Aboriginal Throughcare Mentor, Frank Baxter Youth Justice Centre

NSW Department of Communities and Justice – Kariong NSW

Location: Kariong with hybrid working arrangements

Clerk Grade 7/8 Salary ($116,981 - $ 129,492 pa), plus employer's contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading

This position is open to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people only

Your role

The Aboriginal Throughcare Mentor provides culturally centred, relational, and practical support to Aboriginal young people transitioning from custody to community. The role exists to strengthen cultural identity, connection, and belonging, while supporting young people to engage with services, navigate systems, and successfully reintegrate into community.

The Aboriginal Throughcare Mentor acts as a trusted adult, advocate, and cultural bridge connecting young people, families, community, and services in a way that is respectful, culturally safe, and responsive to individual needs. The role will be split equally between working with young people in custody (Frank Baxter Youth Justice Centre) and in the community (working across Gosford, Newcastle and Maitland Youth Justice Community Office areas).

What you'll do

- Engage young people in the mentoring program through the development of strong, consistent relationships with young people, advocacy, and regular wellbeing-focused support.
- Develop and maintain relationships with the Aboriginal community and key stakeholders to successfully deliver the mentoring program, including leading the recruitment, training and support of community mentors.
- Support young people to reconnect with culture, community, and Country, while promoting culturally safe practices and guidance, and connection to community mentors
- Build strong referral networks and act as a connector between custody, community services to successfully transition Young People from custody to community.
- Partner with YJ caseworkers to ensure coordinated services for young people transitioning from custody - liaising with community mentors and community services.
- Strengthen connections with families and communities, supporting improved communication and engagement between young people, families, and services.
- Collect and collate data and information to track and monitor the mentoring program and measure program effectiveness, providing regular progress reports to enable continuous improvement.

What we’re looking for

- This is an identified position and only open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons ( see notes below for further information).




- Current NSW Working with Children Check clearance.
- Current NSW Drivers Licence with ability and willingness to drive throughout NSW.

Notes: As an Identified role, this role is open only to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons, Australia's First Nations people.

Where a position is identified, an applicant’s race is a genuine occupational qualification and authorised by Section 14(d) of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977.

There are two alternatives to confirming your Aboriginality, one of which must be uploaded to be considered for the role as follows. Either will be accepted:

Confirmation of Aboriginality form

or

Written confirmation from 2-3 Aboriginal organisations within the community in which you live/work, which addresses the three criteria listed below:

- is of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, and
- identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, and
- is accepted as a such by the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

Appointments are subject to reference checks. Some roles may also require the following checks/ clearances:

- National Criminal History Record Check in accordance with the Disability Inclusion Act 2014
- Working with Children Check clearance in accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012

We focus on hiring people who share our commitment and goals of inclusion, collaboration, adaptability, courage and integrity.

In Addition to the above essential criteria, we are looking for someone who has:

- Demonstrated cultural capability, which includes lived experience, knowledge and understanding of contemporary social issues affecting Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander young people, including skills in identifying and/or responding to the diverse needs of Aboriginal young people experiencing significant trauma and disadvantage.
- Understanding of Aboriginal Culture, Kinships, Community structures, Protocols
- Awareness in of intergenerational trauma, trauma and healing informed.
- Knowledge of Cultural safety.
- Experience with working Aboriginal young people in or at risk of custody.




- Experience supporting young people transitioning from custody back to community
- Ability to provide support to young people and families in a Cultural respectful way.

Download the role description.

For more information and advice on applying for roles at DCJ, visit Careers for Aboriginal people

What We Offer

We offer a variety of perks, including:

- A challenging and rewarding career
- Flexible, autonomous work environment
- Competitive pay and conditions
- Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities
- Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.

Want more information? Visit our website to see more information on Working for us.

We do work that really matters

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We’re focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It's work that really matters.

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience, and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers, and other diversity groups.

To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit Inclusion and diversity on the DCJ website.

Other Information

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

For more information visit Applying for DCJ jobs on the DCJ website (for all roles except Aboriginal Identified).

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

To keep up with recruitment opportunities at DCJ, follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CareersatDCJ/

The Welcome Experience
Thinking about moving to regional NSW? Get free, personalised support with housing, schools, jobs, and settling in. Learn more: www.nsw.gov.au/welcomeexperience

The careers site currently promotes this service on the ‘Discover roles with DCJ in regional NSW' page.

Be careful - Don’t provide your bank or credit card details when applying for jobs. Don't transfer any money or complete suspicious online surveys. If you see something suspicious, report this job ad .

Applications close Sunday, 13th September 2026 at 11:59pm AEST.

#J-18808-Ljbffr

📌 Aboriginal Throughcare Mentor, Frank Baxter Youth Justice Centre (Gosford)
🏢 Nsw Department Of Communities And Justice
📍 Gosford