Youth Development Coach

About the Opportunity

To assist young people who are experiencing homelessness, or are ‘at risk’ of homelessness, to develop positive pathways towards independence with a focus on employment, education, and training outcomes.

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

• Advocate for clients to community agencies, employment, education and training services, real estate agencies, court, etc
• Develop and maintain networks with key local services particularly homelessness agencies and specialist support services for young people
• Represent Melbourne City Mission Youth Foyers program at youth forums as directed by the Team Leader
• Assess the suitability of referred clients to the Youth Foyer program and make appropriate recommendations to the Team Leader

Young people who join the program are provided stable medium-term accommodation for the 3-year period that they are engaged. This accommodation comes in the form of a fully furnished apartment in one of the Youth Foyer’s 4 sites. Young people are also able to utilise safe communal spaces with available supports in the way of material and food aid as well as the opportunity to engage with Youth Foyer workers, external service workers and other young people in the program.

Melbourne City Mission has Youth Foyers in 3 locations. These locations are known as The Precinct, Hoddle Street, Lion Garden and H3 Wyndham.

Additionally, Melbourne City Mission has a Youth Foyer Outreach program located in Wyndham, aligned within the H3 alliance in Wyndham, with a focus on providing holistic support to young people currently experiencing or at risk of homelessness to obtain stable accommodation and engage in education, employment, and training pathways.

About you

We are looking for someone who has:

• Ability to work independently as well as within a team
• High level of initiative and motivation
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and experience in conflict resolution and mediation
• Knowledge of Youth Foyer principles and practice frameworks, including Advantage Thinking.
• An understanding of the requirements for ensuring child safety.

Benefits of working with MCM include:

• Diverse and inclusive organisation
• Attractive Salary Packaging benefits
• Supportive learning and development environment
• Culture of continuous improvement

Essential:

• Tertiary qualifications in Social Work, Youth Work, Welfare Studies, or related fields and demonstrated experience in working with young people who are vulnerable
• Demonstrated experience, knowledge and skills relating to current issues, trends and programs relating to homelessness, employment, education and training
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate group work with young people
• High level of demonstrated experience working within a case management framework.
• Strong organisational and time management skills with the ability to prioritise tasks
• Knowledge of local and regional networks and service providers.
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team
• High level of initiative and motivation.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and experience in conflict resolution and mediation
• Knowledge of Youth Foyer principles and practice frameworks, including ‘Advantaged Thinking’.
• An understanding of the requirements for ensuring child safety.
• Satisfactory completion of safety screening including a National Police check, International Police check (if required) a current Victorian Working with Children Check (Employee), current Victorian Driver

Screening Criteria:

• National Police check
• Working with Children check and NDIS Worker Screening check or ability to obtain
• Valid Victorian Drivers license
• Right to Work in Australia

Applications for this role will close on 31st October 2025/or Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early.  Please include your current resume and cover letter.
Please review the position description to understand more about the role and responsibilities.  If you have any needs throughout the recruitment process that have not already been catered for, we encourage you to contact recruitment@mcm.org.au to let us know how we can better support you to apply.

About MCM

MCM is an inclusive and equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to safety. MCM embraces differences because we know that diversity and inclusion help us to attract, recruit, engage and retain talented people. 
We are a leading not-for profit-for-purpose organisation that offer a broad range of services in Disability, Homelessness, Palliative Care and Education.

Our commitment to Safety

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.

Our commitment to Diversity, Inclusion & Equity of Access

At MCM we embrace our differences because we know that diversity helps us to innovate and make the biggest impact possible. Our DEI Strategy supports and drives an inclusive workplace culture. We embrace the learning opportunities that come with authentic commitment to equity of access for all. We particularly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates to apply.