About us

Sowilo Community High School is an independent non-government CaRE school in Kelmscott, WA. We exist for one reason: to re-engage young people who have become disconnected from school and to help them discover that learning can be meaningful and relevant.

Our students benefit from Individualised Education Plans, whole-school welfare support, and a rich program of specialised learning, from wilderness treks and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to aquaponics and VET qualifications. Our approach is holistic, relationship-centred, and deeply human.

Behind all of this is a community of people across teaching, education support, welfare and operations support, all working toward the same goal. We share a commitment to responding to each young person’s individual learning and wellbeing needs, helping them reconnect with education and build a positive pathway towards further education, training, employment and life beyond school.

About the role

We are seeking a compassionate and resilient Social Worker to join our welfare team on a 12-month parental leave contract (with potential for renewal).

At Sowilo, we recognise that wellbeing and education are closely connected. For many of our students, re-engaging with learning first means addressing the personal, social, health or family circumstances that have made participation in education difficult. Our welfare team works alongside students and families to address these barriers, strengthen wellbeing, build confidence and resilience and support each young person towards their individual education and life goals.

Based in Kelmscott, you will work directly with students, families and caregivers as part of a multidisciplinary welfare team that includes Counsellors, Social Workers and Youth Workers. This hands-on, relationship-centered work that reaches beyond the classroom and will suit someone who is equally comfortable working one-on-one with a student, facilitating a group activity, supporting families or collaborating with external agencies.

What you'll be doing

Your core focus is to monitor and support the holistic wellbeing and welfare needs of our students, providing counselling, early intervention,



welfare support and practical assistance so that students at educational risk can re-engage with learning.

Key responsibilities will include, but not limited to:

- Counselling & Welfare Support: Provide individual and group counselling, welfare intervention and practical support to students, working collaboratively with families and caregivers and the boarder welfare team.
- Case Work & Early Intervention: Identify and respond to student wellbeing, safety and engagement concerns, undertake case work with students and their families, develop appropriate intervention strategies and coordinate sustainable support for students and their families.
- Assessment & Referral: Assess student welfare and safety needs and in collaboration with the Welfare Team Leader, connect students and families with specialist, statutory and community services where further support is required.
- Student Wellbeing Programs: Develop and deliver structured welfare and wellbeing programs, psycho/welfare educational classes and small-group activities addressing areas such as personal safety, protective behaviours, healthy relationships and emotional wellbeing.
- Staff Support: Work with the Welfare Team Leader to support staff in responding to student welfare matters, participate in case reviews, meetings, professional development and regular supervision, maintaining appropriate case notes, records and reports.

What we're looking for Above all, we are looking for someone whose instincts match our school's philosophy. You will be empathetic, proactive and genuinely motivated by improving outcomes for young people. You will be able to build trust without judgement, advocate when a student needs a voice, hold professional boundaries when situations are difficult and work collaboratively with families and colleagues and outside agencies.





The skills and experience that matter most to us:

- Trauma-informed practice: A sound understanding of trauma-informed and relationship-based approaches to supporting young people experiencing complex circumstances
- Strong Relationships: The ability to build positive, trusting and professional relationships with young people who may initially be reluctant to engage with adults, services or education.
- Counselling & Case Management: Experience in counselling and case management, including working collaboratively with families and external agencies.
- Understanding of Disengagement: Knowledge of the social and welfare factors behind school disengagement and non-attendance and how wellbeing support can assist students to re-engage.
- Child Safe Practices: A demonstrated commitment to child safety, skilled boundaries, confidentiality and appropriate information sharing.
- Resilience & Communication: Professional and emotional resilience, interpersonal skills and the skilled judgement required to navigate complex or challenging situations calmly and effectively.
- Diverse Backgrounds: Experience working effectively with young people and families from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally diverse communities.

Essential:

- Recognised degree qualification in Social Work and eligibility for membership for the Australian Association of Social Workers
- Current Working With Children Check

- Recent National Police Clearance
- Demonstrated experience working with young people in a similar role
- Current "C" Class driver's licence and access to a suitable vehicle at all times
- Current recognised First Aid Certificate

Apply now! If you believe education can change the trajectory of a young person's life, understand that wellbeing is often the foundation that makes learning possible, and want to work somewhere relationships genuinely matter, we'd love to hear from you. Visit our website to learn more about Sowilo, our programs and our community and see if Sowilo could be the right fit for you: https://sowilocommunityhigh.org/

📌 CaRE School Social Worker (Kelmscott)
🏢 Sowilo Community High School
📍 Kelmscott