Position purposeThe Youth Worker is situated within the Mackillop Rural Community Services unit (MRCS), which is responsible for a range of family and children, youth and disability services - providing family support, supported playgroups, parenting and early childhood education, counselling and support to young people who are vulnerable and at risk of homelessness, in home accommodation support to adults living with disability, and early childhood intervention to children with disability.
Reconnect Youth Services is a community based early intervention and prevention program for young people aged 12 to 18 years who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and their families.
The Youth Worker will undertake case management, group work and community capacity building to support the young people.
Practice is underpinned by a strengths-based and family focused approach.
The Youth Worker is a member of the Reconnect Youth Services team and reports to the Program Manager.
The Youth Worker will be based in either Walgett or Lightning Ridge.
The role includes daily travel between small towns within the Walgett LGA with occasional overnight stays.
*This position is a part time opportunity 22 hours, 3 days per week reporting to the program coordinator*Primary objectivesTo use a strengths-based and family-oriented approach, to support at risk young people 12 to 18 years to improve their level of engagement with family, education, employment, training, and the community.
It is expected that by supporting young people in these areas, that young people will have increased resilience and the risk of youth homelessness will be reduced.




The Youth Worker will work towards achieving the objectives of the programme which intends to support young people by: Stabilising and improving the young person's housing situation which means fewer entries into homelessness including;Preventing homelessnessFew young people end up homelessEffective early intervention for people who have recently been homelessMore young people in secure, secure and reliable housingAchieving family reconciliation, wherever practicable and safe coma between the young people and their family.
Family reconciliation includes:The young person returns homeOngoing positive family relationships are created which provide the young person with emotional and physical supportConflict is reduced or dealt with more positivelyReconciling the young person with other family members, for example with grandparents or siblingsBoth parents and the young person accepting that independence is appropriate for the young personEstablishing a viable support system for the independent young person that includes a member of their familyReengaging or strengthening their engagement with educational training, the community and employment, including;Increase school attendanceFinish school or trainingIncreased social correctedness,



such as with sporting groups Improved employment opportunitiesKey selection criteria The incumbent will have:A knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal culture and values and an awareness of the current issues faced by Aboriginal children, young people and their familiesQualifications in Community Services or relevant discipline and/or relevant work or life experience - or be working toward qualifications;Current First Aid Certificate with a minimum of 6 months validityGood communication skills and ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.Ability to run group programsAbility to build trusted relationships with families, community members, and service providers.Must Have or Wiling to Obtain:Valid and Current Driver's LicenceValid and Current Workers with Children's CheckCurrent NDIS Worker CheckSatisfactory Criminal History Check MacKillop Family Services acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as Australia's First Peoples and as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which we live, work and play.
We pay our deep respects to Elders past and present and acknowledge all Aboriginal children, young people, families and staff who are a part of MacKillop Family Services.
MacKillop celebrates and draws strength from diversity and respects the dignity of all people.
Every person at MacKillop has the right to be protected and to be treated justly.
We value every person's ability, cultural or linguistic backgrounds, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, intersex status, relationship status, religious or spiritual beliefs, socio-economic status, and age.

📌 Reconnect Youth Worker - Walgett Nsw (New South Wales)
🏢 type
📍 New South Wales