Education Impact and Practice Specialist

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.

Not all young people thrive in mainstream schooling. Our seven registered and accredited independent high schools offer flexible, trauma‑informed education for students in Years 9–12. We are registered with NESA and proud members of AISNSW.

Our work is grounded in trauma‑informed practice, ensuring safety, emotional wellbeing and collaboration are at the heart of everything we do.

About the Role:

We are recruiting an Education Impact and Practice Specialist, a senior educator with deep expertise in trauma‑informed practice, research translation and educational innovation.

This role leads the strategic development, implementation and continuous improvement of trauma‑informed education across Youth Off The Streets’ Education programs, including our independent high schools, RTO, DFSV program, and Scholarships & Mentoring.

If you’re driven by impact, evidence and innovation, this role gives you the platform to shape practice at scale, influence sector thinking and strengthen outcomes for young people who need education to work differently.

What you’ll do:

As the Education Impact and Practice Specialist, you will be YOTS’ trauma‑informed education expert, driving practice excellence across multiple programs and sites. You will:

Embed trauma‑informed practice across schools, RTO, Scholarships & Mentoring and DFSV programs

Develop tools, training and frameworks that lift consistency and quality





Guide educators and leaders through complex practice challenges

Refine and embed the YOTS Education Model across all education programs

Lead research and evidence translation to strengthen practice and decision‑making

Drive innovation - design, pilot and scale new educational approaches

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

Influence sector thinking on trauma‑informed and alternative education

Build partnerships that expand research, professional learning and student pathways

Champion reflective practice and continuous improvement across education teams

Your leadership will directly improve student engagement, educational quality and outcomes for young people experiencing disadvantage and disengagement.

What you’ll bring:

Minimum 5 years teaching in inclusive education, Special Assistance Schools or similar settings

Minimum 2 years in a leadership role

Deep expertise in trauma‑informed education

Strong understanding of student welfare, engagement and alternative pathways

Experience leading research, innovation and change

Capability to mentor, coach and build educator capability

Experience designing, evaluating and improving educational programs

Knowledge of NESA compliance requirements

Accredited four‑year teaching degree + NESA registration

Research degree or equivalent experience

HALT accreditation, First Aid Certificate

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 workplace 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‑safe 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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📌 Education Impact and Practice Specialist (Sydney)
🏢 Youth Off the Streets
📍 Sydney