About the Team

Communities at Work's Galilee School is a registered, independent school, designed specifically for disengaged, vulnerable young people in Years 7-12 for whom the mainstream schooling environment has struggled to deliver positive outcomes. Working with the school means becoming a part of our social impact. It means helping our young people navigate complex challenges and building them a better future. It means supporting them in their education, learning and skill-building, and supporting the school in offering an alternative model of education.

About the Role

Galilee School is a trauma-informed educational setting supporting young people from diverse and complex backgrounds. The Senior Youth Worker plays a pivotal role in leading quality youth work practice, addressing barriers to student engagement and attendance, providing daily student support in alignment with Individual Learning Plans and Positive Behaviour Support Plans, and providing mentoring and support to the Youth Workers within the Student Support Team.

This role requires high levels of autonomy and collaborative skills, often managing complex situations and working under pressure. Your qualifications and in-depth experience will enable you to provide specialised advice, strategic and proactive development and delivery of interventions, and complex case management. You will possess a strong understanding of relevant policies related to young people, programs and activities, and have high levels of skill and experience to implement them.

Your duties will include but are not limited to:

Student Support & Engagement

Coordinate and provide individualised support for young people in alignment with the Student Support Framework and Teaching and Learning Framework.

Design and implement strategic interventions to address attendance and engagement barriers.

Support students with regulation and re-engagement in activities and programs.

Facilitate and deliver programs for students requiring intensive or specific support.

Build social capital within the school and in connection with the wider community.

Build and maintain collaborative relationships with service providers, external agencies and programs to enhance student and family support through referrals, delivery of services and programs, and ensuring wrap around care.

Leadership & Collaboration

Under the direction of the Head of Student Support, mentor and support Youth Workers through strategic planning, modelling, regular check-ins, debriefs, reflective practice and training.

Organise and participate in case conferences and meetings with students, families, staff, and other stakeholders in collaboration with the Head of Student Support and members of the Student Support Team and wider school team.

Collaborate closely with the Head of Student Support, Campus Coordinators and Head of Teaching and Learning on attendance and engagement, behaviour management, targeted programs and operational support.

Assist Head of Student Support to develop strategic directions and processes for student support, lead the Student Support Team campus case conferences, and oversee support of students.

Under the guidance of the Head of Student support, facilitate and deliver training for staff to build capacity within the school.

Administrative & Strategic Tasks

Record, track and analyse attendance data, manage exemption applications, provide referrals, reports, support letters, safety plans, risk assessments, and maintain detailed case notes.

In collaboration with the Head of Student Support, design and lead strategic interventions to improve student attendance and engagement.

Support and guide development, implementation and review of Positive Behaviour Support Plans and participate in the implementation and review of Individual Learning Plans.

Report regularly to the Head of Student Support.

Participate in staff meetings, professional focus days, and organisational events.

Assist with student transportation.

Other duties as directed within the scope of the role.

What We Need from You

Maintain current “Working With Vulnerable People” registration.

Bachelor, Diploma or Certificate IV in Youth Work or equivalent qualifications and experience in a relevant field.

Passion and demonstrated experience in working with vulnerable, “at-risk” and disadvantaged youth.

High levels of demonstrated experience and skills in conflict resolution and an ability to build influential and supportive relationships with young people and their families.

Well-developed communication skills (both oral and written), including liaison, negotiation, case management, reporting, support letter writing, and the development and delivery of youth focused programs.

Understanding and experience in trauma informed practices.

An understanding of the role of a young person’s Individual Learning Plan and how this is best supported by the role of the Senior Youth Worker.

The ability to develop and implement a student’s Positive Behaviour Support Plan.

Possess high level organisational, planning and time management skills. Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a close team.

Participate in physical demonstration of tasks and physical activities as well as exposure to environments and varying terrains.

Willingness to adhere to, and work within, the strategic vision, direction, and philosophy of Communities at Work Galilee School.

Current driver’s license and be able to drive vehicles with both manual and automatic transmissions.

Mental Health First Aid Training (or able to obtain).

Desirable

Leadership experience within a complex, youth focused, community or public sector organisations.

Experience of educational settings.

Understanding and experience in restorative practices.

Training and experience in facilitating relevant programs.

Benefits for You

Make a difference and change lives in the Canberra community as part of Canberra's largest community organisation.

Join an inclusive and friendly workplace, where people are at the heart of everything.

Flexibility when you need it with options for study leave, leave concessions, paid parental leave, and more.

Enjoy healthy living with our active lifestyle & healthy activity programs and reimbursements (including remedial massages, annual flu vaccination and more).

Receive guidance and support for mental health through our Employee Assistance Program.

Accrue paid leave - 14.5 days sick leave and 20.5 days annual leave per year (pro-rata for part-time).

Super (12%) + generous salary packaging options due to Communities at Work’s charitable status.

About Us

Communities at Work is Canberra's leading not-for-profit provider of early education and care. We invest in local community services. We’ve won the ACT Training Awards "Large Employer of the Year" five times in a row.

How to Apply

Click APPLY and ensure to include a cover letter alongside your resume or contact the HR Services and Recruitment team on 6293 6200 for a confidential discussion.

We reserve the right to close the job early once the position has been filled.

Communities at Work encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, young people, mature-aged workers, people with disabilities and people from culturally diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles.