities for personal and professional 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 theChild Protection Act ****
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.
#J-*****-Ljbffr

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