Youth Support and Advocacy Service – Dandenong VIC

- Application close Date COB on Tuesday 22nd September 2026
- Part-time (60.8 Hours per fortnight)
- Fixed Term until October 2027
- Remuneration SCHCADS level 5 dependent on qualifications and experience + superannuation
- 5 Weeks Annual Leave
- Up to $15,900 for living expenses + up to $2,600 towards meals and entertainment can be tax-free through NFP Salary Packaging

About us

Youth Support + Advocacy Service (YSAS) is one of Australia’s largest and most comprehensive, youth specific community service organisation that enables young people experiencing serious disadvantage to access the resources and support they require to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

YSAS is a Child Secure organisation. We actively promote the safety and wellbeing of young people, and are committed to protecting young people from harm or abuse who come into contact with and/or access our service.

At YSAS we are committed to people of a diversity of backgrounds and identities being included, represented, and having the opportunity to participate equally in the life of our organisation and the communities in which we provide our services. We strive to create the conditions where people feel safe, enfranchised and valued. We value lived-living experience wisdom, insight, and knowledge.

About the position

The Youth AOD Outreach Worker is responsible for the provision of specialist AOD Outreach and support for clients accessing YSAS Alcohol and other Drugs services. The key responsibilities will include AOD support; Intake & Assessment; Brief Interventions; Care Planning; Case Work; Mental Health System Navigation; Motivational Interviewing and Single Session Therapy with young people aged 12 – 25 years.



The incumbent will provide developmentally appropriate care which is holistic; family inclusive; and culturally sensitive and facilitate supported referrals to other health and social services that will enhance the broad recovery outcomes for clients.

Key Selection Criteria

1. Experience in working with young people from CALD or refugee communities with specific and complex needs in an outreach capacity.
2. Experience in facilitating group work activities (such as recreation / drop-in programs) with young people who are experiencing multiple and complex health and social issues.
3. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders and maintain service partnerships and highly developed communication /liaison/ networking skills.
4. Ability to practice a range of interventions including: completing complex assessments, case work, care planning, advocacy, crisis intervention and team-oriented outreach based service delivery.
5. Demonstrated capacity to work both independently as well as a member of a team.
6. Ability to participate in program development and evaluation, including clear and timely provision of written reports on program activities and outcomes.

What our young people request from our workers:

Young people across YSAShave spoken out and given feedback about the qualities that best describe a good YSAS worker:

“A valuable worker takes the time to understand your interests and doesn’t treat everyone the same.”"“Young people believe that a positive YSAS worker is empathetic and positive at actively listening in a non-judgmental way, is relatable,



down-to-earth and able to build trust and rapport in a consistent manner". “It takes time to trust someone, but it’s worth it when you know they’ve got your back”. Young people have also raised that genuine human connection is an significant quality, “being authentically human”, while having a holistic, flexible, and adaptable approach that considers the entire context of a young person’s life and their intersectionalities. “It’s about making sure workers don’t just tick boxes but genuinely want to see us thrive”

Regardless of where they are based or what position a worker has, everything we do at YSAS is about young people and their families.

For full details of the position and more about YSAS benefits please visit our employment website https://ysas.org.au/employment/

Why work with us?

- YSAS has a true commitment to flexible working, ensuring that individual, team and client needs are met
- YSAS offers additional leave entitlements such as gender affirmation, ceremonial leave for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, fertility leave, blood donors leave, a generous Parental Leave Scheme and the ability to purchase additional leave.
- Access to learning and development opportunities
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Please Note:

1. As part of our Employment screening process you will be required to undertake a National Criminal History check and have a current Working with Children Check.
2. You must have Australian work rights to apply for this position.

Further Enquiries

For a confidential discussion about the position, please contact, Brett McCaughan, Community Manager, on 0408933*** regarding the Youth Worker (Outreach), Recruitment Ref. Number – 057_2026.

- YSAS is an equal opportunity employer, and we welcome applications from all sectors

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📌 Youth Worker (Outreach) (Dandenong)
🏢 Youth Support and Advocacy Service
📍 Dandenong