Want to contribute to building the capacity of the youth homelessness services sector in NSW?

In this role, you will lead Yfoundations project deliverables under the SHS Industry and Workforce Development Program.

• Position Status: Full-time (35 hours per week), fixed-term contract to 30 June 2027 (may be possibility to extend)
• Award Classification: Level 5.1 – Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services (SCHADS) Award
• Location: Redfern, Sydney

About us

For over 40 years, Yfoundations has served as the NSW peak body advocating for children and young people at risk of and experiencing homelessness, and the services that provide direct and crucial support to them. We are a membership-based organisation with a network of over 50 organisations across NSW.

Yfoundations aims to create a future without youth homelessness. We work collaboratively with service providers, NGOs, government departments and community members to provide policy advice, sector development and other projects that support and advocate for services for children and young people experiencing homelessness and an end to child and youth homelessness in Australia.

Role overview

As Industry and Workforce Development Officer, you will be responsible for leading and delivering key project deliverables for the youth specialist homelessness services (SHS) sector under the SHS Industry and Workforce Development Program (the Program), which aims to build the capacity of the homelessness services sector. Yfoundations works in partnership with Homelessness NSW and DVNSW to deliver the program with funding from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice.

The objectives of the Program are to:

• equip the sector to provide quality services to service users
• deliver and support sector collaboration and networking at local, district and state levels that ensures an integrated, efficient and accessible service system
• ensure a highly skilled and sustainable homelessness workforce.

Working closely with the Head of Operations and Sector Support and other Yfoundations staff, the other NSW homelessness peak bodies (Homelessness NSW and DVNSW) and service providers, you will be responsible for designing and implementing initiatives that deliver on the following workforce development priorities:

1. Best practice and innovative approaches towards building the sector, including recruiting, retaining and supporting career progression for staff, with a particular focus on Aboriginal staff, staff with lived experience, staff from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and staff from regional and remote areas.
2. Assist SHS to further develop their knowledge, capabilities and competencies in delivering client outcomes through leadership, education and collaboration to produce and deliver resources and coordinate communities of practice.
3. Deliver resources (working with a consultant) that build SHS capacity to provide culturally appropriate and safe services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds as well as other identified cohorts.
4. Support SHS to prioritise workplace health, safety and wellbeing.
5. Support SHS to prepare for commissioning in 2026 by providing resources, including webinars, information sessions, etc.

As a key initiative of Yfoundations, the Industry and Workforce Development Officer will support the ongoing development and implementation of the Good Practice Guidelines for youth homelessness services.

Selection criteria

• Knowledge/understanding of the key challenges faced by children and young people at risk of and experiencing homelessness and service providers responding to their needs.
• Understanding of the workforce environment, challenges and needs across the homelessness services sector.
• Knowledge/experience of developing sector capacity building initiatives and resources, including online resources.
• Project and contract management skills and experience.
• Well-developed interpersonal and written communication skills, including report writing experience and ability to analyse and present information.
• Ability to work as part of a team and capacity to build effective working relationships with a wide range of individuals and organisations.
• Proactive, can-do attitude, and willingness to lead this project, work independently and produce deliverables in a timely manner.
• Tertiary education in a relevant discipline or equivalent work experience is desirable.

Travel to various locations throughout NSW will be required.

It is a pre-condition of any offer of employment in the position that you have a current verified Working with Children Check and national criminal history check clearance.

For any enquiries or to discuss the position please email [email protected] using the subject line: Industry and Workforce Development Officer enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A Position Description is attached.