Assertive Outreach Worker

Launch Housing; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 65,000 - 90,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing days

Ceremonial leave

Carers leave

Study leave

Flexible working arrangements

Purchased leave

17.5% leave loading

8 weeks’ gender neutral paid parental/

Job summary

Launch Housing in Melbourne is seeking an experienced outreach worker for the Rough Sleepers Initiative to support people sleeping rough across multiple inner-city councils. You will conduct assertive outreach, coordinate referrals and provide practical support and advocacy for clients with complex needs.

The role is permanent part-time based in Collingwood, with 8:00am-4:06pm hours and a focus on housing outcomes and client safety.

Qualifications

• A tertiary qualification in human services, social work or other relevant discipline.
• Demonstrated understanding of homelessness issues and ability to work with marginalized clients.
• Experience in providing support and applying case-management principles for complex needs.

Responsibilities

• Finding, identifying and engaging with people who are sleeping rough.
• Assertive and persistent outreach to provide purposeful assistance to clients with complex needs.
• Coordinate referrals to City of Melbourne, City of Port Phillip, City of Yarra, City of Stonnington and surrounding services.
• Respond to secondary contacts such as council and emergency services.
• Survey clients to inform program resources and targeted support.
• Provide timely referral, assessment and advocacy for housing options.
• Short-term support to a caseload for housing outcomes.

Skills

Empathy & communication

Case management

Flexibility

Interpersonal skills

Driver's licence

Education

Tertiary qualification in human services or social work

Tools

PC-based office applications

Job description

Why join Launch Housing

Launch Housing is an independent Melbourne based community organisation passionately committed to ending homelessness. From providing high quality housing and an innovative range of support, education and employment services, we bring solutions to homelessness under one roof for thousands at risk of, or experiencing the crisis and trauma of homelessness. With over 400 staff working across 16 locations in metropolitan Melbourne, we combine direct action with advocacy, research and innovation to drive widespread change.

Our people are the backbone of our organisation and supporting their wellbeing and professional development is critical to our ability to help our clients and the community. We value lived experience and diversity in our staff, and provide high-quality training & supervision, wellbeing days, access to an Employee Assistance Program and much much more to ensure your career with us is fulfilling.

Don’t just walk past homelessness. Join the solution.

Our permanent and fixed-term employee benefits include:

• Contributing to useful and rewarding work and giving something back to the community
• Wellbeing days, ceremonial leave, carers leave and study leave
• Flexible working arrangements
• Purchased leave
• 17.5% leave loading
• 8 weeks’ gender neutral paid parental leave after 12 months of service for both the primary and secondary carer
• Training and career growth opportunities across Launch Housing
• A portion of your income can be tax‑free by salary packaging your personal expenses
• Additional tax‑free salary packaging on dining and accommodation expenses
• Positive, supportive and progressive work environment

About the opportunity

This position is part of the Rough Sleepers Initiative (RSI) program, which supports people sleeping rough in the City of Melbourne, City of Port Phillip, City of Yarra, City of Stonnington, City of Frankston and the City of Greater Dandenong.

The Rough Sleepers Initiative is comprised of Assertive Outreach Workers and Community Health Nurses from Bolton Clarke’s Homeless Persons Program (HPP) and works in close collaboration with a number of other key service providers.

The Rough Sleepers Initiative approach incorporates a set of specific principles, practices and tools developed internationally which are being adapted in the Australian context. These include, but are not limited to:

• Location and identification of people sleeping rough using assertive outreach
• Use of specific strategies and tools to identify and prioritise the most vulnerable and unwell for intensive support
• Street level service delivery, interim housing support and links to other support services
• Referrals to various housing and accommodation options

Launch Housing Leadership Framework

What you’ll be doing

• Finding, identifying and engaging with people who are sleeping rough
• Assertive and persistent outreach to provide purposeful assistance to clients with complex needs and challenging behaviours.
• Working with Advance to Zero projects and completing referrals to the City of Melbourne, City of Port Phillip, City of Yarra, City of Stonnington, City of Frankston and City of Greater Dandenong Service Coordination project
• Responding to secondary contacts such as council and emergency services.
• Sensitively surveying people who are sleeping rough, providing program intelligence for effective resource allocation.
• Utilising assessment tools to identify people in the most need of program resources.
• Offering appropriate and timely support, including referral, assessment, and advocacy
• Short term support to a nominated case load of clients to assist in seeking suitable housing options
• Ensuring clients are exited to appropriate supports

Permanent part‑time role (60.8 hours per fortnight) based at Collingwood.

Working hours are 8:00am-4:06pm.

What we’re looking for (key selection criteria)

• A tertiary qualification in human services, social work or other relevant discipline (desired).
• Demonstrated understanding of the issues which those experiencing homelessness confront, and skills and aptitude in working for people who are marginalized and disenfranchised.
• Experience in the provision of support, and an understanding of the principles of case‑management, in achieving effective outcomes for clients with complex needs
• Knowledge of the housing service system
• Experience of outreach working, interim support and working with clients who have complex needs
• Demonstrated ability to build positive relationships and communicate with people of diverse backgrounds and abilities, coupled with the ability to act with empathy, sensitivity and understanding.
• Demonstrated capacity to work flexibly, and have the ability to manage competing demands and the setting of boundaries and limits
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Competence in using PC‑based office applications and internet
• A valid Victorian driver’s licence (mandatory)
• Understanding of, or a demonstrated commitment to upholding, Child Safe Standards in the workplace
• Demonstrated commitment to the values of Launch Housing and our mission to end homelessness

Applications close 14 October 2026.

For more information please contact [e-mail]

Launch Housing offers a wide range of career opportunities and employs a diverse range of talent. We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons to apply! We acknowledge, respect and celebrate Aboriginal cultures, languages, connections to Country and heritage, customs and practices. We're committed to support Aboriginal peoples to obtain genuine and fulfilling career with us!

Launch Housing is a dog-friendly organisation, which allows dog owners to bring them in some of our sites, please contact the relevant Hiring Manager if you have any questions or concerns prior to your interview.

If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know at [e-mail].

Launch Housing is committed to being a child safe organisation and has zero tolerance to child abuse. Our hiring process involves rigorous screening of applicants. All of our people including students, contractors and volunteers must hold a valid Working with Children Check and satisfactory criminal history record check.

Launch Housing is an Equal Opportunity employer and supports accessible working arrangements for all. This includes people with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, culturally, religiously and linguistically diverse people, young people, older people, women, and people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender diverse, intersex or queer. We acknowledge Lived Experience as a unique expertise and encourage people with a Lived Experience of Homelessness to apply. All applicants must have the right to work in Australia.

Launch Housing is working to become more trauma informed and as a leading employer in the homelessness sector, it is important to let you know that you will hear stories of distress, hardship, trauma, or violence when working with us. We encourage you to reflect on how this may impact you when considering applying for the role.

• Superannuation
• NFP Salary Packaging (tax savings!)
• Additional wellbeing leave available