About Us:

Street Youth Services (SYS), a project of Humanity Matters, is focused on the re-engagement of vulnerable at-risk youth who have become disconnected from mainstream society, family and supports. SYS connects with disengaged young people through streetwork and our youth food-truck outreach to establish trust and engagement. The street-based youthwork positions act as conduits to link these vulnerable youth to family and community supports, education and / or employment. Raising awareness on the issues and lobbying for changes to address the barriers and challenges faced by these vulnerable disengaged youth is also a large part of what we do.

Humanity Matters, the umbrella organisation, works on creating connected supportive communities by bringing communities together, building capacity and creating opportunities for vulnerable youth to re-engage with the broader community through dynamic and innovative community projects.

About the Project

Federally funded under Safer Communities, Street-Connect is a collaborative, enviro-specific and multi-intervention highly responsive approach to get disengaged youth back on track. Through the leadership of Humanity Matters and partners, Street University (The Ted Noffs Foundation), Campbelltown Arts Centre, Claymore Neighbourhood Action Association and Sydney University, disaffected youth will be engaged and reconnected to educational, employment and community pursuits. Navigating young people away from antisocial associations by engaging culturally on their turf, through a variety of support, skills development, employability and social inclusion initiatives, allows a progressive rebuilding of pathways to reengage these youth back into mainstream society as valued citizens.

Streetwork Youth Worker Position/s

The primary purpose of this position is to outreach to highly vulnerable, at risk and detached young people for the purpose of re-engaging them into the local supports, family, education and/or employment and the broader community in localities across South-West Sydney. The primary client group is young people from 12yr – 17yrs who are at risk, marginalised and disconnected from the community and highly vulnerable due to the amount of time spent frequenting public spaces. Community engagement is to be achieved through participation by the target group population in a graduating series of community engagement programs [including Humanity United Food Truck, Freedom Writers, be HEARD, Street Fests and other programs, progressing onto casework support and, where relevant, connection with the HM Street-Based Therapist].

Upon engagement, this position is responsible to provide assessment, referral, transitional case management and interim support services to Highly Marginalised Street Frequenting Young People (HMSFYP) reached through streetwork. The Street Youth Service (SYS) is designed to bridge the divide for highly marginalised street frequenting young people (HMSFYP) and the broader community.

As part of providing a further safety for marginalised young people, this position will contribute to a streetworker roster providing a 24/7 intake and triaging hotline/call out service.

Selection Criteria

• Thorough understanding and demonstrated experience in streetwork as a means for engaging hard to reach disconnected youth
• Through understanding of the developmental needs of adolescents and using evidence-based practices and strengths-based approaches in working with young people
• Demonstrated experience and ability to assess the needs of highly marginalised or at-risk vulnerable youth.
• Demonstrated understanding of delivering services to highly marginalised street frequenting young people within a needs assessment and triaging framework and the provision of transitional case management and referral.
• Ability to develop, implement and monitor client centred support and capacity building
• Demonstrated understanding of street frequenting youth and services best placed to support and divert young people from the street
• Experience working with partners in provision of integrated, coordinated and seamless responses to achieve referral pathways and service outcomes
• Highly communication skills including active listening, negotiation and advocacy
• Tertiary qualifications in the human services industry
• Computer Literacy and strong verbal and written communication skills
• Availability and willingness to work flexible hours including late nights and weekends, informed by the times and locations of street frequenting young people
• Driver's license and comprehensively insured vehicle for work purposes
• Current WWCC clearance

Employment with Humanity Matters

In addition to being part of an exciting, supportive and dynamic team committed to addressing systemic barriers and reconnecting highly marginalised young people, HM offers extensive in-house training and support. Full-time positions are also eligible to take advantage of HM’s salary packaging arrangements.

For further information or to request a detailed position description: Ph 02 97903406 or Email [email protected] using the subject line: Youth Workers enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.