About the Organisation

Every day, Life Without Barriers provides support and care to children and young people, as we work collaboratively with families, carers, and communities, to ensure they have the environment they deserve to grow. With a focus on ensuring safety and respect, this is an opportunity to make a positive and meaningful difference in these young lives and help pave a brighter future.

Life Without Barriers is a leading social purpose, not-for-profit organisation of 8,000 employees working in more than 500 communities across Australia. We support children, young people and families, people with disability, older people and people with mental illness. We work with people who are homeless and refugees and asylum seekers.   

We want to employ people who reflect the diversity of our clients to ensure we can support each client's individual needs and wants. We encourage people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background and people with disability to apply.

About the role

The Youth Advocate Program originated in the United States and is today one of the largest non-profit agencies working with high-risk youth and their families in a strengths-based, needs led advocacy model. Life Without Barriers commenced trialing YAP in Sydney in 2014, and the program has continued to grow and develop since then.

The role involves providing intensive support to young people and their families with the goal of supporting transition out of OOHC as well as support to restoration and self-placed young people. It involves mentoring, connecting with external services, and providing support in many aspects of the young person’s life whilst transitioning them to being independent and well connected within their community.

We have amazing vacancies to join our Wollongong based team on a casual basis, with flexibility around location and the ability to work from home on occasion. We will provide you with a laptop and phone and the unique opportunity to truly impact a young person’s life. You will bring with you your dedication, passion and experience in working with young people as well as your own reliable vehicle and driver’s licence. With a shared goal and purpose, we can change someone’s life.

Key Responsibilities

• Actively assist clients with design and implementation of individualised service plans
• Developing supportive relationships in clients’ families and/or community
• Maintaining high quality documentation control
• Develop a sound knowledge of YAP program model and core principles
• Participate in reviews of each youth’s individualised service plan
• Advocating for and building self-efficacy in clients

Skills & Experience

• Current unrestricted drivers’ licence and own vehicle
• Current first aid certificate
• Demonstrated peer support and advocacy skills
• Demonstrated and understanding of the Youth Advocate Program and advocacy.
• Experience of minimum 1-2 years working with complex and vulnerable children and young people in out of home care or residential care settings or children and young people with disabilities
• Proven ability to develop positive relationships with clients and support them across Individualised Service Plans
• A passion for providing advocacy to young people and understanding the meaning of being an advocate

Successful candidates will be required to clear probity checks including National Criminal History Record Check and Working with Children Check (where relevant to the role).

To be considered for and appointed to a position at Life Without Barriers, you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or hold a valid medical exemption certificate.  You will be required to provide evidence of your vaccination status during the recruitment process.

Benefits

• Work for one of Australia’s largest social purpose organisations
• On-going training support and career advancement opportunities
• Flexible working hours
• Phone and laptop provided
• Competitive salary
• Flexible location and work from home on occasion

How to Apply

Include your resume and covering letter in one document, click ‘Apply Now’ and follow the prompts.

For any enquiries including persons with disability that require adjustments, contact Joele[email protected] using the subject line: Youth Advocate - Wollongong enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Life Without Barriers supports the Royal Commission into violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability. We believe people with disability need to be heard and for these experiences to influence how support services like ours are delivered. View our statement here.