Careers

What does a Therapeutic Youth Worker do?

Every day, Life Without Barriers provides support and care to children and young people, as we work collaboratively with families, carers, and communities, to ensure they have the environment they deserve to grow. With a focus on ensuring safety and respect, this is an opportunity to make a positive and meaningful difference in these young lives and help pave a brighter future.

We are seeking Residential Youth Workers to join our team. In this role, you’ll be working within our Intensive Therapeutic Care program, providing direct support, care and mentorship to Young People aged 12-17 years living in our 24/7 therapeutic care homes in Wollongong. The Young People we care for have experienced backgrounds of trauma, abuse and/or neglect and may also have a mental health, physical or psychosocial disability.

While no day is the same, some of the tasks you’ll be involved in are:

• Assisting with daily routines such as wake up, bedtime, personal care and meals, completion of chores and laundry, recreational activities, homework supervision and assistance.
• Transportation and support to attend appointments.
• Supporting the involvement of families, facilitating and supervising contact visits.
• Supporting young people to develop and maintain positive family and kinship relations.
• Working within the scope of young person individual plan to support them to achieve their identified goals. 
• Maintaining high quality record keeping and documentation.

Learn more about Life Without Barriers services for Children, Young People & Families here: https://www.lwb.org.au/services/child-youth-and-family/

We are recruiting for both permanent part-time and casual contracts.

While there are variations in specific shift times depending on client needs, we are seeking candidates who have the flexibility to work across the following shift types:

• Afternoon shifts (2pm – 10pm)
• Sleepover shifts (4pm – 8am)
• Active night shifts (10pm – 7am)
• Weekends which also include morning shifts (6am – 3pm)

Please note: All shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an assessment centre on 6 February 2025.

To be a great Therapeutic Youth Worker, you will:

• Possess a relevant Diploma or bachelor’s degree level qualification OR
• Identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and have relevant work history related to role OR
• Have relevant work history and are willing to complete a Diploma of Child, Youth & Family Intervention offered by LWB (at no cost to you!) OR
• Have relevant work history and are already completing a relevant Diploma or bachelor’s degree qualification

You’ll also need:

• A NSW Working With Children Check (Employee)
• A current Provide First Aid (HLTAID003 or HLTAID011) & CPR (HLTAID001 or HLTAID009) Certificate/s
• A current Drivers Licence
• Demonstrated experience working with, forming, and maintaining professional, nurturing relationships with Young People who have experienced trauma, abuse, and neglect.
• Willingness to assist with activities of daily living, including personal care
• For permanent – you will need to have the ability to work a variety of shifts across a 24/7 roster (including weekend and night shifts including active and sleepover shifts)

To be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with a minimum of two (2) doses or hold a valid medical exemption certificate, in accordance with Life Without Barriers Employee COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. You will be required to provide evidence of your vaccination status during the recruitment process.

Why you want to join our team at Life Without Barriers

• Award Rates from SCHADS 2.4 – 3.4, dependant on qualifications & experience
• We’re invested in your success and will provide you with support to see you shine including;
• A comprehensive induction & ongoing mentoring support
• Paid Face to Face Training within your first 12 months of employment including Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), 3 days and Children & Residential Experiences (CARE), 4 days
• Fantastic salary packaging benefits through Maxxia – up to $15,900 tax free per year!
• Wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Program
• Employee benefits program, including access to discounted health insurance, car servicing and travel club membership.
• Inclusive & diverse workplace where you can be your whole self every day at work.

Applications close 27 January 2025.

Include your resume and covering letter in one document, click ‘Apply’ and follow the prompts. For any enquiries including persons with disability that require adjustments, contact Donna Lynch via donna.lynch@lwb.org.au         

We want to employ people who reflect the diversity of our clients to ensure we can support each client's individual needs and wants. We encourage people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background and people with disability to apply