Trauma Informed Residential Youth Worker – Mt. Gambier

Who Are We?
HCA Youth and Community are one of Australia’s leading providers of community service workers. For over 30 years, we’ve connected exceptional talent with organisations in child protection, disability, aged care, and mental health. We offer expert staffing solutions and outstanding employee experiences. We’re dedicated to providing a supportive and rewarding work environment.

What We Bring to the Table:

• Flexible Scheduling: Control your work-life balance with our app.
• Weekly Pay: Manage your budget with regular weekly payments.
• Competitive Hourly Rate: $46.76 – $84.11, based on penalty rates
• 24/7 Servicing Team: Dedicated service coordinators available anytime.
• Ongoing Support: Access supervision and our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Employee Benefits: Fuel, Flex & Flourish 

• Fuel – Healthy eating made easier: Enjoy discounted meals and meal kits from YouFoodz and EveryPlate, delivered fresh to your door. Perfect for busy weeks and shift work.
• Flex – Move your way: We’ve partnered with Fitness Passport to give you low-cost access to gyms and pools across Australia.
• Flourish – Mental wellbeing, when you need it: Access the PsychHealth app for free, with 24/7 tools to support your emotional wellbeing.

Position Overview:
As a casual Residential Youth Worker with HCA, you can make a real difference in the lives of children and young people who are living in out-of-home care. We are seeking a compassionate and resilient team of youth workers who are able to support children who express their needs through physical behaviours, including non-verbal communication and protective responses. These behaviours are often due to experiences of childhood trauma, neurodiversity and disrupted attachment.

Our rosters are done in advance, which grants you some stability working in a casual environment. We also have emergency and ad hoc shifts available each week.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Create safety, stability and predictability: Build a safe, trusting relationship with young people and foster a secure, nurturing environment for at-risk youth.
• Empower Daily Living: Assist with personal care, meals, and hygiene to promote independence.
• Facilitate Transportation: Ensure young people attend school, appointments, and community activities.
• Promote Growth: Promote emotional regulation and social connection through structured and unstructured activities. 
• Manage Health Needs: Administer medications and maintain accurate reporting.
• Deliver Trauma-Informed Care: Support youth with complex behaviours using trauma-informed approaches and respond to behaviours with empathy, consistency, using a TCI model approach.
• Engage in Therapeutic Practices: Participate in the Trauma Recovery framework and complete Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) within your first three months.
• Communication: Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop individualised support plans
• Wellbeing: Maintain personal wellbeing and resilience through reflective practice, supervision and self-care strategies

What You Need:
✅ Holds a certificate IV in Youth Work, Child, Youth and Family Intervention, Community Services, or equivalent
✅ Has a minimum of 6 months experience in Residential Youth Services
✅ Demonstrated experience in supporting extreme challenging behaviours
✅ Holds an Australian Drivers Licence (SA), P2 or higher
✅ Possesses a Working With Children Check
✅ Can provide availability to work across AM/PM/Active night shifts 
✅ Has or is willing to obtain the following certifications:

• Child Safe Environments (Through Their Eyes) Certificate
• Child Car Restraints Certificate
• Safe Infant Training Certificate
• Current suitable Psychological Assessment, or willing to obtain
• Current First Aid & CPR certificate
• CPI Safety Intervention Training

Desirable:
✅ Experience working with children or youth with complex behaviours
✅ Understanding of trauma informed care
✅ Skills in de-escalating emotional containment and relational repair
✅ Understanding around behaviour as a form of communication and how to respond

HCA is an employer of equal opportunity and encourages CALD, LGBTQIA+ and First Nations people to apply.