Youth Justice Worker Department of Justice and Community Safety VIC location Bendigo, Goldfields and Macedon Ranges. Salary $30 - $39.99 per hour.

Be a role model. Get young people back on track. So many Victorians are doing it tough in the current circumstances, but there are some industries that have been hit particularly hard. Hospitality and tourism are two of them. If you’ve found yourself out of work recently, but you’re resilient enough to still feel positive about the future, we would love to receive your application to become a youth justice worker.

If you’ve been a waiter, bartender, venue manager or tour guide, you’ve likely worked closely with people every day. Perhaps you’ve got a knack for building rapport with people from all walks of life or you’re brilliant at managing disagreements. These aren’t just important attributes for someone working in hospo or tourism, they’re also essential traits in a youth justice worker. That’s why we recruit from these industries so often.

Becoming a youth justice worker isn’t the type of job you take on just to pay the bills for a few months, it gives you a new career. It’s not something to test out, it’s something to commit to because you believe in helping young people build a better future for themselves and our community. It’s not easy, but it’s definitely worth it. Multiple casual and ongoing vacancies. A challenging and rewarding role providing a secure and constructive environment for young people.

We're looking for empathetic, resilient people with life experience who can work effectively with vulnerable young people who often bring challenging behavioural issues. An hourly rate of $33.09. Rotating roster over a 76 hour fortnight. We are now recruiting youth justice workers for October 2020 intakes for the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre (View on a map).

What does a youth justice worker do youth justice workers understand that what leads a person to offend is complex, and that successfully dealing with it demands action beyond simple punitive measures. The safety and security of all people in our facilities is the number one priority, but our core ambition is still to provide young offenders with the confidence, perspectives, behaviours and skills that will enable them to become positive contributors when they return to their communities.

Guiding personal behaviour change is a massive task and means our staff have many responsibilities, including supporting young offenders in their personal development through individual casework. Encouraging young offenders to contact their families and act on referrals to services. Ensuring that a secure environment is maintained for the benefit of young offenders, staff and the community. Conducting searches and security checks, responding to codes and filing reports on incidents. You can learn more about being a youth justice worker here.

Information sessions we invite you to attend webinar information sessions for our youth justice precincts. This session will be an ideal opportunity to learn about the role and career pathways available. You will also chat with members of our youth justice workforce and be given the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

Your placement in a role will include a seven-week fully-paid training program, in which you will be given the skills you need for your new role. Still, some attributes are essential in our staff. Being a youth justice worker can be physically and emotionally taxing, so you'll need to be fit and resilient. It is also preferable that you possess the following life experience – be able to adapt to and manage challenging behaviours and to establish rapport and respect with the young people in your care.

Solid verbal communication and written communication – conflict management and skilled report writing will be a big part of your job. Resilience and self-management – to be able to maintain your passion and commitment to the job, even after setbacks. Generating and maintaining mutual respect and being a role model will be critical in your efforts to make a positive impact on the young people you work with.

"A good YJ worker is someone who can develop a rapport with the young people. And that’s especially important when you’re trying to de-escalate a situation."  Di, Supervisor, Parkville Youth Justice Precinct

Eligibility to be considered for a youth justice worker role you must be either an Australian citizen – a birth certificate, citizenship certificate or current passport is required as proof of eligibility, or A permanent resident of Australia, or A New Zealand citizen who has entered Australia on a valid passport, or Eligible to work in Australia for a period of more than six months. Prior to commencing work within the custodial facility, all candidates must independently obtain Current First Aid Certification (HLTAID003 is preferred, or the Provide Basic Emergency Life Support course - HLTAID002 at a minimum).

Current CPR. Working With Children Card (Employee) (External link). You will have time to obtain these certifications after learning of your successful application. A driver licence is desirable but not mandatory. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.