Rebuilding Shattered Lives – Supporting people of refugee background to recover from torture and other traumatic events
The Youth Engagement and Support Worker role (YES Worker) is situated in the Education and Early Years (EEY) program under Foundation House's wider Community and Sector Capacity Building (CSCB) program area. CSCB is an innovative program area designed to facilitate and support the development, growth, and empowerment of people and communities from refugee backgrounds to recover from pre‐arrival trauma and resettle positively. CSCB teams work to strengthen these communities across Victoria, helping them to thrive. Foundation House is participating in the Victorian Government's Early Intervention Officers in Schools (EIOS) pilot initiative by placing a Youth Engagement and Support Worker (YES Worker) to work across Yarra Hills Secondary College and Melba College—with a focus upon supporting boys in Years 7‐9 with refugee backgrounds from Burma/Myanmar. The key objective of the EIOS initiative is to support at‐risk children and young people to remain engaged in education and to achieve positive outcomes. The Victorian Government's EIOS Guidelines set the parameters for implementation of the EIOS program.
The Role
The role emphasises youth work approaches that strengthen belonging, participation and educational engagement for children and young people from refugee backgrounds. The role works collaboratively with the schools' leadership, Wellbeing team, staff, families, community organisations and Foundation House programs to support student engagement in education and respond to barriers affecting participation and wellbeing. The responsibility of the YES Worker is to provide direct individual case management to children and young people at risk of, or in, contact with the Youth Justice system to maximise their engagement with education – with a focus on improving school attendance, strengthening resilience, prosocial behaviours, sense of belonging and peer relationships.
* Work with children and young people to develop measurable goals/plans, which will also be used for assessing and reporting on the EIOS Program. Deliver support through individualised approaches to meet the needs of the child or young person.
* In consultation with the school leadership and Wellbeing team, ensure the school has appropriate supports and interventions.
* Make referrals or propose options to the school, to services and agencies that provide further specialist support (such as housing, drug and alcohol supports, cultural groups etc) ensuring appropriate visibility to the school.
* Advocate on behalf of the child or young person for key services identified – this might include assistance with applications for accommodation/housing or other welfare needs.
* Provide capacity building to school staff to identify and support children and young people who are experiencing intersecting vulnerabilities and who are most at risk of, or in, contact with the Youth Justice system to maximise their ongoing engagement with education.
* Advise the school on specific adjustments, supports and interventions that might assist children or young people engaging with the EIOS programme.
* Connect the school, teachers, families and community services to provide more joined‐up and 'wrap‐around' support for children and young people engaged with the EIOS program.
What you'll need to successfully apply
* Relevant qualification in youth work, community development, social work or a related human services discipline.
* Proven experience working directly with children, young people and/or families from refugee backgrounds.
* Demonstrated ability to apply culturally safe and trauma‐informed approaches to engagement and support, particularly within education and youth justice contexts.
* Demonstrated capacity to build respectful relationships with children and young people who may be disengaged, distrustful of systems, or resistant to support.
* Ability to collaborate with teachers, wellbeing staff and school leadership while maintaining a student‐centred advocacy role.
* Experience delivering early intervention and prevention responses.
* Demonstrated experience in case management or care coordination, including assessment, goal setting, action planning and review.
* Proven ability to work collaboratively with schools, community services, settlement providers, mental health services, and justice agencies.
* Strong connections to, or experience working with, Chin communities, along with multilingual skills, would be an advantage.
In return
* An attractive remuneration package of $100,776 plus superannuation and annual leave loading.
* Salary packaging benefits of up to $18,550 and novated car leasing options.
* A role with true purpose to make a difference in people's lives.
* A welcoming, highly diverse and supportive team environment.
* Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for staff and family members.
Key Details
* A newly created, full‐time, 24‐month fixed term position.
* Eastern Suburbs based role (Ringwood, Croydon, Mooroolbark).
* Salary of $100,776 + Super + NFP Salary Packaging + Leave Loading.
Appointment to the position is subject to a satisfactory National Police Check, Working with Children Check and Reference Check process. If you have lived for a continuous period of 12 months or more in another country within the last 10 years, an International Police Check from that country will also be required.
The successful applicant must be able to demonstrate proof of the Right to Work in Australia.
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