Primary Purpose of Position

The primary purpose of this program is to address an important gap in services available to criminalised young single mothers in Queensland. It will primarily target Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers who have limited ongoing emotional, psychological, spiritual and cultural support. The program aims to prevent suicide amongst this at-risk cohort through working alongside mothers to address their parenting and emotional needs and provide culturally-enriching fun group activities for these mothers and their children.

This is a new program that is funded through the Queensland Mental Health Commission and is designed to be a pilot program that will be evaluated from the recruitment of staff through until the end of the funding period in June 2026. This worker will be in a team of 4 with 2 positions based in the Brisbane office (SEQ) and 2 positions based in the Townsville office (NQ). The Worker is expected to work closely with other SIS staff in accordance with the Mission, Values & Vision, model of service, and policies and procedures, of SIS.

Sisters Inside is deeply committed to employing young women with lived experience of criminalisation, imprisonment, young single parenthood, and mental health challenges. We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to apply for this position.

Sisters Inside (SIS) currently offers a variety of services to criminalised 12 to 17-year-old girls and young women. However, these services end when participants reach 18 years old. Many young women who have participated in SIS youth programs, are now young single mothers. Whilst they can access various SIS programs as individuals, there is no mechanism for maintaining the groups and sense of community that often developed over many years. This program will allow these young mothers to have ongoing support once they turn 18.

The program will comprise of 2 main focus areas:

1. Supporting young single mothers to address their own needs.
2. Providing activities for children and families.

This worker will be trained in the Culturally Informed Trauma Integrated Healing Approach by We Al-li a strengths-based service provision model and also Circle of Security (CoS) model of intervention SIS parenting support program that focus on supporting mothers to develop secure attachment relationships with their children. Both of these practices will increase the mother’s confidence in parenting and contribute to breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma and associated criminalisation.

Key Responsibilities of Position

• Model SIS values in practice, including engaging warmly with criminalised girls, their dependents and their families.
• Undertake all specialist training that the program requires
• Work with young women who are single parents who are formerly incarcerated or criminalised and are now raising their children
• Work with young mothers who are struggling with their parenting and connecting them to emotional, psychological, spiritual and cultural supports
• Assist young mothers to connect with each other and others in their communities to break down isolation and loneliness through fun and engaging activities
• Ensure the young mothers have access to safe, secure, affordable accommodation, to provide the best possible environment for their children
• Ensure young mothers have access to the appropriate social and mental health supports to meet their social and emotional wellbeing needs
• Assist young mothers to engage with employment, education, training and other community opportunities that they may be interested in
• Develop activities and programs for young families to engage with each other
• Support young mothers and their children to access additional activities and programs to assist them to maintain positive mental health and cultural connections with their communities
• Support young mothers to access social and emotional supports their children may require
• Fulfil all data entry and reporting requirements of SIS and the Program an accurate and timely manner. Participate in the research and evaluation requirements, that will be undertaken alongside the delivery of this pilot program
• Support young mothers to participate in the research and evaluation requirements of this pilot program to the best of their capacity
• Participate in professional supervision and SIS team meetings, Inclusive Support meetings, planning
• Workshops and Management Committee meetings as required.
• Undertake other duties as required by the Program Manager (SEQ).

Organisational Environment

Sisters Inside is an organisation developed and driven by formerly incarcerated women. It exists to advocate for the human rights of criminalised and imprisoned women and girls, and their children, and provides services in response to their unmet needs.

As at June 2024 in addition to the CEO, SIS had 36 positions based in our Brisbane office and 16 positions based in Townsville.

Our services are funded through various State, Commonwealth and Philanthropic funding programs.

Sisters Inside is a versatile, powerful organisation. We both strategically advocate for the collective interests of women and girls in the legal system and provide services to address their more immediate needs. These roles function in a complementary manner - our service provision informs our social change work. The CEO, guided by the SIS Management Committee, is responsible for the systemic advocacy work of the organisation at a local, state, national and international level.

Reporting Relationships

• Position title of direct supervisor: The position reports directly to the Program Manager. The Young Mum’s Wellbeing Worker will be required to take the advice of the Senior Indigenous Practitioner on matters related to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls and their families

• Titles of position that report to this position: Nil

• Other significant internal relationships: This position is one of 4 positions that will work as part of a Young Mum’s Wellbeing team, with two located in Brisbane (SEQ) and 2 located in Townsville (NQ)

Key Selection Criteria

KSC1

• Demonstrated understanding of SIS’s Values & Vision and a commitment to working within the organisation’s mission, values, model of service, policies and procedures.

KSC2

• Demonstrated understanding and/or lived experience of criminalisation, young parenting, mental health and suicide prevention.

KSC3

• Demonstrated experience working alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and/or families, particularly those affected by the criminal legal system.

KSC4

• Demonstrated ability and experience in one-to-one counselling and family support work specifically focused on mother/children relationships.

KSC5

• Demonstrated ability to design and facilitate activities and programs that engage young mothers and their children in positive developmental activities.

KSC6

• Demonstrated awareness of community-based services relevant to criminalised mothers and their children (including housing, health, Indigenous, legal, educational, social services and children’s support services).

KSC7

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a cooperative team member and independently and communicate with a range of diverse people including young mothers and their children, child protection agencies, government and community service providers.

Essential Attributes

• Enthusiastic and receptive in interaction with women, young mothers and children
• Sound problem solving skills, including knowing when to seek direction and the ability to critically reflect on practice
• Good time management skills, including the ability to prioritise, plan, organise and manage competing demands
• Advocacy, mediation, negotiation and conflict resolution skills
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Functional word processing, email and data entry skills

Essential Requirements

• Experience working with formerly criminalised or incarcerated young parents; experience working with criminalised or other highly disadvantaged and marginalised women/parents; and/or tertiary qualifications in the social or behavioural sciences.
• Holder of a current Queensland Class C Drivers License
• Reasonable word processing, email and database entry skills
• Suitability Card from the Commission for Children and Young People (Queensland Blue Card)

Additional Information

This is a pilot program funded until June 2026. The position is subject to a 6-month probationary period, if the appointee is new to Sisters Inside. Ongoing funds have not been secured at this initial stage.

1. At www.sistersinside.com.au/values.htm
2. The Inclusive Support Model: A guide for new SIS workers at www.sistersinside.com.au/reports.htm
3. Detailed in the Sisters Inside Working Guide 2018

'Sisters Inside is deeply committed to employing young women with lived experience of criminalisation, imprisonment, young single parenthood, and mental health challenges. We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to apply for these positions'.

A position description is attached.