Aboriginal Youth Support Coordinator

Department of Education, Western Australia; Southern Cross; On-site; AUD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Education, Western Australia is seeking Aboriginal Youth Support Coordinators to provide targeted support for students aged 5 to 18, mainly within the 8–11 age bracket, to boost wellbeing and engagement. Roles are permanent or fixed-term, with potential vacancies during the 2026 school year and into 2027.

AYSCs will work with schools and other agencies to reengage students, monitor processes, and share cultural knowledge to inform planning.

Qualifications

• Experience in a similar role providing support to Aboriginal students, families and schools.
• Excellent written communication skills to support information and correspondence.
• Strong interpersonal skills to build effective working relationships with students, families, schools and agencies.
• Sound understanding of Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing, trauma-informed practice and intervention strategies.
• Ability to collaborate with SEWB workers and Aboriginal Health/Mental Health staff.

Responsibilities

• Reengage students back into education in collaboration with schools and agencies.
• Monitor administrative systems and processes for students across SSEN:BE.
• Provide cultural consultation to inform planning and supports for students.
• Maintain place-based connections and relationships with community partners.
• Attend training and school development days as required.

Skills

Case coordination

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Cultural consultation

Trauma-informed understanding

Job description

We are seeking to establish a pool of Aboriginal Youth Support Coordinators for permanent and fixed term, full-time and part-time vacancies which may arise during the 2026 school year and up to the end of Term 3, 2027. Appointments may be offered at any time for vacancies that commence during this period.

School of Special Educational Needs: Behaviour and Engagement (SSEN:BE)

SSEN:BE is part of the network of specialist schools that operates under the Statewide Services pillar of Service Delivery. SSEN:BE provides educational support and services with schools for students who present with extreme, complex and challenging behaviours across a K-12 context. A continuum of consultative support with schools for students is delivered through Engagement Centres and the Midland Learning Academy. The services of Engagement Centres and the Academy are coordinated through SSEN:BE which provides the administrative structure that oversees and manages these services as a Statewide model of supports for schools, teachers and students. The services complement other teams working in networks, regions and schools, supporting a greater number of students across the state. Support is available across the public school system.

SSEN:BE coordinates the K-12 provision of the following three services:

• Professional learning to improve student engagement and behaviour
• Consultative support for schools needing additional assistance with planning for those students with very complex needs
• Direct and indirect support for individual students exhibiting the most extreme, challenging and complex needs.

Find out more about our school by visiting ssenbe.wa.edu.au or Schools Online

The Role

The Aboriginal Youth Support Coordinator role undertakes individualised case coordination and support services. Suitable applicants will provide support to Aboriginal students 5 to 18, particularly within the 8-11 age bracket, to improve overall wellbeing, engagement and success in education. Referrals for service come through the school pathway or can be supported local and grassroots services in the area (including some Government and NGO).

As an Aboriginal Youth Support Coordinator (AYSC) you will be responsible for, in collaboration with other agencies and schools, reengaging young people back within the education system, monitoring administrative systems and processes for students across SSEN:BE, and identify any opportunities for improvement. The suitable applicants may provide cultural consultation and collaboration to other SSEN:BE staff to inform planning and supports for students they are supporting.

You will ideally have previous experience in a similar position in providing support and advice to students, families and schools. As an Aboriginal Youth Support Coordinator, you should prioritise positive relationships between students, staff, agencies and families. You should display a sound understanding of the case management of students that includes knowledge of Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing, trauma-informed practice and effective intervention, monitoring and reporting strategies. The AYSC collaborates with similar roles across community and government services, including SEWB workers and Aboriginal Mental Health Workers and will be able to demonstrate solid place-based connections and relationships.

Suitable applicants should have excellent written communication skills to support the information and correspondence, as well as strong interpersonal skills to build effective working relationships.

Suitable applicants should hold and maintain a current WA "C" class drivers' licence as you may be required to attend schools, make home visits to meet with families and may be required to transport students. You will be required to attend associated training, professional learning and school development days at SSEN:BE's main school site which operates out of Statewide Services in Padbury and may involve travel across our school and regions.

Want to know more?

Full details of the role, selection criteria and training requirements are listed in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Stephen Johnson (Whadjuk Kaniyang), Deputy Principal, on 0491 227 454 or by emailing [e-mail]

During the school holidays, please contact Stephen Johnson on 0491 227 454 or [e-mail]

Equity and Diversity

We are committed to an inclusive and culturally responsive workforce reflecting the diversity in our schools and the Western Australian community. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, young people, people of diverse sexualities and genders, people with disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Explore our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan 2021-2025 for more details.

Eligibility

To work with us, you must:

• be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or have a valid visa with relevant work rights for the term of the appointment.
• obtain a valid Working With Children Check before you start; and
• consent to a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and obtain a current Screening Clearance Number issued by the Department of Education's Screening Unit before you start.

Additional eligibility and training requirements are outlined in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).