Youth Aod Worker (Outreach)

You’re passionate about working with at-risk and vulnerable young people and you are familiar with using a holistic approach to case management. You know the importance of providing effective interventions, client advocacy and implementing the principles of harm minimisation. You know not every day will be the same, you can switch from providing one-on-one outreach support, to advocating for service access, to writing up case notes in the blink of an eye.

Changing lives is your passion so you can make things happen by turning thoughts into action. You want to do things now, rather than simply talk about them. You love to organise, but you also have a flexibility that complements this ability. You like to determine how all the pieces and resources can be arranged for maximum client outcomes!

he Youth AOD Outreach Worker sits within the Youth Outreach Team and is responsible for delivering a comprehensive range of individual counselling and case management support services with a focus on substance use issues to young people (aged 12-25) in the Northwest region.

Working within a social model of health, you will operate within a case management and brief intervention model to conduct assessments, provide direct interventions, undertake structured and semi-structured counselling sessions and conduct supported referrals across a range of domains such as: housing breakdown, mental health & relationship issues. Alongside providing one-on-on support to individual clients, the Youth AOD Outreach team also engages with high schools in the region to provide both brief interventions and the facilitation of group sessions to provide education and information to students.  
 

Key Requirements:

• Qualifications: Possession of a minimum Certificate IV in Social Work, Youth Work, or Community Services and Certificate IV AOD or the Core Competencies. 
• Expertise in At-Risk Areas: Experience or familiarity with working in Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) is highly desirable, demonstrating an understanding of these complex issues.
• Client Advocacy: Capability to advocate for clients to access essential services, displaying a commitment to ensuring the well-being and needs of at-risk young people are met effectively.
• Harm Minimisation: Proficiency in implementing harm minimisation strategies and principles, understanding the importance of harm reduction and safety for vulnerable populations.
• Action-Oriented Mindset: Demonstrated ability to turn ideas into actionable plans, prioritising tangible results and outcomes for the benefit of at-risk youth.
• Youth-Centered Engagement: Capacity to engage, support, and coach disengaged young people using a flexible, youth-oriented approach, collaborating with other supports and services to create holistic interventions.

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-centered 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.

This is (some) of what we got up to:

• Supported more than 2,864 young people across our youth outreach, employment, training and social enterprise programs into work, education and re-engaged back into the community.
• Took our youth outreach out to the Westin response to an emerging mental and social wellbeing crisis whilst still supporting 422 young people in the North.
• Sold over 250,000 coffees at The Little Social and re-invested over $100K back into youth and homelessness services here at Youth Projects.
• Experienced 12,497 client visits at The Living Room– with the number of people dropping-in each day, doubling.
• Shared over 8,875+ meals, 14,471+ practical supports and over 2,678 health promotion + counselling sessions at The Living Room
• After hours, our Night Nurses provided 3,243 episodes of care and our NSPs saw almost 15,000 contacts.
• And… we opened our fourth social enterprise café at the Victorian Pride Centre, re-opened The Living Room as a world-class center AND launched The Little Social Catering Co. too!

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, St Albans, Melton and on Hosier Lane in the heart of the city. 

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 ($15,900)
• PLUS additional tax-free salary packaging on meals & entertainment expenses
• Flexible work environment
• 5% Annual Leave Loading
• Uncapped Employee Assistance Program
• Additional paid leave for caregiving, wellbeing, family violence, study PLUS an extra 5 personal leave days

Sound like you'd vibe at Youth Projects? 

👉 Send through your resume + a cover letter outlining your response to the key requirements by clicking "Apply for this Job". 

Recruitment for this position will be undertaken as applications are received and only successful applicants that have addressed the key requirements will be notified. Please note is a requirement of all Youth Projects positions that the successful applicant holds a valid Working with Children’s Check and Police Check. 

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 is committed to being a Child Safe organisation, providing an environment where children who come into contact with the organisation are safe and feel safe. Youth Projects has a zero tolerance for child abuse. All Youth Projects staff must undergo Police and Working with Children