Youth Housing Worker (Identified Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Position)

Details

Wesley Homeless Services

• Permanent part-time position
• based in Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, Nambucca (Gumbaynggirr)
• immediate start

About us

Wesley Mission is a high profile, multi-faceted Christian organisation making a real difference in the community. We work with the most disadvantaged in our community by providing over 200 services ranging from aged care, homeless services, child and family care, counselling, employment, training and education, and health services.

Our Vision is “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

About the role

An opportunity exists for an experienced, motivated and teachable person to join our small team in its work supporting local young people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

This is a culturally identified role to develop and promote cultural connection and support for our clients and staff who may also be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. It’s in a supportive team with leadership that takes culture seriously.

This is a demanding but rewarding role, requiring sound judgement, initiative, collaboration, creativity, resilience and genuine compassion. It is a mobile role, requiring travel throughout Coffs Harbour, Bellingen and Nambucca – on traditional Gumbaynggirr lands – and in settings including our crisis and transitional housing, partner organisations, rough sleeper locations, and in the homes of the young people we support.

It will include starts in Coffs Harbour and in Bowraville.

It may at times include earlier starts, later finishes and occasional weekends and sleepovers, including allocated shifts in the refuge roster.

Essential criteria

Please note: This is an identified Aboriginal position. Applicants must be of Aboriginal descent and need to evidence Aboriginality in addition to addressing the Selection Criteria. Exemption is claimed under Section 14d of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977.

• acknowledged and established Aboriginal cultural connections and Land Council evidence of Aboriginality
• qualifications and experience relevant to the quality provision of accommodation and support services, especially for First Nations children and young people
• sound understanding of youth homelessness and an ease in providing warm and credible empathy to young people experiencing homelessness or homeless-risk, and to their families, especially from First Nations backgrounds
• ability to articulate a practice framework that is person-centred, trauma-informed, culturally competent and respectful of diversity, and the role of services in preventing and supporting permanent exits from homelessness for young people
• knowledge and experience relevant to responding to children at serious risk of harm
• effective communication skills and administrative competencies – computer literacy, documentation, data collection etc
• proven ability to perform in complex and challenging community welfare settings – flexible and creative approaches to work, matched with tested personal attributes such as resilience, patience, initiative, compassion and commitment to self-care
• ability to embrace Wesley Mission’s values and to work within its codes of ethics and conduct – and to work respectfully alongside the mission and values of partner organisations
• some availability for overnight, weekend, public holiday and some weekday-day shifts
• helpful local, sector or organisational knowledge
• familiarity with sector practice guidelines, information systems and outcome measures

Desirable criteria

Applicants will need to possess a current Driver Licence, Apply First Aid Certification, and satisfy security checks in relation to Working with Children and criminal history.

Closing date

COB Monday 15th June 2026

Remuneration

Salary and employment conditions are in accordance with the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010, with generous salary packaging opportunities.

Apply now

Please submit a copy of your CV/resume and a cover letter addressing all the selection criteria described above.

For further information, or to submit an application, please contact:

Contact name: Meena Johnson

Phone: 0428 848 526

Email: meena.johnson@wesleymission.org.au

Wesley Mission is a Christian organisation requiring all staff to affirm its values and Worker code of conduct. We are committed to providing an environment in which children can feel safe and valued.

The suitable applicant will be subject to the relevant pre-employment checks for appointment to positions within Wesley Mission (including provision of a valid Working with Children Check clearance number). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.