Bridges Health & Community Care Ltd is proud to deliver the new Staying on Track (SoT) program, part of the Queensland Government's Making Queensland Safe plan funded by the Qld Department of Youth Justice and Victim Support. BHCC's SoT catchment area includes the Sunshine Coast (Gympie) and the Central Qld region (Hervey Bay, and Bundaberg with outreach to the North Burnett).
Staying on Track supports young people aged 10–17, leaving detention to successfully return to their families and communities.
The program will offer up to 12 months of support with at least 6 months of intensive supervision to help youth offenders turn their lives away from crime. Staying on Track is for young people aged who are remanded or sentenced by a court in a youth detention centre (YDC), or, by exception, held in a watchhouse. This includes young people who are released on bail, those subject to ongoing statutory community-based orders, and those who have completed a sentence.
The Positions
Bridges is seeking to employ experienced Family Practitioners to assist in the delivery of the Staying on Track program for youth ages 10 – 17 funded by the Queensland Youth Justice & Victims Support in Bundaberg and on teh Fraser Coast
Candidates must hold a Bachelor degree in a relevant discipline to be considered for this role.
A minimum of 2-3 years of experience working with at-risk youth is required for this position.
A valid Working with Children Check must be held at the time of application.
A full driver's licence is required due to the extensive travel requirements across the catchment areas.
The Family Support Practitioner will work closely with families of young people exiting detention to provide emotional support, strengthen family relationships, and facilitate successful reintegration. This role will engage families through outreach, build trust, and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure wraparound support is in place for both the young person and their family.
POSITION SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
· Engage and support families of young people involved in the Staying on Track program.
· Provide therapeutic interventions, emotional support, advocacy, and practical assistance to families.
· Support families to attend and participate in family meetings and support planning to strengthen relationships and reintegration outcomes.
· Work collaboratively with the SoT team and external stakeholders to ensure coordinated support.
· Promote culturally safe and trauma-informed practices in all interactions.
· Undertake outreach travel to engage families across the program's catchment area.
· Maintain accurate case notes and contribute to reporting and evaluation processes.
· Participate in reflective practice, supervision, and professional development activities.
Background and staffing
Bridges Health & Community Care Ltd (Bridges) Staying on Track (SoT) service model is grounded in strong local partnerships, cultural leadership, and decades of experience supporting young people within regional Queensland. We respond to intersecting challenges—such as trauma, disrupted education, co-occurring mental health and substance use, and early justice involvement—through sustained, tailored wraparound support. All team members receive trauma-informed training, cultural and general supervision, and reflective practice to ensure safe, strengths-based support for high-risk young people.
Service delivery is coordinated by a multi-disciplinary team that includes Program Leads cultural advisors, mentors, family support practitioners and operational support staff. This team is also responsible for referral management, mentoring, supervision, reporting, stakeholder engagement, and quality assurance.
Program Leads and Team Leaders ensure quality, risk and compliance in all areas, program fidelity, communication, stakeholder engagement and partnerships, and overseeing data and reporting. Cultural advisors guide the culturally safe delivery.
Operational support staff provide administrative support to the SoT staff, including processing referrals, capturing data, sourcing supplies and services, and ensuring staff have the resources necessary to fulfil their roles, e.g access to vehicles, IT etc.
Mentors are the primary point of contact for young people, but their work is embedded within a team structure that ensures continuity, safety, and accountability. Mentors receive regular supervision, participate in reflective practice, and are supported by staff in managing risk and delivering services aligned with the individual's Service Response Plan (SRP).
We target dynamic risk factors—such as family dysfunction, school disengagement, and substance use—by strengthening protective elements such as cultural identity, trusted relationships, motivation, and community connection. Our culturally safe, trauma-informed, and gender-responsive approach supports young people with dignity and respect, providing the scaffolding for long-term desistance from offending.
Applications
To register your interest please attach a cover letter and a copy of your CV below.