Youth Worker

Employment Term: Permanent, Part-Time | 11.4 hours per week, with flexible days

Location: Townsville

Remuneration: $40.49 p/hr + Super + NFP Salary Packaging (save tax and increase your take home pay)

Close Date: Applications will be reviewed as they are received and therefore may result in the role closing early if the right applicant is found.

Make a meaningful difference with UnitingCare Queensland

At UnitingCare we are leaders in crisis response, the protection of vulnerable people and children, financial resilience and family wellbeing. Our FaDS (Family and Disability Services) team work passionately across Queensland to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. UnitingCare Queensland is seeking a Youth Worker to join our Family and Disability Services team in Townsville, supporting young people and families across our Family Support, ASPIRE and Targeted Family Support programs.

Your part in our UnitingCare team

This role would suit someone who is calm under pressure, able to build trust, and confident working with young people and families in a respectful and practical way. It may also be a great opportunity for a student currently studying Social Work, Counselling, Psychology, Human Services, Behavioural Sciences or a related discipline who is looking to gain hands-on experience alongside their studies.

As a Youth Worker, you will provide practical, strengths-based support to young people and families in line with individual case plans. You’ll work alongside a supportive team to help young people build confidence, develop life skills, strengthen family relationships and connect with their community. This is a role where your ability to listen, stay grounded, build rapport and take a practical approach can make a meaningful impact.

In this role, you will:

• Build positive and respectful relationships with young people, parents and carers
• Provide practical, therapeutic and person-centred support aligned with individual case plans
• Help young people develop confidence, independence, life skills and social connections
• Support young people and families to participate in their communities
• Guide clients to make informed decisions about their lives and future pathways
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and other services to support positive family outcomes

What makes a difference for us?

• A relevant Youth Work qualification, or current study towards a bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Counselling, Psychology, Human Services, Behavioural Sciences, or a related discipline (and/or equivalent experience)
• Experience supporting children, young people or families, gained through employment, placement, volunteering or community involvement
• The ability to build rapport and maintain professional relationships with young people and families
• Current driver licence
• Working with Children Check (Blue Card)

What makes a difference for you?

• Flexible work arrangements to support work-life balance
• NFP Salary Packaging: Save tax and increase your take home pay by salary packaging your everyday living expenses and bills (up to $15,900) and meal entertainment (up to $2,650) per annum.
• A recognition and rewards platform, providing employee discounts at hundreds of retailers, including everyday expenses, holidays, health insurance, annual awards celebration, wellbeing and employee assistance programs
• 12 weeks paid parental leave and 2 weeks paid partner leave, available after 6 months service, in addition to the government scheme
• Diversity and inclusive leave, offering paid gender affirmation leave and cultural leave options (paid and unpaid) for those who may celebrate Lunar New Year, Diwali, Ramadan, NAIDOC weeks and other significant cultural events
• Career development opportunities to challenge yourself, grow and make a meaningful difference
• A positive and inclusive team based on respect, shared standards, strong values and a commitment to serving others

Child safe, Child friendly

UnitingCare is committed to being a Child Safe, Child Friendly organisation and will:

• provide welcoming, safe and nurturing services for children
• implement measures to prevent child abuse and neglect within our services
• appropriately and immediately address child abuse and neglect if it does occur
• abide by the Child Safe Standards and adhere to the Reportable Conduct Scheme

Diversity & Inclusion

Our approach is simple – everybody is welcome here. At UnitingCare, diversity is at the core of our who we are, our mission and our values. We are committed to providing equal opportunities to all employees no matter their sex, race, culture, sexual orientation, disability or gender identity. Demonstrating our commitment to reconciliation and building long-term employment opportunities for First Nations peoples, UnitingCare strongly encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants for this position.

Safe workplace

We work hard to make our services welcoming and safe for every person. We are united in keeping children, young people and the elderly safe from harm, within our services, workplaces and the communities we support. We are committed to speaking up loudly for their safety.

Commitment to Safeguarding

We are committed to creating services and workplaces that are welcoming and safe for every person. We work together to protect children, young people, adults and the elderly from harm within our services and the communities we support. We speak up for their safety to ensure their voices are heard. Our recruitment and workplace practices reflect our dedication in preventing abuse, harm and exploitation across UnitingCare.