Ongoing Expression of Interest – Therapeutic Child & Youth Workers
Junction Support Services – Mount Barker SA
Northern, Southern and Mt Barker Locations
Social, Community, Home Care & Disability Services Award Level 3
Inspire Growth. Transform Lives. Become part of Junction Australia's dedicated team delivering impactful, trauma‑informed care that helps young people reach their full potential.
This is more than employment—it's a chance to create lasting, meaningful change. It's an opportunity to grow both personally and professionally while helping young people reclaim their futures and build strong foundations for life.
Why Choose Us?
We are a growing and innovative social enterprise supporting around 10,000 South Australians each year through housing and community services. Seeking opportunities to build positive pathways and connected thriving communities, we are one of the few South Australian organisations offering an integrated model of housing and support. Together, we are committed to effecting long‑term positive change for those we work with and the communities we work in.
Together, we are improving lives and building strong, resilient, and connected communities.
The Opportunity
As a Therapeutic Child and Youth Worker, you will play a vital role in providing consistent, trauma‑informed care to children and young people living in residential care. This opportunity allows you to make a meaningful impact by creating a safe, nurturing home environment where young people feel valued, supported, and empowered to heal and grow.
The role centers around building strong, trusting relationships and delivering structured, responsive support tailored to each individual's developmental, emotional, and cultural needs. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team to ensure stability, wellbeing, and positive life outcomes for the children and young people in your care.
Key Aspects of the Role
* Trauma‑Informed Care & Relationship Building – Build strong therapeutic relationships and support young people with complex behaviours using trauma‑responsive strategies.
* Emotional Resilience & Self‑Awareness – Maintain emotional regulation and consistency in high‑pressure situations, providing calm and reliable support.
* Practical Support & Daily Living Skills – Assist with routines, personal care, and household tasks, while fostering independence and life skills.
* Cultural Safety & Child‑Centered Practice – Uphold children's rights and support their identity, voice, and cultural connections—particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.
A day in this role may include:
* Support daily routines including meals, school transports, appointments, and bedtime to provide stability and structure.
* Build trusting relationships and offer emotional support using trauma‑informed approaches.
* Promote life skills and independence through everyday activities like cooking, personal care, and community outings.
* Maintain a safe, nurturing home environment while completing documentation and collaborating with your team.
What We Offer
* Values‑driven culture
* Generous salary sacrifice benefits
* Great professional development opportunities
* A You are Amazing Day – an extra day of paid leave to spend however you want
* A NAIDOC Day – an extra day of paid leave to attend NAIDOC celebrations
* A supportive, flexible work environment with paid parental leave and a strong focus on staff wellbeing
* Access to wholesale prices on selected products at Harvey Norman
* Access to corporate health insurance and annual flu vaccinations
Our Ideal Candidate
We are seeking a highly passionate professional who:
* Holds a Certificate IV in Youth Work, Child, Youth and Family Intervention, Community Services or equivalent (or is working towards it)
* Has sound communication and interpersonal skills to effectively engage and establish rapport with clients, staff and external agencies
* Has demonstrated understanding of appropriate responses to clients with trauma‑related behaviours that demonstrate high and complex needs
* Has the ability to work in a team environment and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders
* Has the ability to work across a 24/7 roster and undertake passive (sleep‑over) and active night shifts
* Has the ability to work across different locations (houses) when required
You Will Need To
* Complete our online application process
* Undergo pre‑employment testing as part of the recruitment process which will include psychological assessments
* Hold a current Working with Children Check (WWCC)
* Hold a current Senior First Aid Certificate
* Hold a current Safe Environments Certificate
* Hold an unencumbered Australian driver's licence and be willing to drive
* Be prepared to undertake Junction's onboarding and induction process which would be a blend of classroom and on‑site learning.
How to Register Your Interest
To register your interest, please fill out the questions below. On the following page, you'll be asked to add your resume and cover letter—please have these ready before you apply.
Please upload copies of relevant qualifications and certifications including working with children check, safe environments, first aid, and your driver's licence.
You will be notified if shortlisted and contacted once we have a vacancy.
The position description is available by clicking here or for further confidential inquiries contact our Human Resource Business Partner, Julie Thinagaran on 7***.
Junction is an equal opportunity employer that embraces a culture of diversity. We encourage applications from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, people with disability, and people from every culture, gender and sexuality identity, age and ethnic background. Junction is committed to being a Child Safe organisation and has zero tolerance for child and family abuse.
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