Your new job

As a First Nations Social and Emotional Wellbeing Worker, you will provide strength-based, culturally safe support and mentoring to young people from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds requiring assertive mental health support.

Reporting to the Clinical Services Manager you will:

• Provide a point of contact and liaison for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and families/carers to access cultural support during their involvement with the service and provide an initial point of contact and liaison for staff working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.
• Through consultation with colleagues, contribute to the assessment and treatment planning of young people and their families’/carers’ needs, with a particular emphasis on social and emotional wellbeing.
• Seek to identify and understand the barriers and challenges for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander young people to accessing care, and where appropriate to work to building enhanced access and linkages with headspace and other external agencies.
• Work with other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, and Community Development staff, to establish and improve relationships and referral pathways between headspace Werribee and Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs).

(ONLY INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY AS THIS POSITION IS EXEMPT UNDER THE SPECIAL MEASURE PROVISION, SECTION 12(1) OF THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ACT 2011 (VIC)

What you’ll need

You are passionate, energetic and determined to make a difference to health and wellbeing outcomes for young people. The following criteria must be met for consideration for this position:

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background and demonstrated experience in working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander young people and their families.
• Certificate IV in Aboriginal Health Care Practice, or other relevant post- secondary qualifications in Health, such as Certificate IV in Mental Health, Youth Work or Community Development. Would be desirable.
• Sensitivity to experiences that Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander young people may have had; this may include difficulties in their social and emotional wellbeing; physical health problems; difficult family experiences; or challenges with work and study.
• Capacity to develop effective working relationships, collaborations and partnerships with a range of services within the broader community service system, particularly ACCOs.
• Capacity to problem solve effectively, engage and work creatively with young people.

What you’ll get in return

• SCHADS level 3 ($73,804-$79,139) commensurate with skills and qualifications + superannuation and $15,900 in NFP salary packaging + $2,600 meals and entertainment card.
• Make a real impact on young people in a dynamic, youth-centred environment.
• Be part of a team that values collaboration and innovative thinking, driving impactful results.
• Ability to purchase additional leave; access to EAP; generous Parental Leave Scheme.
• Orygen offers confidential counselling and support services to all staff, including new employees, to help manage work-life balance and personal challenges.

Orygen – leading the revolution

Imagine a future with unlimited potential. A future where every young person enjoys optimal mental health as they grow into adulthood. At Orygen, this is our life’s work, because we passionately believe it’s what all young people deserve.

Every step of the way, young people and families are at the heart of everything we do. Always.

Through world-leading research that creates change. Through pioneering reform that delivers real-world practical solutions.

At Orygen, that’s the future we’re creating right now. To do it, we have revolution in mind.

Join the revolution

If you’re keen to join Orygen and be part of our team challenging the status quo and reshaping the future for young people, apply now.

For more information and to review the position description, please follow the link here. 

Applications will close on the closing date, unless a suitable candidate is found sooner.

Orygen is committed to providing diverse, equitable and inclusive environments for Staff and anyone connected to Orygen. We strive to continue building a culturally safe workplace where our values underpin the way we work and our commitment to First Nations people of Australia, young people and their families, people with disabilities, LGBTIQA+ people and CALD communities. We strongly encourage applications from First Nations people.

Orygen is a child-safe organisation and is committed to promoting and protecting the safety and well-being of all young people and embedding safeguarding practices into all our programs and services.

All employment appointments are subject to holding a valid working with children check and successful police check.