• 21 hrs / week till 30 June 2024

The Women’s Justice Network is a not-for-profit, community-based organisation dedicated to improving the status, wellbeing and prospects of women and young women affected by the criminal justice system. WJN addresses the many issues facing criminalised women and young women both systemically through advocacy, and individually through the one-to-one mentoring. WJN operates on the premise that providing women and young women with gender-responsive social support will lead to a reduction of recidivism rates and a minimisation of the burgeoning prison population.

The Youth Worker will coordinate and deliver the WJN ‘My Way’ Youth Mentoring Program to young women aged 14 – 25 years of age; who are, have been or are at-risk of entering the criminal justice system.

The responsibilities of the position include: ensuring that the WJN ‘My Way’ Youth Mentoring Program is able to provide young women with holistic social support; including the management of the My-Way Youth Mentoring Program, collection, collation and recording of client data; supervision of mentoring relationships, and casework.

The Youth Worker will facilitate the Healing from Within Youth-led creative diversionary program, available to young women aged 14 to 25, who are incarcerated, or at risk of incarceration. This program utilises creativity, culture, connection and lived experience facilitators and guest speakers to foster an environment of trust, empowerment and safety. Young women learn to express themselves, set goals for the future, and engage in fun and impactful lessons, by women who have walked the path before them.

Healing from Within is currently being delivered at the Reiby Youth Detention Centre and in the Liverpool/Fairfield community.

Selection Criteria

• Knowledge of the impact of homelessness, mental health disorders, domestic violence, sexual assault, and existing legal barriers to socially and economically disadvantaged young women
• Experience with supporting volunteers as an integral part of a service delivery model.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the issues and challenges that young women affected by the criminal law system face.
• Demonstrated ability to work sensitively and effectively with marginalized and/or vulnerable young women
• An understanding of the concept of mentoring and the ability to apply mentoring principles to working with young women
• Demonstrated ability to to facilitate a group work program for young women
• Demonstrated experience with time management, prioritisation, including maintaining client records and reports
• Experience working with and engaging First Nations young women
• Demonstrate an awareness of the issues faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse young women
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, interpersonal skills and ability to build rapport quickly

Other Requirements

• An understanding and adherence with Work Health and Safety principles to ensure the health and safety of yourself and others at the workplace. The ability to apply risk management and prevention strategies within a complex criminal justice environment.
• An understanding of the principles and practices related to workplace diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO).
• Have an understanding of, or capacity to work within, the criminal justice system.
• Proficient computer literacy and experience with the Google Suite
• Previous experience with the use of in-house databases.
• Current driver’s licence
• Current Working with Childrens Check

This position is classified under the Schads Award, Level 4, pay point is dependent on experience. Women’s Justice Network provides flexible and best practice working conditions including attractive salary packaging benefits and professional support.

Being a woman is a genuine occupational qualification for this position under Section 31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW)

First Nations Women and Women with lived experience of the criminal law system are strongly encouraged to apply.

Click "Apply Now". Applications must contain a current resume and have addressed all the selection criteria, including other requirements.

A position description is attached.