Youth Support Worker

• Fixed Term to 31 August 2026 with possibility of extension
• Part Time Contract – 30.4hr per week – 4 days or shorter hours over 5 days
• Location: Chigwell House - Nipaluna (Berriedale) TAS 7011
• $74,034 + super + NFP salary packaging benefits
• Make a meaningful difference to the lives of Australians in need

Life at Mission Australia

When you join the team at Mission Australia, you become part of a community who are determined to end homelessness and ensure people in need can thrive. United by our Christian purpose and values, we advocate for a fairer Australia, to meet the growing needs of people across the country. Together we’re building hope and possibility for all.

Find out more about us and our purpose.

Your Opportunity 

Mission Australia’s Targeted Youth Support Service (TYSS) provides voluntary, client‑centred and trauma‑informed support to highly disengaged young people aged 10–18 across Southern Tasmania. Operating from Chigwell House, this on‑site position also involves substantial outreach work within the community. The program supports young people facing multiple, complex barriers that place them at risk of disconnection, homelessness, or further involvement with Youth Justice or Child Protection.

As a Youth Support Worker, you will deliver intensive case management over a typical six‑month period, working flexibly across community settings to meet young people where they are—practically, therapeutically, and emotionally. You’ll develop individualised support plans built around SMART goals, grounded in the Tasmanian Child and Youth Wellbeing Framework’s six domains: Being Loved and Safe, Having Material Basics, Being Healthy, Learning, Participating, and Having a Positive Sense of Culture and Identity. Through strong relationship‑building, consistent engagement (6–8 hours per week), and collaborative care‑team practice, you’ll help young people reduce risk, restore stability, and reconnect with education, family, culture, and community.

While the role is initially for 6 months, if the pilot project demonstrates positive outcomes, there is the potential for ongoing funding and longer contract.

Your Key Responsibilities 

• Respond to referrals using inclusive, strengths‑based and trauma‑informed approaches, assessing risk, needs and readiness for voluntary engagement.
• Develop, implement and review individualised case plans with SMART goals, aligned to the six wellbeing domains and co‑designed with each young person.
• Provide intensive case management, including regular outreach sessions, ongoing assessment and flexible intervention tailored to complex and changing needs.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with families, care teams, community organisations, Youth Justice, and other professional networks to ensure coordinated, non‑duplicative support.
• Facilitate case conferences and maintain high‑quality records, case notes, data entry and administrative documentation in line with Mission Australia standards.
• Support young people to address barriers across life domains such as education re‑engagement, health, housing stability, family connection, cultural identity, and prosocial community participation.
• Plan and manage transition, exit and diversion pathways that reduce risk, strengthen resilience, and minimise escalation to statutory systems.

Requirements for Success 

• Tertiary qualifications in youth work, community services or a related discipline, with minimum 12 months professional experience supporting young people with complex needs.
• Demonstrated experience working with disengaged or high‑risk young people, including strong capability in trauma‑informed and client‑centred practice.
• Proven ability to build rapport quickly, manage challenging behaviours and apply effective de‑escalation strategies in emotionally dysregulated situations.
• Strong organisational skills, including high‑level administrative capability, accurate record‑keeping and the ability to manage multiple complex cases.
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary care‑team approach and maintain professional boundaries, confidentiality and ethical practice.
• Well‑developed stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to collaborate across community, government and non‑government partners.
• Understanding of diversionary pathways and early‑intervention frameworks that support young people to reduce offending and avoid further statutory involvement.
• Full driver licence with no restrictions.

Before starting work with us, you will need to undertake a national police history check, qualifications, and referee checks, and have a clearance to work with children/vulnerable people. 

Your Benefits

To ensure our employees feel valued, empowered, and celebrated, we provide a range of employee benefits including: 

• Rewarding work – every day you know you’re making a real difference
• Not-for-profit salary packaging, reducing your tax (details via AccessPay)
• Free external, confidential counselling and access to chaplaincy support.
• Volunteering opportunities  
• Extra leave available including an additional public holiday, additional annual leave day on your work anniversary and the opportunity to purchase further annual leave.

Our Culture 

Our innovative and inclusive culture will ensure you feel valued at Mission Australia as you help Australians in need and develop in your career.  

We prioritise the safety and wellbeing of everyone, both within our team and the individuals we serve.

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment. We actively support and encourage people of all backgrounds; gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background, disability, religion, and sexual orientation to submit an application and aim to ensure that the recruitment and employee experience is as accessible and inclusive as possible. So, whoever you are, if you’re skilled and actively support our purpose and values, you would be welcome at Mission Australia.

If you live with disability and require support to submit your application, please email talentattraction@missionaustralia.com.au or visit our Careers page for additional contact details.

We strongly encourage applications from people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. For culturally safe support or assistance with your application, please contact us at Deadlycareers@missionaustralia.com.au  

Find out more about a career with Mission Australia. 

How To Apply

Click ‘Apply’ and send your application today!

As a committed Circle Back Initiative employer, we will respond to your application.

Applications for this role are shortlisted as received and we are interviewing through the advertising period.  Please apply as soon as possible to be considered. Thank you