Senior Youth Worker
- Provide daily wellbeing support to students to enhance their capacity to engage in learning.
- Engage with key stakeholders including care teams and families to facilitate outreach.
- Lead and support Youth Workers and Educators in creating a safe and engaging learning environment.
Summary
A full-time ongoing role at our new Geelong Campus
Make a positive impact in the lives of young people with visible impact
Join our supportive and collaborative multidisciplinary hubs
About the Opportunity
Senior Youth Workers provide daily wellbeing support to students to enhance their capacity to engage in learning both on campus and via outreach. This also includes being responsible for making referrals and engaging with key stakeholders including care teams and families.
In addition, Senior Youth Workers form part of the Hornbrook Wellbeing Leadership team and will undertake a range of functions requiring a high level of knowledge and skills, within wellbeing, to achieve results in line with the organisations strategic and annual implementation plans.
Senior Youth Workers provide onsite leadership and expert advice to Youth Workers, Educators and Education Support staff around enhancing students Learning for Wellbeing and Wellbeing for Learning.
What a day in the role looks like:
Create and advocate for students’ wellbeing and learning by collaborating within a multidisciplinary hub to co-design and maintain a safe, respectful and engaging learning environment that prioritises both wellbeing for learning and learning for wellbeing, across both face-to-face and virtual contexts.
Engage professionally with students, colleagues, families, carers and community by providing flexible and holistic evidence-based support both on campus and through the facilitation of outreach. Provide leadership by facilitating regular formal supervision and reflective practice to identified staff at each campus and engage in all wellbeing leadership opportunities and providing daily operational support to onsite leadership team as required.
Providing general administration and support by participating in the life of the school including, timetabled duties, camps and excursions, regular supervision, scheduled whole school and campus meetings, the performance review processes, professional learning and a culture of continuous review, improvement of student learning outcomes and achievement of the Hester Hornbrook Strategic Plan (SP) and Annual Implementation Plans (AIP).
Show a detailed understanding of the current NCCD guidelines to ensure that all staff practices are aligned to providing the required evidence to document the support that is provided to each individual student.
About you
We are looking for someone who has:
A qualification in Youth Work/Social Work/Community Development or significant demonstrated experience in both classroom and outreach.
Proven ability to provide outreach supports to disengaged young people to enable them to develop educational knowledge and skills to transition to the classroom.
Demonstrated experience in leading staff and managing day-to-day competing priorities.
Highly developed skills and experience in risk and needs assessment risk management as related to an education setting.
Ability to support with incident management, as directed by Campus Leadership.
Proven experience working with young people with complex needs, or have experienced barriers to education such as trauma, mental health challenges, or out-of-home care.
Proven ability to support unique needs of diverse groups including Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Island peoples, those who identify as LGBTQIA+ and those from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Understanding of day-to-day operations of a school or similar education setting.
Understanding of the effect of trauma and its effect on the capacity of young people to engage with education and learning.
Understanding of the interface between the education and welfare sectors. Including understanding the differing functions and priorities of the education and welfare sectors.
Demonstrated experience in fostering collaborative working relationships with families, external stakeholders, including convening care team meetings.
Sound knowledge of relevant legislation and compliance requirements, including the Victorian Child Safe Standards, VRQA and the VCAA expectations for senior secondary settings.
Demonstrated ability to use digital platforms such as Canvas, Sentral, Microsoft Suite (i.e. Word, PowerPoint and Teams) for feedback, and maintaining accurate records.
Ability to engage students in digital learning environments and support consistent documentation and communication across teams.
Ability to use technology and resources to effectively perform the role.
Show a detailed understanding of the current NCCD guidelines to ensure that all staff practices are aligned to providing the required evidence to document the support that is provided to each individual student.
Screening Criteria:
Proof of Identity Check
National Police check
International Police check
Current Victorian Working with Children Check (Employee) or willing to obtain
Current Victorian Drivers Licence
Right to work in Australia
For a copy of the position description or any questions regarding the process, please contact Fiona Zito (Executive Assistant) at fzito@hhacademy.vic.edu.au
Please include the following in your application:
A cover letter highlighting your experience and relevance of working in a school, supporting young people to engage in learning that lead to positive outcomes. Please limit this document to no more than one page. In your cover letter please indicate which campus/es you wish to be considered for.
A response to the Key Selection Criteria listed above.
Resume, including contact details of two current or recent professional referees.
Copies of Qualifications and Working with Children’s Check.
Applications close: Monday 16 November 2026 and must be submitted via our advertisement links and addressed to Sally Lasslett, Executive Principal
Please note: Hester reserves the right to interview and appoint suitable candidates prior to the closing date.
About Hester Hornbrook Academy:
Hester Hornbrook Academy is a multi-campus Special Assistance School providing flexible education for young people aged 15-25. Our programs are driven by students' individual strengths, interests and goals. We offer a range of pathways, including VETiS, Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC), and the VCE Vocational Major (VM).
Our Healing Orientated Program of Education (HOPE) integrates learning, wellbeing and life skills to support students to re-engage with education and achieve meaningful outcomes. Teachers, Youth Workers and Education Support staff work collaboratively to create safe, supportive learning environments and help students overcome barriers, build strengths and pursue their chosen pathways.
Learn more at: www.hhacademy.vic.edu.au.
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