Case Worker

Mission Australia; Sydney; On-site; AUD 74,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging

Counselling services

Volunteering opportunities

Fitness passport

Extra leave

Leave purchase option

Job summary

Mission Australia is seeking a dedicated outreach worker for the Missionbeat team in Sydney. This on-site role runs Monday to Friday, 1pm–9pm, patrolling the city and surrounding areas, engaging with people experiencing homelessness and linking them to housing, health and support services.

You will carry out welfare checks, crisis support, risk assessments and collaborate with partners to create safety pathways. A current driver's licence and clearance to work with children are required.

Qualifications

• Relevant qualification in Social Work, Community Services or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Experience working with people experiencing homelessness or complex social challenges.
• Ability to stay calm and make sound decisions in high pressure situations.
• Strong engagement and communication with diverse communities; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples encouraged to apply.
• Valid driver’s licence and willingness to drive across Sydney; police check and clearances required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct street-based outreach patrols and welfare checks across metropolitan Sydney.
• Respond to crisis situations, providing immediate practical assistance and support.
• Assess needs, undertake risk assessments and develop support pathways and plans.
• Build trusting relationships with clients facing complex challenges and connect to housing, health and services.
• Drive outreach van and provide safe transport to support services; maintain case notes and documentation.

Skills

Communication

De-escalation

Relationship building

Crisis management

Driving

Education

Social Work / Community Services

Job description

• Permanent Full Time Contract
• Location: Surrey Hills NSW 2010
• Salary: $81,903+ super + NFP salary packaging benefits
• Make a meaningful difference to the lives of Australians in need

Life at Mission Australia

When you join the team at Mission Australia, you become part of a community who are determined to end homelessness and ensure people in need can thrive. United by our Christian purpose and values, we advocate for a fairer Australia, to meet the growing needs of people across the country. Together we’re building hope and possibility for all.

Find out more about us and our purpose.

Your Opportunity

Make a real difference to people experiencing homelessness through rapid response outreach and crisis support across Sydney. Missionbeat has been providing practical assistance, welfare checks and pathways to safety for more than 40 years, supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

This is an on-site position, working Monday to Friday from 1pm to 9pm as part of a dedicated outreach team patrolling the city and surrounding areas. Working in pairs, you will engage with people experiencing homelessness and other complex challenges, provide immediate practical support, conduct welfare checks, connect people with accommodation and specialist services, and help ensure individuals can access the support they need when they need it most. The role offers a unique combination of outreach, crisis intervention, and community collaboration, with no two days the same.

Your Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct street-based outreach patrols and welfare checks with people experiencing homelessness across metropolitan Sydney.
• Respond to crisis situations and rapid response requests, providing immediate practical assistance and support.
• Assess individual needs, undertake risk assessments and develop appropriate support pathways and plans.
• Build trusting relationships and engage people who may be experiencing complex challenges including mental health, alcohol and other drug concerns, and family and domestic violence.
• Connect clients with internal and external services including housing, health, clinical and community supports.
• Drive the Missionbeat outreach van and provide safe transport and assistance to people accessing support services.
• Maintain accurate case notes, handover information, data entry and program documentation in line with organisational requirements.

Requirements for Success

• Relevant qualification in Social Work, Community Services or a related field, or equivalent experience, skills or lived experience that supports success in the role.
• Experience working with people experiencing homelessness, disadvantage, or other complex social challenges within community services.
• Ability to remain calm, professional and make sound decisions in high pressure and rapidly changing situations.
• Strong engagement, communication and relationship building skills with people from diverse backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culturally diverse communities.
• Confidence managing challenging behaviours, conflict and crisis situations using effective de‑escalation techniques.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries while delivering person centred and compassionate support.
• Resilience and adaptability to work in an active outreach environment that involves significant walking, evening work and responding to unpredictable situations across the community.
• Current full driver’s licence and confidence driving throughout Sydney, including city locations and evening shifts.
• Before starting work with us, you will need to undertake a national police history check, qualifications, and referee checks, and have a clearance to work with children/vulnerable people.

Your Benefits

To ensure our employees feel valued, empowered, and celebrated, we provide a range of employee benefits including:

• Rewarding work - every day you know you're making a real difference
• Not-for-profit salary packaging, reducing your tax (details via AccessPay)
• Free external, confidential counselling and access to chaplaincy support
• Volunteering opportunities
• Fitness passport
• Opportunity to purchase additional annual leave
• Extra leave including: Mission Australia Thank You Day & Work Anniversary Day off

Our Culture

Our innovative and inclusive culture will ensure you feel valued at Mission Australia as you help Australians in need and develop in your career.

We prioritise the safety and wellbeing of everyone, both within our team and the individuals we serve.

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment. We actively support and encourage people of all backgrounds; gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background, disability, religion, and sexual orientation to submit an application and aim to ensure that the recruitment and employee experience is as accessible and inclusive as possible. So, whoever you are, if you're skilled and actively support our purpose and values, you would be welcome at Mission Australia.

If you live with disability and require support to submit your application

please email [e-mail] or visit our Careers page for additional contact details.

We strongly encourage applications from people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

For culturally safe support or assistance with your application, please contact us at [e-mail]

Find out more about a career with Mission Australia.