ABOUT YOUR ORGANISATION

The Women’s Justice Network is seeking an enthusiastic and capable person to take up an exciting and dynamic role within the organisation. The Women’s Justice Network is a not-for-profit, community-based organisation dedicated to improving the status, wellbeing and prospects of women and girls affected by the criminal legal system. WJN addresses the many issues facing criminalised women both systemically through advocacy, and individually through the one-to-one mentoring and group work. 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.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Youth Worker role is responsible for providing strengths-based, trauma-informed casework, mentoring support, and group work facilitation to young women aged 14 to 21 years who are affected by, involved with, or at risk of involvement with, the criminal legal system. Based at Blacktown Women's & Girls Health Centre, the Youth Worker will provide individualised support to young women accessing the Centre and Women's Justice Network programs. Working collaboratively across both organisations, the Youth Worker will support participants to identify and achieve their goals, access appropriate services, strengthen protective factors, and address barriers relating to housing, education, employment, health, mental health, family relationships, social connection, and community participation.

The Youth Worker will work in partnership with Blacktown Women's & Girls Health Centre and Women's Justice Network to provide integrated, holistic, and coordinated support responses for young women experiencing complex and intersecting needs. The role will facilitate referrals, coordinated care planning, advocacy, and service navigation to ensure participants receive timely and appropriate support.

A key component of the role is the facilitation of Women's Justice Network's Healing from Within (HFW) program within Reiby Youth Justice Centre and community-based settings. Through creative, therapeutic, educational, and lived-experience-informed group work, the program supports young women to build confidence, resilience, self-awareness, positive identity, and pathways toward community participation and wellbeing.

The position requires a commitment to culturally safe, youth-centred, gender-responsive, trauma-informed, and strengths-based practice and to fostering strong collaborative relationships between Women's Justice Network, Blacktown Women's & Girls Health Centre, Youth Justice NSW, and other community stakeholders.

ABOUT YOU

You hold relevant tertiary qualifications in Youth Work, Community Services, Social Work, Counselling, Community Development or a related field, or have equivalent demonstrated experience.

You have at least three years’ experience providing casework, support, or youth work services to young women and girls experiencing complex and intersecting needs, including trauma, housing instability, family and domestic violence, mental health concerns, child protection involvement, and/or involvement with the criminal legal system.

You have demonstrated experience facilitating therapeutic, educational, diversionary, or support-based group programs for young people, and you are confident engaging participants with diverse backgrounds and needs.

You understand the barriers faced by young women and girls affected by the criminal legal system, and your practice is grounded in a trauma-informed, strengths-based, youth-centred, and culturally safe approach.

(Must be able to obtain and maintain clearance to enter Youth Justice Centres and other secure or regulated environments as required.)

For more information, please refer to the position description.

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.