Is this you?  

You’re passionate about working with at-risk and vulnerable young people with AOD concerns, and are familiar with using a family-focussed approach to case management. You've got at least 1-year of experience in the space and relevant qualifications to back it up.  

You know the importance of providing effective interventions, client advocacy and implementing the principles of harm minimisation when developing treatment plans and supporting young people with substance misuse, housing breakdown, mental health & relationship challenges. 

You’ll hold a qualification in Social Work, Youth Work, Community Development, or similar disciplines have completed AOD units of competency. 

You’re bendy

You know not every day will be the same, you can switch from providing support, to advocating for service access, to writing up case notes in the blink of an eye. Changing lives is your passion but you still embrace rolling up your sleeves and mucking in to get the job done.  

You see the person

You’re full of creative ways to meet our service users where they are at and believe that engagement shouldn’t be a one size fits all model. You always see the person, not just their immediate situation because you understand that everyone has different needs, and that is okay.  

You care 

Our frontline warriors and change makers are all here because we genuinely want to break the cycle of disadvantage, and we want you to want that too! 

A bit about the role

You will be part of our Youth Outreach Team, empowering young people with AOD issues and will usually be based out of our HQ in Glenroy, but outreach may take you to other spots across Melbourne’s northwest.   

Here are some of things you could expect to be doing in your first month:  

• Managing a caseload thats focussed on engaging service users in structured and semi-structured counselling sessions.  
• Supporting service users to reduce their level of substance use and high-risk behaviours, and experience of AOD-related harm. 
• Working with young people to improve their overall physical and mental health, including emotional and psychological wellbeing.    
• Ensuring some of our program's most vulnerable young people are linked with the appropriate services to address their holistic needs and barriers to health and housing outcomes. 
• Engaging service users to improve their health literacy and capacity to better understand and manage their own health and wellbeing. 
• Integrating care with the existing service system to enhance service coordination and collaboration. 
• Conducting supported referrals across a range of domains.  
• Undertaking professional develop to grow within your professional self. 

A bit about us

We are an independent, registered charity providing front line support to young people and people experiencing homelessness to open up pathways out of poverty and homelessness - breaking the cycle of disadvantage. Our focus is on respect, client-centred care, and harm prevention so people can lead longer lives, have improved health, meaningful employment, and a greater sense of belonging, safety, and security through our holistic model of care.  

In 2021 alone, this is (some) of what we got up to:  

• Over 8,000 people accessed our services  
• Welcomed 16,431 visits to The Living Room  
• 80% of the young people we supported landed sustainable employment or education outcomes 
• More than 150,000 coffees were sold through our social enterprise cafes with $73K profit re-directed into homelessness and youth services 
• Experienced 130,000+ contacts through our harm minimisation programs 

You can read more in our Impact Report or you’ll find us right across Naarm/Melbourne with our main hubs located in Glenroy, Sunshine, Werribee, Melton and on Hosier Lane in the heart of the city. 

Why should you work with us?   

We’re a casual and flexible, yet professional and high energy workplace. We encourage flexibility for a healthy work/life balance and although we are very serious about our work, we are very chill when it comes time to wind down. Every day you spend working with us, you’re making a difference. Although they're pretty great perks, we don’t just stop there… here are some of the others: 

• Free, locally roasted coffee at the office  
• A portion of your income as tax-free through generous salary packaging benefits 
• PLUS additional tax-free salary packaging on meals & entertainment expenses 
• Flexible work environment & flexibility to take extra unpaid leave for travel while working 
• 17.5% Annual Leave Loading   
• Uncapped Employee Assistance Program  
• Additional paid leave for caregiving, wellbeing, family violence, study PLUS an extra 5 personal leave days 

Site Location: This role will be based at our Youth Hub in Glenroy with outreach across Northwest Melbourne.  

Salary 

We’re a non-profit organisation that fills from a full cup but not a full pocket. In order to attract strong talent, we pay competitively and remunerate based on your skills and experience and are determined to make this the best job you'll ever have. The Youth AOD Outreach Worker position is paid under the SCHADS Award (Level 4).  

 

Think you have what it takes for this role?  

Send through your resume and a cover letter outlining your preferred site location to [email protected].  

Please note is a requirement of all Youth Projects positions that the successful applicant holds a valid Working with Children’s Check, Police Check and is vaccinated for Covid-19.

Our commitment to diversity 

At Youth Projects, we value diversity and believe that a range of backgrounds brings a variety of ideas, perspectives and experiences that will enhance our effectiveness. We promote a workplace that actively seeks to include, welcome and value unique contributions and encourage applications from candidates with a disability, culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and indigenous candidates 

Safety screening 

Youth Projects has a zero tolerance for child abuse and is committed to the provision of a child-safe organisation. All Youth Projects staff must undergo Police and Working with Children Checks.