This position is only open to applicants of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent pursuant to Section 56 (2) of the Equal Opportunity Act, 1984
Do you want to play a key role in the support of Aboriginal children and young people in our care?
Do you want to be paid to receive a formal qualification and on-the-job training?
We are committed to increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in our workforce because your unique perspectives and experiences are vital to making a positive difference in the lives of Aboriginal children and young people in care.
Help us ensure they stay connected to family, culture, and country. Join us and be a part of this meaningful journey!
-----------------------------------------------------
We will cover the cost for you to study at TAFE to earn a nationally recognised qualification, the Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention. We will also provide you with on-the-job training to help you become a Child & Youth Worker.
We’re committed to nurturing the potential of every young person. Our mission is to provide a safe, supportive space where young individuals can grow, learn, feel seen and heard, and develop essential life-skills.
About the role:
As a Child & Youth Worker, you will play a crucial role in guiding and empowering both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal young minds to become confident and capable. Your dedication and commitment will contribute significantly to creating a more inclusive and compassionate society, ensuring that children and young people in care have access to educational opportunities and can actively participate in social, sporting, and cultural activities.
You will be part of a team that contributes to:
- Guiding and assisting with personal care needs, including meals, meal preparation and hygiene
- Planning or attending activities and following daily routines to promote life skills
- Offering trauma-informed care, and supporting children and young people to manage challenging behaviours
- Assessing the individual needs of children and young people
- Ensuring appropriate levels of safety and supervision are maintained at all times
- Developing the social and living skills of children and young people to facilitate their effective transition into the community and/or reunification or reconnection with their families.
Benefits of working with DCP:
In return for your dedication, we provide:
- Job Satisfaction: through making a real difference in young people’s lives within a values-driven organisation
- Accreditation: we pay you to complete the nationally accredited Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention qualification, and you get access to the TAFE Aboriginal Access Centre to support you during your studies
- On-the-job Training: be allocated a mentor and undertake shadow shifts to build your confidence and develop your skills
- Ongoing training: you will receive ongoing learning and development opportunities and gain membership to the Department’s State Wide Aboriginal Training (SWAT)
- Leave: up to 5 weeks annual leave
- Superannuation and relevant shift penalties
- Recognition and Rewards: recognition for your hard work through our annual DCP Recognition Awards
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP): for you and your family
About You
The ideal person for this role will be flexible, adaptable, and open to learning, because no two days are the same. Working with children and young people displaying highly complex and challenging behaviours requires you to build rapport quickly and remain non-judgemental. This also requires you to have resilience and good professional boundaries.
To excel in this role, you should have:
- Relevant job or volunteer experience with young people or possess transferable skills from a related field (for example, childcare, aged care, community service, SSO in schools, or disability support)
Essential requirements:
- South Australian Driver’s Licence P2 or above
- South Australian Working with Children Check
- First Aid certificate: HLTAID012 – Provide Emergency First Aid in an Education Setting
- Complete an 8-week, full-time induction program
- Work shifts: these may include AM, PM, nights, weekends, and public holidays.
Applicants who prefer to work night shifts only (full-time, part-time, or casual) are welcome to apply. Please indicate this on your application form.
About our recruitment and selection process:
- Application behavioural questions
- Telephone screening
- Medical and psychological assessment (paid for by the Department)
- Reference checks
- Engagement and Assessment Centre
We hire Child & Youth Workers year-round. Successful candidates are placed into a Recruitment Pool for up to 12 months. During this time we have set intake dates, giving you the flexibility to commence when it suits you.
- Successful candidates will be expected to complete an 8-week, full-time induction program upon accepting a job offer
- If you have selected to work only on the night shift roster, you will still be required to undertake the same selection process as those working a shift roster and complete the required 8-week full-time induction program.
For further information relating to this process or Recruitment Pools, visit our
Child & Youth Worker information web page.
What else do you need to know?
Our residential care properties do not close. The children and young people in our care require attention and supervision at all times.
Shifts rotate and include AM, PM and active night shifts, with varying start and finish times. Shift work includes weekends and public holidays, so you are encouraged to consider this aspect of the role and whether it suits your circumstances.
Before applying, review all the essential requirements and special conditions in the attached
Role Description, and read the Child & Youth Worker Job Demands Information Sheet. Please also refer to the
Frequently Asked Questions.
If our Frequently Asked Questions have not answered your query, and you would like further information about this role, please email us on
DCPRecruitment@sa.gov.au.
How to apply:
- You are required to answer mandatory behavioural questions and attach both a cover letter and a current résumé/curriculum vitae when submitting your application
- The system times out after 20 minutes of inactivity so click 'SAVE AND NEXT' to ensure that your application is retained. This will allow you to continue your application at a later time.