CLA is recruiting for a Community Development Worker (Youth Worker) for the DEFY Program to support young people in accessing employment pathways.

About the Role:

This is a full-time, fixed-term position of 38 hours / week funded until August 2025 focused on working with young people to get to know their stories and work alongside them and their case workers to build pathways into employment. SCHADS Level 4 plus Fringe Benefits. A Degree in Social Work or equivalent is required. New Graduates are encouraged to apply.

Please find attached an application kit containing the following documentation:

• Position Description
• Selection Criteria

About DEFY:

The Developing Employment for Youth (DEFY) Program offers 13-Week Courses of Paid Work Experience, Training and Personal Development alongside dedicated case support to young people aged 15-24 who face barriers to employment. The aim of DEFY is to create space for our DEFY team to safely explore their goals and abilities, develop their skills and capacity, and find belonging and confidence through community.

At DEFY, we understand the importance of employment and how this is often out of reach for young people at risk, especially those living with disability, financial hardship, impacted mental health, homelessness, exclusion from education, interactions with child safety and youth justice, domestic and family violence, and other intersections. We aim to work alongside young people to overcome challenges so that they can focus on and work towards their employment-related goals.

Purpose of the position:

DEFY Team currently consists of three workers; Youth Co-op Co-ordinator (currently filled) and two CD Workers who share project tasks including reaching out and connecting with potential Youth Co-op participants and their networks; and developing and facilitating a paid work experience, training, and personal development program with young people.

DEFY goals are to work with young people who require support in exploring employment goals. DEFY is a joint activity of Community Living Association and Nundah Community Enterprises Co-op.

Community Living Association is a Developmental Organisation that works with young people with complex support needs and has worker with its constituencies to create innovative responses to issues. These have included IYHG (a person with a disability-controlled housing company), WWILD-SVA (a sexual assault response and prevention service), Nundah Community Enterprise Co-op (a Workers Co-operative) and a range of other People’s Organisation.

How to apply

Applications can be submitted by clicking Apply Now.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Morrie O’Connor on 07 3266 5633.

In applying for this position, you will be required to write a concise description of your understanding of:

• Complex support needs:
  • Provide an outline of the key practice principles you bring to working with young people with complex support needs.
• Expertise in how to effectively work with groups.
• Developmental work.
• Working effectively with systems.
• Outline your academic qualifications.
• Do you have a blue/yellow card.
• Driver’s License and use of own vehicle for work purposes when required (mileage reimbursed as per SCHADS Award).

A position description is attached.