Residential Youth Worker

Mission Australia; Perth; On-site; AUD 59,000 - 84,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Rewarding work

Free counselling

Volunteering opportunities

Job summary

Mission Australia recruits for the DAYS program in East Perth. This on-site role involves 8-hour shifts across days, evenings, overnights and weekends as part of a 24/7 roster.

You will work within a multidisciplinary team to support young people aged 12–21 through AOD withdrawal in a safe, structured residential setting. The role emphasises trauma-informed care, safety and relapse prevention, with access to clinical support.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience working with young people aged 12–21 with AOD challenges.
• Relevant qualifications in youth work, community services, psychology, counselling or social work, or equivalent experience.
• Ability to engage young people with complex needs and build rapport.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day support to young people using a trauma-informed approach.
• Assist with withdrawal and crisis response.
• Support daily living tasks and personal care in residence.
• Facilitate educational groups and life skills programs.
• Oversee medication processes and documentation.
• Maintain case notes and contribute to handovers for continuity of care.
• Build relationships with families, carers and external services.

Skills

Trauma-informed care

Crisis management

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Qualifications in youth work, community services, psychology, counselling, or social work

Tools

First Aid & CPR

Driver licence

Job description

• Casual Contract - 8hr Shift Work including days, overnights and weekends
• Location: Boorloo (East Perth) WA 6004
• $51.8112 per hour + super + penalties
• 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

Be part of our purpose driven Drug and Alcohol Youth Service (DAYS), supporting young people aged 12 to 21 through alcohol and other drug (AOD) withdrawal and respite in a safe, structured residential setting in East Perth. This unique program offers short term stays of up to 21 days, providing young people with the opportunity to stabilise, reset and step away from environmental pressures while participating in a daily therapeutic program.

This is an on-site position and you will be working alongside a multidisciplinary team, that plays a key part in supporting young people experiencing alcohol and other drug challenges, helping them develop life skills, build resilience and work toward positive outcomes. With access to clinical, medical and case management support, the service delivers holistic care tailored to each individual.

The role is involved in both program delivery and day to day operations that create a consistent, safe and supportive environment for young people.

This service operates a 24/7 rotating roster, and you must be available for 8-hour day, evening, and overnight shifts, including weekends and public holidays.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Provide day to day support to young people using a trauma informed and strengths-based approach to promote safety, stability and wellbeing.
• Support young people through withdrawal, including de-escalation, crisis response and managing challenging behaviours in a calm and consistent manner.
• Assist with daily living tasks including meal preparation, maintaining the residence and encouraging personal care and hygiene.
• Facilitate educational group programs, daily activities and life skills development that support recovery and independence.
• Support medication processes including safe storage, documentation, and supervision of self-administration in line with policy.
• Maintain accurate case notes, complete documentation and contribute to case planning and handovers to ensure continuity of care.
• Build strong relationships with young people, families, carers and external services including transport to appointments and referral pathways

Requirements for Success

• Demonstrated experience working with young people experiencing alcohol and other drug challenges, ideally within a residential or withdrawal setting.
• Relevant qualifications in youth work, community services, psychology, counselling, or social work, or equivalent experience.
• Ability to engage young people with complex needs, build genuine rapport and meet them where they are at.
• Strong capability in navigating managing challenging behaviours, setting and maintaining boundaries and responding effectively to day to day and crisis situations.
• Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary environment.
• Ability to reflect on their own practice and proactively attune to the needs of young people.
• Calm and respectful approach with the ability to work across a 24-hour rotating roster including days, nights, weekends and public holidays.
• Understanding of trauma informed care, child safe practices, co-occurring mental health and AOD, adolescent development and the impact of substance use and environmental factors on behaviours.
• First Aid & CPR certificate
• Full driver licence with no restrictions

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

• Rewarding work – every day you know you’re making a real difference
• Free external, confidential counselling and access to chaplaincy support
• Volunteering opportunities

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