About Youth Off The Streets

Youth Off The Streets is a not-for-profit youth organisation that provides safety, support and opportunities for young people to build a positive future. We offer crisis accommodation and housing services, alternative high school education, alcohol and other drugs counselling, youth justice support, life skills and employment programs, cultural support and community engagement, among other services. We focus on early interventions that empower young people and strengthen communities.

Our Dunlea Alcohol and Other Drugs Youth Service supports young people aged 13-19 years living in Western Sydney to take control of their drug and alcohol use. 

Services offered as part of this program are.  

• A comprehensive initial assessment
• Casework support that meets the individual needs of young people and helps them set achievable goals
• Family casework to provide family members with strategies to support their young person and restore relationships
• Access to our Alcohol and Other Drugs Counsellor
• Health promotion to reduce alcohol and other drugs-related harm among young people through capacity building and school-based programs
• Links to other mental health services, rehabilitation, legal support, education, employment services and more

About the role:

Reporting to the Dunlea AOD Team Leader, the role of the Counsellor – AOD is to provide assessment and counselling services to referred clients who are experiencing alcohol and other drugs concerns. This role will work as part of the Dunlea AOD Team which will work with young people and their families to break the cycle of drug misuse, set personal goals and build the foundations for a healthy life. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide alcohol and other drugs assessment, counselling and referral services to young people (their families / guardians) with alcohol and other drugs problem.
• Provide individual intakes, counselling, group work, and assessment on both an internal and outreach basis.
• Initiate and provide opportunities for young people to engage both inside and outside of the counselling room so they feel comfortable seeking assistance to facilitate growth and change while in our services, both through direct and indirect therapeutic work.
• Assess and identify the appropriateness for a young people to be referred to other specialists or agencies for further assessment or treatment and make this referral. 
• Use a strengths-based and trauma informed approach to work collaboratively with the clients.
• Exercise due diligence and conduct environmental risk assessment to prevent young people being exposed to harm. 
• Promote and maintain a safe and friendly environment which encourages youth participation inline with YOTS organisational culture. 
• Maintain accurate, complete and confidential records and documentation that reflect assessment, services and outcomes and provide regular reporting to the Dunlea AOD Team Leader.   
• Work with and communicate effectively with the Dunlea AOD team in relation to the Young People in the program and their families while maintaining a high level of confidentiality. 
• Participate in and complete any required training and attend case conferences as required, adhere to YOTS policies and procedures and best practice standards.  
• Facilitate workshops for young people and their families and participate in ongoing evaluation, review and quality improvement of the program.
• Regularly monitor the progress of Young People in the program and work on issues that may arise, assisting them in accordance with program policies and therapeutic program.

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong negotiation, conflict resolution, communication and mediation skills.
• Youth counselling and case management experience
• Ability to accurately assess and evaluate the needs of young people and their families. 
• Previous experience effectively engaging disconnected young people and the ability to work at the client’s pace in a creative and flexible manner. 
• Empathy, sensitivity and understanding.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
• Strong ability to work closely and efficiently with a multi-disciplinary team in the best interest of each young person.
• Commitment to continuing and maintaining professional development.
• A broad understanding of both issues faced by Young People and their families, as well as ways to assist with and solve these issues.
• Demonstrated experience of how to think and act appropriately in a crisis.
• Strong knowledge of legislation (i.e.: Child Protection and WHS), regulations and ethics relevant to the profession and uphold and promote these throughout the organisation. 
• Strong understanding of Child Safe principles, policies and responsibilities
• Awareness of risk factors associated with abuse and neglect of children and young people. 

Requirements:

The person we seek will have the following:

• Tertiary qualifications in counselling, psychology or social work.
• Minimum 2 years experience working with young people, in the AOD sector or in a counselling role.
• Unrestricted Australian working rights
• Valid Australian Driver’s Licence 

What we can offer you:

• Flexible working arrangements
• A supportive team environment
• Career progression and development pathways
• EAP for yourself and your family
• Salary packaging up to $15,900
• Rewards and benefits program

To Apply 

Please ensure you enclose a copy of your resume with your contact details and cover letter addressing the essential criteria (2 pages maximum). 

At Youth Off The Streets, diversity, equity and inclusion are part of our DNA. Together, we continue to build an inclusive culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates the diverse voices of our people. It fuels our innovation and connects us closer to our customers and the communities we serve.

Youth off The Streets is an EEO Employer and a child safe organisation

This is a rare opportunity to join a passionate and high profile not for profit organisation that values the current youth of today and the youth of tomorrow.

The successful candidate will be requested to submit applications for a NSW Working With Children Check and Police Check. You will also be required to have a valid Australian Drivers Licence and unrestricted Australian working rights.

We encourage people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander to apply for this position.

If you would like further information about the role before applying, please email us at [email protected]