Youth Intake Worker

Youth Outreach; Gold Coast City; On-site; AUD 39,000 - 52,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Ongoing training

Competitive remuneration

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Youth Outreach is seeking a compassionate part-time Youth Intake Worker to join our team in Arundel. You will liaise with young people, assess needs, and identify suitable accommodation and supports using a trauma-informed, strengths-based approach.

Responsibilities include intake, referrals, and collaboration with government and community services, with a focus on empowering young people on their pathway to safety and stability.

Qualifications

• Experience undertaking intake, assessment, referral, case coordination or support planning with young people.
• Understanding of youth homelessness and related housing instability.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with young people.

Responsibilities

• Conduct initial intake and needs assessments with young people.
• Identify immediate needs, risks and appropriate accommodation options.
• Coordinate referrals and placements across Youth Outreach programs.
• Provide information, advocacy and practical assistance to navigate housing systems.
• Maintain accurate case notes and participate in team meetings.

Skills

Compassionate approach

Professional judgement

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Education

Social Work degree

Related Diploma

Job description

When a young person reaches out for help, the first conversation matters.

Youth Outreach is seeking a compassionate and capable part‑time Youth Intake Worker to join our team in Arundel.

As one of the first points of contact for young people seeking accommodation and support, you will play an important role in listening to their story, understanding their circumstances and helping identify the most appropriate pathway forward.

Working from a trauma‑informed, strengths‑based and person‑centred approach, you will undertake intake and needs assessments, identify appropriate accommodation and support options, coordinate referrals and work alongside young people as they take their next steps towards greater safety and stability.

What you’ll be doing

Conduct initial intake and needs assessments with young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Identify immediate needs, risks, strengths, existing supports and appropriate accommodation options.

Work alongside young people to identify their goals and determine the supports that may assist them.

Coordinate referrals and placements across Youth Outreach programs and other appropriate community services.

Provide young people with information, advocacy and practical assistance to help them navigate housing and support systems.

Liaise with government, community and specialist services to support coordinated responses.

Maintain accurate, timely and professional case notes, assessments and records in accordance with organisational requirements.

Contribute to the continuous improvement of intake, referral and assessment processes.

Participate in team meetings, reflective practice, training and professional development.

What we’re looking for

We are looking for someone who can combine compassion with sound professional judgement and build positive relationships with young people who may be experiencing uncertainty, housing instability or other complex circumstances.

You will ideally bring:

A relevant degree qualification in Social Work, Youth Work, Human Services or a related field. Applicants with a relevant Diploma and significant experience will also be considered.

Experience undertaking intake, assessment, referral, case coordination or support planning with young people.

An understanding of youth homelessness and the range of circumstances that can contribute to housing instability.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage young people, build trust and maintain appropriate professional boundaries.

The ability to assess competing needs, respond calmly to complexity and exercise sound professional judgement.

Strong written, documentation, organisational and administrative skills.

The ability to work collaboratively within a team and across government, community and specialist services.

Have the ability to meet and maintain the conditions of employment relating to blue card, criminal history screen, open license holder and first aid & CPR

Most importantly, you will bring a genuine belief in the capacity of young people and a commitment to working with them, rather than doing things for them.

What we offer

At Youth Outreach, you’ll join a team committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of young people.

We offer:

A supportive, collaborative and values-driven workplace.

Ongoing training and professional development.

Competitive remuneration and employment conditions.

The opportunity to contribute to practical and innovative responses to youth homelessness on the Gold Coast.

Work where you can see the difference that respectful relationships and the right support can make.

About Us

For over 40 years,we have supported young people through accommodation assistance, support services, and pathways to independence. We are a charity governed by a purpose-driven volunteer Management Committee and are committed to ending the cycle of youth homelessness while increasing access to affordable and sustainable housing opportunities. We deliver services that meet the contemporary needs of young people through a person-centred, trauma-informed approach and promote a culturally safe, diverse, and inclusive workplace.

Child Safe Organisation

Youth Outreach is committed to being a child-safe organisation where the safety, wellbeing, and rights of children and young people are at the centre of everything we do.

We have zero tolerance for child abuse, harm, neglect, or exploitation and are committed to creating environments where young people feel safe, respected, heard, and empowered. Our practices are guided by the Queensland Child Safe Standards and informed by trauma-informed, person-centred, and strengths-based approaches.

All employees are expected to actively contribute to a culture of child safety by:

Promoting the rights, participation, and voice of young people.

Identifying, responding to, and reporting concerns regarding the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.

Demonstrating behaviours that support a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment.

Complying with all organisational child protection policies, procedures, and legislation.

As part of our commitment to child safety, all successful applicants will be required to hold or obtain a current Blue Card and participate in mandatory screening, induction, training, and ongoing safeguarding requirements.

Key Selection Criteria

KSC1 Engaging young people
Describe your experience working with young people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness or other complex circumstances. How do you build trust and engagement while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries?

KSC2 Intake, assessment and professional judgement
Tell us about your experience conducting intake, needs or risk assessments. How do you identify a young person’s immediate needs, strengths, risks and priorities and determine the most appropriate pathway or response?

KSC3 Trauma-informed and strengths-based practice
What does trauma-informed, strengths-based and person-centred practice mean to you? Please provide an example of how you have applied these principles when supporting a young person.

KSC4 Responding to complexity
Intake workers regularly speak with young people experiencing uncertainty and multiple or competing needs. Describe a situation where you needed to remain calm, make a sound professional judgement and coordinate an appropriate response. What did you consider when making your decision?

KSC5 Collaboration and documentation
This role requires effective collaboration with internal teams and external services, along with accurate and timely record keeping. Describe how you approach referrals, information sharing, case documentation and communication with other services while keeping the young person at the centre of the process.

Applications Close

Applications must be received by 11:59pm Sunday 15th November.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may be conducted prior to the closing date.

At Youth Outreach, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity to feel safe, connected, and hopeful about their future. If you are passionate about making a genuine difference in the lives of young people, we encourage you to apply.