Aboriginal Youth Officer Cobham Youth Justice Centre – St Marys

Location: Cobham Youth Justice Centre – St Marys

Employment type : Casual and unlock opportunities for temporary and ongoing roles

Salary: $36.20 per hour + loading (casual). Temporary and Ongoing - $71,777 – $80,129 + super + allowances

Shift work required: This role involves shift work across a 24/7 roster, including weekends and public holidays.

Training: Mandatory 5 weeks of full‑time Induction Training & Assessment Program (ITAP)

This position is open to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people only

Your role

As an Aboriginal Youth Officer, you will apply culturally appropriate approaches to support young people in custody to develop life skills, build positive behaviours, and prepare for reintegration into the community. In a secure Youth Justice Centre, you will supervise and engage young people in education and structured activities aimed at reducing reoffending. Working within a multidisciplinary team, you will help maintain a safe, supportive environment while delivering culturally informed interventions and providing cultural guidance to colleagues. This role offers a meaningful opportunity to draw on your lived experience to support positive change in young people and contribute to safer communities.

What you’ll do

Working alongside psychologists, caseworkers, and other professionals, you will:

- Be involved in culturally responsive programs and activities
- Support daily routines, wellbeing, and personal development
- Encourage participation in education, vocational and recreational programs
- Act as a positive role model, guiding behaviour change
- Respond calmly and confidently to challenging situations
- Maintain a safe, respectful, and structured workplace
- Assist with appointments such as court, medical, or casework
- Complete reports and maintain accurate records





You’ll receive five weeks of paid, full‑time training to ensure you feel confident and prepared before starting in the Centre

What we’re looking for

- Strong communication and people skills – able to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds
- Resilience and emotional maturity – remain calm and professional in high‑pressure situations
- Practical life experience – from work, family, or community involvement
- Team‑focused mindset – work collaboratively to maintain safety and structure
- Cultural awareness – respect and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and communities

Requirements

- Minimum NSW P2 Driver Licence
- Current First Aid certificate (HLTAID011) or willingness to obtain
- Working With Children Check clearance
- Ability to pass medical, fitness, and criminal history checks
- Availability to complete 5 weeks of full‑time training (ITAP)

Within the recruitment process, you will be required to show proof of Aboriginality – please see below for further clarification.

As an Identified role, this position is open only to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons. Where a position is identified, an applicant’s race is a genuine occupational qualification under the exception in Section 14(d) of the Anti‑Discrimination Act 1977.

There are two alternatives to confirming your Aboriginality, one of which must be uploaded to be considered for the role as follows. Either will be accepted:



Confirmation of Aboriginality form or Written confirmation from 2‑3 Aboriginal organisations within the community in which you live/work, which addresses the three criteria listed below:

- is of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, and
- identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, and
- is accepted as such by the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

What We Offer

- Paid, structured training to set you up for success
- Clear career pathways within Youth Justice and the broader DCJ network
- Competitive salary with shift penalties and allowances
- Ongoing training and development opportunities
- Health, wellbeing, and Employee Assistance Programs
- A meaningful role where you can make a real difference every day

Applications close 25 October 2026 at 11:00pm AEST.

Got a question? For more information about the role, application process, or recruitment adjustments, please contact Merina Maharjan on or

Visit Recruitment adjustments on the DCJ website to learn more.

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience, and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers, and other diversity groups. To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit Inclusion and diversity on the DCJ website.

Other Information

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months. For more information visit Applying for DCJ jobs on the DCJ website (for all roles except Aboriginal Identified). Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

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📌 Aboriginal Youth Officer Cobham Youth Justice Centre - St Marys (Sydney)
🏢 Nsw Department Of Communities And Justice
📍 Sydney