Posted: 19/09/2025
Closing Date: 06/10/2025
Job Type: Permanent - Full Time
Location: Richmond
Job Category: Education, Childcare & Training
About the organisation
Jesuit Social Services is a social change organisation working to build a just society where all people can live to their full potential. We reflect on the critical factors shaping our contemporary world; the social, political and economic contexts, and we adapt our practice to work with those most in need.
Since 1977, Jesuit Social Services has provided services to some of the most disadvantaged in our community.
We place a high priority on advocacy and are a leader in policy development and research.
Job Description
About the role
Reporting directly to the Head of Engagement, and within the Engagement Team.
Join the expanding Engagement Team, that provides a crucial role in engaging students and their families in school. The team is multidisciplinary, dynamic and works in partnership with the teaching team to ensure the school is engaging and meeting the complex learning and classroom behavioural needs of its students.
The students of the ILC have long histories of disengagement, involvement with police, trauma and complex behaviours, requiring a whole-school approach to wellbeing and engagement.
The Engagement Team leads the student, family and community engagement. Not limited to students, their families, legal teams, childrens courts, external TAFE providers, health services and when applicable; care teams, youth justice and child protection.
The role is dynamic and manages a shared caseload of 7-10 students, with a teacher, with the goal of engaging students into school and/or transition plans post-graduation.
This role is multidimensional involving but not limited to; assertive outreach, relationship building with students and community, collaboration and team planning with the teaching team, implementing interventions; such as 1:1 support in class and on the floor, leading student support group meetings, attending court and transition planning for further study / vocations post school.
This position will be primarily based in Richmond and travel will be required.
Competitive remuneration, plus salary packaging benefit is offered together with ongoing professional and career development.
Qualifications/ industry experience is preferred in the following areas:
- Bachelors in social work
- Case planning
- Candidate requirements
To be successful in the role you will have:
- A knowledge and understanding of current issues faced by young people in youth detention and their families.
- Relevant qualifications and professional experience.
- Experience engaging working with students /clients with diverse and complex needs
- Demonstrated understanding of and experience in working with a diverse range of stakeholders within the justice system (courts, DHHS, DJCS, etc).
- Demonstrated experience in case management
- Desired attributes:
- Experienced in outreach working with students with diverse and complex needs and of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
- Demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively with colleagues to improve the quality of programs and enhance student outcomes.
What Jesuit Social Services can offer you:
- An organisation that lives its values, through its day to day work
- A welcoming and supportive relational environment
- A comprehensive Induction and Orientation program
- Ongoing training and development related to your role
- Employee assistance program
- A competitive salary plus salary packaging benefits
- Generous leave
About the school
The Ignatius Learning Centre is a Catholic Specialist Secondary School, established by the Jesuit Social Services in 2021. The Ignatius Learning Centre offers an education that fosters responsibility and transformation and engages young people who have had a severely disrupted education and are at significant risk of incarceration and/or further involvement with the youth justice system. We are guided by Jesuit Social Services Way of Working, Catholic Social Teachings and Ignatian Pedagogy Paradigm where a holistic education is a contributor to the building of a just society and one where students can experience success in a safe and supportive environment. The Ignatius Learning Centre will enable students to restore hope, experience a sense of belonging, flourish and reach their potential. In 2026, The Ignatius Learning Centre will enroll approximately 40 young men Richmond and 20 young men in Sunshine, aged 15 – 17, offering the Victorian Certificate of Education – Vocational Major (VCE-VM) and the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) as the curriculum.
Desired Skills and Experience
About you
- Demonstrated understanding of young people involved with youth justice, histories of school disengagement and trauma.
- Demonstrated ability and experience, working with marginalized, complex, young people, their families and communities to achieve positive outcomes.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative, dynamic and multidisciplinary Engagement Team and teachers within a School context.
- Demonstrated experience in working in complex, high pressure demand driven environment.
- The Ignatius Learning Centre is guided by an evidence based culturally responsive pedagogy. Provide an example from your experience that demonstrates your understanding and implementation of culturally responsive practice.
- Ability to work with young people and their key stakeholders, not limited to; parents/carers, care teams, Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS), Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH).
- Understanding of and sympathy for the mission and ethos of Jesuit Social Services, and a demonstrated capacity to provide leadership in this dimension of the role.
How to apply
- Upload your resume and cover letter incorporating your responses to the Key Selection Criteria from the Position Description.
- For further information please contact Garcia Golden, Deputy Principal on 0400 888 950.
Applications close at 5.00pm on 6th October 2025
Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and the closing date may be subject to change without notice.
Jesuit Social Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. We celebrate and welcome all people regardless of ethnicity, cultural background, age, gender, sexuality, disability or religious affiliation.
We strongly encourage applications from all community members including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, members of the LGBTIQA+ community, people with a disability, people of culturally diverse backgrounds and working parents.
Jesuit Social Services is a Child Safe organisation and is committed to protecting children and young people from harm. We require all applicants to undergo an extensive screening process prior to appointment.