Are you a Youth Worker in Brisbane/Ipswich looking for work that fills your cup? Come join our Emergency Accommodation & Outreach team and be the safe person a young person needs when it matters most!

About Yalga Connect

At Yalga Connect, we’re walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people to create brighter futures. As a proud First Nations-led organisation, we believe every child deserves to grow up feeling safe, connected, valued, and empowered to thrive.

We’re reimagining Out of Home Care through culturally safe, therapeutic and child-centred practice. Our young people are at the heart of every decision we make, and we’re looking for passionate people who want to walk alongside them as they heal, grow and thrive.

Everything we do is guided by the Child Safe Standards, ensuring children’s rights, voices, safety, and wellbeing remain at the centre of every decision we make. We are committed to creating environments where children feel heard, respected, protected, and empowered.

We are also guided by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle, embedding the principles of Prevention, Partnership, Placement, Participation, and Connection into our everyday practice. These guiding principles shape how we work with children, families, communities, Elders, and stakeholders to ensure culture is not an afterthought – it is at the forefront of every child’s journey.

Why Yalga Connect?

At Yalga Connect, you’re not just another employee; you become part of a team that’s passionate about changing lives, making a difference and influencing a culturally protected and supportive sector.

Here’s what makes us different:

? First Nations owned and led, with culture embedded in everything we do.

? Young People come first, always. Every decision is guided by what’s best for the young person.

? Therapeutic and relationship-based approach to care.

? A supportive leadership team that invests in your learning, wellbeing and development.

? Opportunities to grow your career in an organisation that’s expanding and innovating.

? No two shifts are ever the same; you’ll laugh, learn, problem-solve and celebrate the wins that truly matter.

About The Role

Emergency Accommodation & Outreach Support Brisbane / Ipswich

This role is specifically focused on providing Emergency Accommodation and Outreach Support to children and young people across the Brisbane and Ipswich area.

This is a dynamic and varied role supporting young people who may require immediate accommodation, short-term support, outreach assistance, safety planning, connection to services and practical support during times of crisis or instability.

The role requires flexibility and adaptability, as young people’s needs can change quickly. You may be supporting a young person within emergency accommodation, assisting with transitions, undertaking outreach in the community, supporting appointments and services, or helping a young person reconnect with family, culture, education and other supports.

The ideal person for this role would be flexible, adaptable, and open to learning. You will have the ability and skills to work with young people who display highly complex and challenging behaviours. You will need to connect with the young person and have resilience and strong professional boundaries.

You’ll become a consistent,



trusted adult in the life of a young person who has experienced trauma, loss and adversity.

What does Emergency Accommodation & Outreach Support look like?

Every day is different, and that’s what makes this role so meaningful.

Your role may include:

- Providing emergency accommodation and immediate support to young people experiencing crisis, instability or placement disruption.
- Providing outreach support across the Brisbane and Ipswich area.
- Creating a safe, welcoming and nurturing setting for young people.
- Building meaningful relationships through trust, consistency and connection.
- Supporting young people to attend school, appointments, court, health services and community activities.
- Supporting young people to access appropriate services and community resources.
- Assisting with transitions into longer-term accommodation or care arrangements.
- Supporting young people to reconnect with family, culture, community and significant people in their lives.
- Teaching practical life skills like cooking, budgeting, cleaning and independence.
- Encouraging cultural identity, family connections and community participation.
- Supporting young people through challenges using therapeutic and trauma-informed approaches.
- Responding to incidents, crises and challenging behaviours in a calm, safe and therapeutic manner.
- Supporting safety planning and risk management.
- Advocating for the young person’s needs and ensuring their voice remains central.
- Celebrating milestones; big and small.
- Completing case notes and documentation that tells the young person’s story with dignity and professionalism.

Some days you’ll be helping with homework.

Some days you’ll be fishing, kicking a footy or cooking dinner together.

Some days you’ll be driving across Brisbane or Ipswich to support a young person to attend an appointment, access a service or connect with someone important to them.

Some days you’ll simply sit quietly beside a young person who needs someone to stay.

Those moments matter.

Who We Are Looking For

We’re looking for people with heart. People who are resilient without becoming hardened. People who can stay calm during the hard moments and celebrate the little victories. You don’t need to have all the answers; but you do need to be willing to learn.

You’ll thrive in this role if you are:

- Compassionate, patient and authentic.
- Able to build solid, professional relationships with young people.
- Calm under pressure and able to respond to challenging behaviours therapeutically.
- Comfortable working in emergency accommodation and outreach environments.
- Flexible and adaptable when circumstances change.
- Solutions-focused and able to think on your feet.
- Confident supporting young people in the community.
- Committed to providing culturally safe, child-focused care.
- A great communicator and team player.
- Passionate about making a lasting difference.




- Able to maintain professional boundaries while developing genuine, trusting relationships.
- Comfortable working with young people experiencing crisis, instability or complex behaviours.
- Someone who is open to engage in fly in fly out to regional areas to support Emergency Accommodation and Residential Placements.

Availability

You must have availability to suit a variety of shifts, including:

- Day shifts (AM & PM)
- Evening shifts
- Sleepovers
- Awake night shifts
- Weekend work
- Outreach and community-based support
- Flexible shifts based on the needs of emergency accommodation

Desired Skills and Abilities

- Exceptional communication and conflict resolution skills.
- Demonstrate high levels of resilience, patience and unconditional positive regard whilst confidently working with challenging behaviours.
- Ability to work under pressure and deliver results while maintaining a high level of grit and resilience when faced with confronting situations.
- Ability to work independently while also contributing effectively to a supportive team.
- Ability to respond flexibly to changing circumstances and emerging needs.
- Confidence supporting young people in both accommodation and community/outreach environments.
- Have sound knowledge or the ability to rapidly acquire knowledge of child protection, including relevant legislation.

Essential Requirements

You’ll need:

- Queensland Working with Children Check (Blue Card).
- Current Full Australian Driver Licence (Minimum P2 Licence).
- Certificate IV (or higher) in Child, Youth & Family Intervention (or equivalent), or willingness to work towards and be enrolled prior to commencement.
- Ability to travel within Queensland where required to support cultural activities and young people.
- Completion of Hope and Healing Framework training.
- The ability to provide two recent referees of supervisors.
- Availability to work day, evening and weekend shifts, including sleepovers or awake shifts, is essential for current needs. Availability to suit Emergency Supports.
- Ability and willingness to work across the Brisbane and Ipswich area.
- A registered and insured vehicle, and willingness to use for work purposes.

Our Commitment to Culture

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

Lived experience, cultural knowledge and community connection are highly valued at Yalga Connect.

We recognise the importance of culturally safe practice and understand that supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people requires more than providing a safe place to stay; it requires connection to culture, family, community, Country and identity.

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you’re looking for meaningful work where you can genuinely change lives and be supported by a team who cares just as much as you do, every shift has purpose, every relationship matters, and every young person is seen for who they are, not just what they’ve been through – we would love to yarn with you!

? Apply today via the ‘Apply Now’ button. Please upload your resume and a brief cover letter describing your experience, values and your ‘why’ behind wanting to be a Youth Worker.

Applications will be assessed as they are received, and we may appoint before the closing date.

If you would like further information before applying, please contact [email protected].

📌 Youth Worker – Emergency Accommodation and Outreach Support (Ipswich)
🏢 Yalga Connect
📍 Ipswich