Senior Aboriginal Youth Worker
At Stepping Stone House, we truly believe in inspiring youth to build their future and be the very best they can be!
We are seeking a passionate and enthusiastic Senior Aboriginal Youth Worker who will be responsible in providing support services to the young people in the Bawaga Semi Independent Living Program. The Bawaga program is designed specifically for Aboriginal young people.
About Stepping Stone House
Stepping Stone House is a not-for-profit charity that provides accommodation and personal development for children and young people aged 12-24 years old who through no fault of their own find themselves homeless, at risk of homelessness or unable to live at home. We have a foundation of building resilience through outdoor education and activities.
A few other gems for you:
- Learning and Development – at SSH we extensively invest in the learning and development of our team members so they can become the very best they can be.
- Cultural Diversity – 48% of SSH team members were born overseas or their parents were.
- Gender Leadership diversity – females make up 80% of the SSH operational leadership team and 66% of the SSH Board of directors.
- Motivation – 96% of our staff team strongly believe in the Vision, Mission, and Values of Stepping Stone House.
- Family – 96% of our staff team strongly agree that Stepping Stone House support and respect family responsibilities outside of work.
- Career opportunities – 36% of our SSH staff team have been promoted internally.
To be successful in this role – you will need to be hard working, have a sense of humour, be flexible in your approach, be enthusiastic, resilient and show empathy and respect for the people you work with. You will need to be a self-starter, be honest in your approach and have passion for working with young adults.
What you will be doing – Key Responsibilities
- Build safe, therapeutic relationships with young people using trauma-informed, strengths-based approaches.
- Support young people to develop independence through daily living skills, routines, education, health, and community engagement.
- Contribute to the safe, well-run daily operations of the home, including routines, meals, activities, and household standards.
- Monitor progress and complete accurate case notes, incident reports, and required documentation.
- Lead and support youth workers through role-modelling, coaching, and acting as delegate when required.
- Ensure compliance with child safety standards, WHS, policies, and risk management requirements.
- Work collaboratively with families, case managers, and external agencies to support positive outcomes.
- Promote a positive culture aligned with organisational values, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
About You – Selection Criteria
Essential criteria:
- Aboriginality (Aboriginality is considered a genuine occupational qualification and is authorized under section 14 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977)
- Minimum 1 year’s paid experience in residential Out-of-Home Care (OOHC)
- Demonstrated experience working with young people with complex trauma and challenging behaviours
- Sound knowledge and application of trauma-informed and therapeutic care frameworks (e.g., ARC, TCI)
- Demonstrated skills in negotiation, conflict resolution, de-escalation, and engagement to achieve positive outcomes for young people
- Solid understanding of relevant legislation, child protection responsibilities, NSW Child Safe Standards, and residential care accreditation requirements
- Current NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC) and National Police Check
- Ability to remain calm under pressure, respond sensitively and confidently to distressed young people, and treat all individuals with dignity and respect
- Proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders
Desirable criteria:
- Previous experience as a Key Worker or Senior Youth Worker in residential care
- Further qualifications (e.g. youth work, social work)
- Previous leadership or mentoring experience in a residential or youth work setting
Person Specifications:
- Professionalism and passion for the work and the people
- Emotional intelligence and maturity
- Honest, and trustworthy
- Evidence of collaborative working style and ability to build good working relationships in team
- Ability to bring fun to the workplace
- Sense of Humour
Work with us and you will enjoy:
- Salary Packaging benefits
- Employee Assistance Program
- Time off in lieu
- Training, development and succession planning
Stepping Stone House is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applicants who have an Indigenous and / or culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background.
Stepping Stone House provides regular supervision and support for all staff and opportunities for professional development. Salary, Conditions of employment are based on the Social, Community, Home Care, and Disability Services Award Level 4. Salary packaging is available.
Please note: Child Safety is at the forefront of all work completed at Stepping Stone House. If your application is successful, you will be required to obtain a Working with Children Check, a Criminal History Check and provide consent to be registered on the OCG’s residential youth workers registry.