Aboriginal Youth Officer Cobham Youth Justice Centre - St Marys

NSW Department of Communities and Justice; Sydney; On-site; AUD 72,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Structured training

Career pathways

Shift allowances

Ongoing development

Health & wellbeing

Meaningful work

Job summary

NSW Department of Communities and Justice – Werrington County NSW is seeking an Aboriginal Youth Officer to support young people in custody, helping them develop life skills and reintegrate into the community. In a secure Youth Justice Centre, you will supervise education and structured activities aimed at reducing reoffending.

Working with a multidisciplinary team, you will deliver culturally informed interventions, provide guidance to colleagues, and draw on your lived experience to foster

Qualifications

• Minimum NSW P2 Driver Licence.
• Current First Aid certificate (HLTAID011).
• Working With Children Check clearance.
• Ability to pass medical, fitness, and criminal history checks.
• Availability to complete 5 weeks of full-time training (ITAP).

Responsibilities

• Be involved in culturally responsive programs and activities.
• Support daily routines, wellbeing, and personal development.
• Encourage participation in education, vocational and recreational programs.
• Act as a positive role model, guiding behaviour change.
• Respond calmly and confidently to challenging situations.
• Maintain a safe, respectful, and structured environment.
• Assist with appointments such as court, medical, or casework.
• Complete reports and maintain accurate records.

Skills

Communication skills

Resilience

Life experience

Teamwork

Cultural awareness

Job description

NSW Department of Communities and Justice – Werrington County NSW

Employment type: Casual and unlock opportunities for temporary and ongoing roles

Salary: $36.20 per hour + loading (casual). Temporary and Ongoing - $71,777 – $80,129 + super + allowances

Shift work required: This role involves shift work across a 24/7 roster, including weekends and public holidays.

Training: Mandatory5 weeks of full-time Induction Training & Assessment Program (ITAP)

This position is open to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people only

Your role

As an Aboriginal Youth Officer, you will apply culturally appropriate approaches to support young people in custody to develop life skills, build positive behaviours, and prepare for reintegration into the community. In a secure Youth Justice Centre, you will supervise and engage young people in education and structured activities aimed at reducing reoffending.

Working within a multidisciplinary team, you will help maintain a safe, supportive environment while delivering culturally informed interventions and providing cultural guidance to colleagues. This role offers a meaningful opportunity to draw on your lived experience to support positive change in young people and contribute to safer communities.

What you’ll do

Working alongside psychologists, caseworkers, and other professionals, you will:

• Be involved in culturally responsive programs and activities
• Support daily routines, wellbeing, and personal development
• Encourage participation in education, vocational and recreational programs
• Act as a positive role model, guiding behaviour change
• Respond calmly and confidently to challenging situations
• Maintain a safe, respectful, and structured environment
• Assist with appointments such as court, medical, or casework
• Complete reports and maintain accurate records

You’ll receive five weeks of paid, full-time training to ensure you feel confident and prepared before starting in the Centre

What we’re looking for

We are encouraging applications from persons, who are culturally aware and responsive to the needs of Aboriginal people and communities.

You may be a great fit if you bring:

• Strong communication and people skills – able to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds
• Resilience and emotional maturity – remain calm and professional in high-pressure situations
• Practical life experience – from work, family, or community involvement
• Team-focused mindset – work collaboratively to maintain safety and structure
• Cultural awareness – respect and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and communities

Requirements

• Minimum NSW P2 Driver Licence
• Current First Aid certificate (HLTAID011) or willingness to obtain
• Working With Children Check clearance
• Ability to pass medical, fitness, and criminal history checks
• Availability to complete 5 weeks of full-time training (ITAP)

Within the recruitment process, you will be required to show proof of Aboriginality – please see below for further clarification.

As an Identified role, this position is open only to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons.

Where a position is identified, an applicant’s race is a genuine occupational qualification under the exception in Section 14(d) of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977.

There are two alternatives to confirming your Aboriginality, one of which must be uploaded to be considered for the role as follows. Either will be accepted:

Confirmation of Aboriginality form

or

Written confirmation from 2-3 Aboriginal organisations within the community in which you live/work, which addresses the three criteria listed below:

• is of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, and
• identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, and
• is accepted as such by the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

Download the role description.

For more information and advice on applying for roles at DCJ, visit Careers for Aboriginal people

What We Offer

• Paid, structured training to set you up for success
• Clear career pathways within Youth Justice and the broader DCJ network
• Competitive salary with shift penalties and allowances
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• Health, wellbeing, and Employee Assistance Programs
• A meaningful role where you can make a real difference every day

Want more information?Visit our website to see more information on Working for us.

We do work that really matters

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It’s work that really matters.

Applications close 25 October 2026 at 11:00pm AEST.

For more information about the role, application process, or recruitment adjustments, please contact Merina Maharjan on 0473 430 *** or *******@dcj.nsw.gov.au

Visit Recruitment adjustments on the DCJ website to learn more.

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience, and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers, and other diversity groups.

To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit Inclusion and diversity on the DCJ website.

Other Information

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

For more information visit Applying for DCJ jobs on the DCJ website (for all roles except Aboriginal Identified).

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.