Senior Practitioner

Queensland Government; Cairns Regional; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Queensland Government is seeking a Senior Practitioner to lead Youth Justice service delivery in the Cairns region, ensuring culturally capable and inclusive practice aligned with the Human Rights Act 2019 and departmental programs.

You will provide expert guidance, mentor staff, analyse performance data, and partner with agencies to drive complex case management, court processes, and restorative justice practices while upholding public administration standards.

Qualifications

• Commitment to inclusive culture and human rights aligned practice.
• Experience in Youth Justice service delivery and practice improvement.
• Ability to analyse operational performance data and drive priorities.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership advice and support to staff and cohorts to promote quality practice in Youth Justice service delivery.
• Advise on delivery of evidence-based Youth Justice services including court processes, case management, and restorative justice.
• Collaborate with central office, regional partners and agencies to embed outcomes and quality assurance.

Skills

Cultural capability

Leadership

Mentoring

Data analysis

Policy advice

Job description

As Senior Practitioner, you will:Demonstrate cultural capability and/or a commitment to developing cultural capability and to ensuring an inclusive culture that aligns with the Human Rights Act 2019 and supports departmental programs and community partnerships aimed at preserving cultural connections for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.Promote and provide expert guidance on accountable, collaborative and integrated Youth Justice services that respect the culture and context of each child, young person, family and community and are delivered in accordance with youth justice legislation, policies, procedures, and practice standards.Provide leadership advice and support to individual staff and/or staffing cohorts through mentoring, peer coaching and task-orientated support to promote quality practice in youth justice service delivery. This may include analysing operational performance data, providing advice about priorities, developing and implementing regional and local strategies to drive practice improvement such as facilitating group practice development sessions to build capability.Provide expert advice on the delivery of evidence-based youth justice services including court, case management processes, core behaviour change programs, Restorative Justice Conferencing and establishing and maintaining collaborative partnerships, particularly with regard to high risk and complex matters, including matters pertaining to serious offences, culture, disability, domestic and family violence and mental health.Provide expert advice and guidance on Youth Justice operational policy, legislation and practice pertaining to complex matters involving court, young people and victims of crime.Support continuous improvement through the analysis of operational data and implementation of quality assurance and performance improvement processes.Work with central office service delivery support teams to coordinate and embed outcomes and impacts of quality practice support, learning and development, internal reviews and program integrity processes and support change and the implementation of new initiatives and Government priorities.Provide advice and support to the regional leadership team, frontline staff and partner agencies to build capability, skills and knowledge in Youth Justice service delivery.Actively participate in regional leadership team meetings and planning sessions and represent the region in negotiations with partner agencies regarding complex case matters.Actively practice and promote excellence in service delivery and public administration and identify opportunities for improving client service and collaborative practice.Applications to remain current for 12 months.Job Ad Reference: QLD/701899/26Closing Date: Wednesday, 7th October 2026This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License.