Who We Are

Employed by our community, to work for our community: engaging, educating, and empowering individuals, families, and our community in their journey to self-determination.

MDAS has embarked on a commitment to become a leading Aboriginal organisation known for its ability to make a practical difference to client’s lives, families and our community.

This is underpinned by our LORE which is the foundation stone of who we are, what we do and why we do it.

Our organisation’s services, people and culture will be guided through strong leadership and engagement with community and MDAS teams.

Our Purpose

Healing, supporting, serving, and protecting our communities throughout the Mallee Region.

Healthy, resilient, and capable Aboriginal people and families who can be their very best selves and exercise true self determination.

Caring for, strengthening, empowering, motivating and guiding our Mob.

Your Role

The objectives of the Youth Justice program are to improve justice outcomes, provide effective day to day supervision and support to young Koori people with multiple barriers subject, or at risk of subject to, Youth Justice supervision to facilitate (re)connection training or employment pathways, using a client focused and community development approach and Identify Koori young people who may be diversionary or at risk of entering the criminal justice system and utilise existing programs and services to support their needs, helping to lower the risk and likelihood of further re-offending.

The Youth Justice Caseworker is responsible for and advocating for the best interests of youth, particularly in regard to, education, training, employment, health, social and emotional wellbeing. Engage the young person’s family or other support systems, building their resources to assist in diverting them away from offending behaviours through involvement in family and community-based activities. Providing intensive, flexible and tailored assessment and case management support to young Aboriginal youth within the Justice or Education system.

Why Join MDAS?
Competitive and market-based salary with 17.5% leave loading.
Salary packaging benefit s.
Additional 10 Health & Wellbeing Days annually**
Early finishes every Friday at 4:00pm.
Access to ongoing professional development and cultural safety training.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for personal and work-related support.

Key Selection Criteria:
• Knowledge of relevant guidelines and principles pertaining to youth justice or other relevant experience. Sound understanding of the local Aboriginal community, family dynamics and issues faced within the local community. Demonstrated experience in assessment skills including the capacity to apply a range of intervention strategies.
• Uses knowledge and experience to develop and implement systems to plan and monitor own performance. Highly developed organisational skills and a demonstrated capacity to work flexibly and within timeframes, utilising stress management skills, maintaining selfcare.
• With a strengths-based approach, solve problems based on operational knowledge and experience, scanning for useful information, looking for underlying causes and suggesting alternative actions for clients and staff.
• Communicate, consult, liaise and negotiate with a broad range of people both Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal people at all levels to achieve broad project objectives and goals.
• Take action to provide services that are inclusive of Aboriginal people and engage in learning about other cultures to better establish relationships and improve services.

Qualification/s:
Qualification of Certificate IV in Community Services or higher or undertake study during first 12 months in the role.

Other Screening Requirements:
A current Driver’s License that allows you to drive in Australia.
A current Employee Working with Children Check card.
A current National Police Check.