In-School Youth Worker

About Rite Mentoring

Rite Mentoring Inc (Rite) is an innovative Christian-based youth organisation incorporated as a public benevolent institution that leverages the power of mentoring relationships in partnership with schools and families to create new and hopeful life trajectories with young people through group mentoring. Our mentoring programs place trained adult mentors alongside young people, especially those experiencing poverty, disadvantage and complex environments, to create positive opportunities, strengthen resilience and support healthy human development.

Please visit our website to learn about our work www.ritementoring.org.au

Role summary

• The role reflects a joint venture between Rite Mentoring and Carwatha College to embed a youth worker and group mentoring programs in-school, leveraging Rite’s expertise in positive youth development in response to the school’s diversity and needs.
• The role is school-based, focusing on the delivery of mentoring and other prevention and early-intervention programs and individual pastoral care and support for students across both primary and secondary.
• For a suitably qualified candidate, the role may be expanded to full time with the potential for a community-based component located out of Rite’s Keysborough office, tasked with delivery of wider community mentoring programs in other schools.
• A core component of the position is facilitating a special service to address the needs of high school aged young men, hence a male worker is preferred.

More about the role

The role supports students and families experiencing challenges relating to school engagement, mental health and wellbeing, behaviours and community connection, yet with enormous strengths and value. While recognising the benefits of counselling and psychology, the role intentionally adopts a non-clinical approach to youth development and support by utilising Rite’s group mentoring model. While there is a case-work component to this role, the emphasis is on prevention through mentoring programs, and participation in the life of the school in ways that build social capital and enhance College educational and wellbeing initiatives.

While the role ultimately reports to and receives supervision from Rite Mentoring’s Director as a Rite employee, the worker will be located at the school and will be directed daily by the School Wellbeing and Inclusion Leader and College Principal - in a spirit of cooperation with Rite Mentoring.

Who we’re looking for

• A skilled youth work or social work professional seeking an opportunity to roll up your sleeves and get involved in a dynamic school community, with a wider vision for impact beyond the school.
• A willingness to operate in the context of Rite mentoring’s values and mission.
• Someone adaptable, approachable, creative and curious with strong inter-personal skills and an interest in learning and listening.
• A sincere interest in the positive development of young people and families, through a strengths-based lens, and a commitment to learning and innovation for the benefit of all stakeholders.
• Moderate to high level of group work and group facilitation skills, ideally with adolescent young people.
• Male professionals are strongly encouraged to apply if you have gained at least 1 year of experience in planning and facilitating youth programs created around the special needs of boys or young men (such as mentoring programs or multi-cultural programs designed to promote positive youth development, community connections and wellbeing).
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Suitable tertiary qualifications in youth work, social work, chaplaincy, community development work or aligned field.
• Competency in developing rapport and conducting safe and age-appropriate working and mentoring relationships with young people, and their families.
• Demonstrated knowledge of adolescent development and the issues affecting young people and experience working with young people presenting with complex needs.
• Highly desirable is an understanding of the Victorian school system, youth and community services systems, and ideally experience working in a Victorian high school.
• Victorian Driver’s Licence.
• Current Working with Children Check.

What we offer

• Salary commensurate with experience.
• Not-for-Profit Salary Packaging (fringe benefits - income tax free).
• Opportunities to continuously grow and develop through training, professional development and supervision.
• A supportive team environment.
• An opportunity to be part of a growing youth charity that creates positive change.

For further information, contact: Chris Douglas on 0406 433 537.

A position description is attached.