Youth Worker 2024

Hester Hornbrook Academy is a school that does education differently. Elevate your career! Where passion meets profession, join our team as an experienced Youth Worker.

Be part of a highly skilled and committed team driven to help young people realize their potential, with the opportunity to work across a multi campus school setting.

About Hester Hornbrook Academy

Hester Hornbrook Academy is a Special Assistance School which provides flexible education and learning options, including VETiS (Vocational Education and Training in Schools), VPC (Victorian Pathways Certificate), VM (VCE Vocational Major), VCE and an extend program offering a variety of elective subjects. Recognising that mainstream education is not suitable for all young people, our programs are driven by the personal pursuits of students.  Our HOPE – Healing Orientated Program of Education informs our Practice model which ensures the integration of academic intervention and growth with wellbeing and life skills. Teachers, Youth Workers, and Education Support Officers (ESOs) work together in a collaborative manner to support students to reach their individual goals. Our students include those who have disengaged from mainstream education, are young parents, currently in or leaving out of home care, experiencing homelessness and those who may be experiencing mental health challenges or learning difficulties.

Each Hester Hornbrook classroom is supported by a multidisciplinary team comprised of a teacher, educational support staff and youth worker. The classroom team collaborates to provide a safe, respectful, and productive learning environment, where learning for wellbeing and wellbeing for learning go hand in hand.  The team works in partnership with the students to understand and address the barriers to learning, to set and achieve academic pathways and other life goals.  All staff bring different and overlapping skills and experience to the classroom and are required to role model effective teamwork in order to provide a holistic response to the students’ educational needs.

All roles within Hester Hornbrook will have a classroom allotment, this may include classroom instruction, the delivery of learning activities, the supervision of students, assertive outreach, and involvement in our other programs which support students to attain educational success.

About the Opportunity

The Youth Worker at Hester Hornbrook works collaboratively within their classroom team, including VETis Teacher, to support student wellbeing and educational outcomes.  The youth worker maintains a classroom presence and works with students in an individual capacity, including outreach.  The Youth Worker is also required to maintain and develop relationships with students’ families/carers and professional supports when required.

Duties of this role may include but are not limited to the following:

• Work as part of a multidisciplinary classroom team to develop and maintain a face to face and virtual classroom learning environment which places high expectation on learning for wellbeing and wellbeing for learning. The Youth Worker will support and model a learning environment which is safe, respectful, and productive.
   
• Apply an understanding of our HOPE (Healing Orientated Program of Education) to support students in a way that allows them to Engage, Equip, Empower and Extend.  While having a thorough understanding of a range of interventions that promote engagement and inclusivity, build rapport, and develop prosocial behaviours and relationships.
   
• Provide flexible and holistic evidence based case work/and or coordination to young people with outreach support that promotes educational, social and emotional development. This includes making suitable referrals, both internal and / or external, and working closely with students care team members and also parents / carers / guardians.
   
• Support the transition of students from the Engage Youth program and assisting them to integrate into the classroom through individual literacy and numeracy tutorial support.
   
• Actively engage and contribute to student support group meetings within Hester Hornbrook Academy and external agencies.
   
• Contribute to the development and delivery of curriculum and class projects/activities; including the Health and Wellbeing curriculum.
   
• Assist in the onboarding process of new students including developing Individual Education Plans and Focus Plans for each student.
   
• Actively promote Hester Hornbrook Academy at network meetings, forums and amongst key stakeholders.
   
• Actively collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure the appropriate referrals, services, programs and outreach are provided to all young people as and when required.
   
• Maintaining accurate records on the Sentral SMS including: regular wellbeing case noting and prepare/ contribute to reports (including NCCD) as required.
   
• Contribute to the planning and participate in the extra -curricular activities, events, excursions and overnight camps.
   
• Support students as they transition within the school or onto employment or further education.
   
• Participate in regular supervision, 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).
   
• Ensure that all Child Safe, risk management and Hester Hornbrook documentation is adhered to. 
   
• Perform other duties and responsibilities, as directed by Executive Leadership Team of Hester Hornbrook

Note all applicants must be prepared to travel between all Hester Hornbrook Academy campuses (please see the Position Description for more detailed information and the Key Selection Criteria).

Benefits

• Hester Hornbrook Academy as an Independently Registered Secondary School with its own Enterprise Agreement. 
• A competitive remuneration applies to this role together with access to tax-effective salary packaging arrangements and supportive work/life balance provisions.
• HHA recognizes the importance of investing in the training, learning and development of our staff.

How to apply

Applications close on 5 December 2023. Address applications to - Sally Lasslett, Principal. Applications to include a Cover Letter and a current CV with referees and ensure that all Key Selection Criteria are addressed.

For more information, including a position description, closing date and how to apply, please click “apply for this job” to be redirected to our website.

For enquiries about this role, and assistance with application submission - recruitment@mcm.org.au.

We reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date.

Other Relevant Information

• Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work visa
• Must have a valid driver’s license
• Must have or be willing to obtain a WWCC
• Applicants will be required to undergo a pre-employment safety screening process as part of the HHA selection process. 

Our commitment to diversity

Hester Hornbrook is an inclusive and equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to safety. Hester Hornbrook /MCM embraces differences because we know that diversity and inclusion help us to attract, recruit, engage and retain talented people. We are passionate about all our employees, with the skills that they bring, realising their full potential through ongoing learning and development and through embracing the positive impact that we make through our work and to the young people that we support. If you require specific support to apply for this position, please advise the recruiting manager listed in the advertisement. We will work with you to identify the best way to assist you. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.

Our commitment to safety

Hester Hornbrook /MCM is committed to the safety of its clients and employees, taking a zero-tolerance approach to violence within the workplace and abuse, including child abuse and abuse of people with disability. All employees are required to comply with the Child Safe Standards.