Y-Change is a social and systemic change platform for young people aged 18 – 30 years with lived experiences of socioeconomic disadvantage. The initiative works to shift the attitudes and mindsets of organisations and the wider community sector about the value of lived experience and the knowledge and expertise young people bring. 

• Richmond and Preston locations, Wurundjeri Country
• Full time, Fixed Term role until 1st Dec 2025
• $106k pa + 11.5% superannuation + salary packaging up to $15,900 pa (pro rata).

The Y-Change team believe that young people who have experienced disadvantage hold valuable insights and can offer a unique perspective on the systems and services that aim to support them. The team is committed to working alongside young people, not on their behalf. Y-Change is dedicated to engaging and partnering with young people with lived experience, recognising them as professionals, experts and peers.

Key Responsibilities

The Youth Engagement Coordinator plays a key support role for the Y-Change team and the Senior Manager, Youth Engagement. This role is expected to provide:

• Personal and professional support to the Y-Change Lived Experience Consultants.
• Coordination, support and co-production across a range of projects and activities undertaken by the team.
• A trauma informed approach and culture of safer spaces that cultivate meaningful relationships that move at the speed of trust.
• Support to the Senior Manager, Youth Engagement.
• Supervision with the Y-Change Lived Experience Consultants.
• Facilitation of training for internal and external stakeholders and team meetings.
• Support with policy design, research and writing.
• Coordination and to build and maintain relationships with internal stakeholders (other teams within Berry Street such as Take Two) and external stakeholders (such as Department Families, Fairness and Housing, Safe and Equal and RMIT University).

Our Lived Experience Consultants are young people with a lived experience of socioeconomic disadvantage and intergenerational trauma, who have used community services and are passionate about seeing them radically transformed. They draw on the Y-Change methodology to reflect on, integrate and translate their lived experiences into a finely honed skill set. This enables them to provide professional advice and guidance on designing creative and participatory-focused pathways and solutions.

Your Skills and Experience 

• You have a strong passion and commitment for youth engagement and lived/living experience.
• Enjoy working alongside young peoples as colleagues, experts and peers.
• You have a deep understanding of the systemic barriers young people face and the diversities in their experiences.
• You have the ability to balance personal values and ethics, while prioritising the needs and well-being of the young people you work with. 
• The ability to manage competing priorities and stressful situations, whilst prioritising self and collective care. 
• You have strong personal qualities of creativity, flexibility and humility. 
• You have a deep understanding of trauma, accessibility and how to facilitate safer spaces that reflect this.
•  A Diploma level qualification in social and/or youth-related fields or equivalent lived/living experience and expertise. 

Extra Benefits

• Regular reflective supervision
• $15,900.00 pa (pro rata) Salary Packaging + Additional Salary Packaging for meals/accommodation
• Flexible work arrangements
• 10 weeks paid parental leave
• Access to the Employee Assistance Program, with access for staff's immediate family
• Leave loading 17.5%

How to Apply

Applications including resume and cover letter addressing your suitability for the position to be submitted via the Apply Now link.

Queries to Shakira Branch - Acting Senior Manager Youth Engagement on [email protected] using the subject line: Youth Engagement Coordinator - Y-Change - Richmond / Preston enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.

Please Note; the successful applicant will be subject to comprehensive reference and background checking prior to employment, including a Working with Children Check and National Police Check.

Berry Street is committed to being a child safe, child friendly and child empowering organisation. In everything we do we seek to protect children. We are committed to the cultural safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children; children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds; children with a disability; children who identify as LGBTIQA+. We aim to ensure every individual is treated with dignity and respect regardless of their cultural background, ability, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, spirituality or religion.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; people from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds and people with a disability are encouraged to apply.