First Nations Practice Specialist (Identified Role)

Youth Off The Streets is a not-for-profit organisation that provides safety, support and opportunities for young people to build a positive future. Our services include crisis accommodation and housing support, alternative high school education, alcohol and other drugs counselling, youth justice programs, life skills and employment pathways, cultural support and community engagement.

We focus on early intervention and community-led support that empowers young people, strengthens families and builds safer, more connected communities. Our work is grounded in trauma-informed practice and guided by The Sanctuary Model, ensuring safety, emotional wellbeing and collaboration are at the heart of everything we do.

About the Role:

Everyone’s potential deserves to be realised, especially First Nations young people whose strength, identity and cultural knowledge shape the future of their communities.

We are recruiting a First Nations Practice Specialist, a senior cultural practitioner with deep experience supporting vulnerable children, young people and families to lead cultural practice across Youth Off The Streets. This role holds cultural authority, practice expertise and strategic influence, ensuring our organisation delivers the highest standard of culturally safe, trauma-informed support.

This is a rare opportunity to step into a role that shapes organisational culture, strengthens practice frameworks, and ensures First Nations young people are supported in ways that honour identity, community expectations and cultural knowledge.

If you are a respected cultural practitioner who thrives on strengthening systems, guiding practice and influencing organisational direction, this role offers the platform to make a profound impact.

If you are a respected cultural practitioner who thrives on strengthening systems, guiding practice and influencing organisational direction, this role offers the platform to make a profound impact.

What you'll do:

As the First Nations Practice Specialist, you will be a key driver of cultural safety, practice excellence and organisational learning. You will:

Provide cultural authority and practice leadership across all YOTS programs

Guide adaptations to YOTS practice frameworks,



embedding cultural knowledge and community expectations

Offer expert cultural and practice advice to frontline teams, including complex case reviews

Lead cultural review and advice in policy, procedures and governance development

Contribute to service reviews, new program design and continuous quality improvement

Analyse internal data and outcomes to identify trends, gaps and opportunities for improvement

Conduct industry scanning and evidence reviews to inform practice and systemic advocacy

Build strong relationships with Aboriginal organisations, ACCOs, Elders and cultural practitioners

Identify capability development priorities and support cultural learning initiatives

Support program evaluation and culturally appropriate data collection methodologies

Contribute to cross-functional strategic initiatives, bringing cultural expertise to organisational reform

Foster a culture of reflective practice, learning and continuous improvement

Your leadership will strengthen cultural safety across the organisation and ensure First Nations young people receive support that is culturally grounded, trauma-informed and empowering.

What you'll bring:

Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (Section 14(d) Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 NSW)

Minimum 10 years’ experience supporting vulnerable children, young people and families

Minimum 2 years’ experience as a practice specialist, practice lead or advisor

Extensive experience in youth work, case management, youth homelessness or related fields

Sophisticated understanding of social policy, service systems and sector reform

Proven ability to translate evidence, cultural knowledge and industry developments into practice improvements

Experience designing and facilitating training, workshops and capability development

Strong analytical thinking and understanding of evaluation methodologies





Demonstrated success in continuous improvement, change leadership and strategic project delivery

Superior communication skills, including cultural consultation and stakeholder engagement

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Social Science, Psychology or related field (or equivalent experience)

NSW Driver Licence, Working With Children Check and Police Check

Why you’ll love working with us:

Work environment – Trauma-informed, culturally safe and collaborative

Compensation and benefits - Practical supports that sustain you in demanding, relational work.

Balance – Healthy boundaries, reflective practice and manageable workloads.

What we offer:

Salary packaging: $15,900 tax-free + $2,650 meal & entertainment

Flexible working arrangements, including hybrid work options that support balance, autonomy and cultural obligations

EAP for yourself and your family

Additional leave (purchased leave, cultural leave, gifted leave, self-care leave)

Access to Fitness Passport

Youth Off The Streets embraces The Sanctuary Model as the foundation of our organisational culture. This trauma-informed framework guides how we support young people and staff, prioritising safety, emotional wellbeing and resilience. It shapes our approach to conflict resolution, crisis intervention and healing from trauma creating a safe, inclusive and supportive environment for all.

We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. These values are part of who we are and how we work. We actively encourage, support and celebrate the diverse voices and strengths of our people. This diversity fuels innovation, deepens connection and strengthens the impact we have in the communities we serve.

Youth Off The Streets is an EEO employer and a child-protected organisation. This is a rare opportunity to join a passionate, high-profile not-for-profit that values the young people of today and tomorrow and the people who support them.

The successful candidate will be required to hold a NSW Working With Children Check, Police Check, a valid Australian Driver Licence, and unrestricted Australian working rights.

We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply.

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📌 First Nations Practice Specialist (Identified Role) (New South Wales)
🏢 Youth Off the Streets
📍 New South Wales