Child and youth support workers provide specialised accommodation and care to vulnerable at-risk children and young people, whose homes can’t always provide a safe, nurturing environment.
As a child and youth worker in a residential care facility, you’ll be part of a skilled team responsible for helping children and young people experience childhood to its fullest.
The Department for Child Protection operates pool vacancies for the position of OPS3 Child and Youth Workers. See the recruitment pool FAQs (PDF, 172.9 KB) for more information.
What will you be doing?
You’ll have the opportunity to promote the physical, emotional and cognitive development of vulnerable children and young people by:
- assisting children and young people with their daily needs and routines
- helping children and young people to form positive beliefs about themselves
- modelling and teaching children and young people how to build positive, trusting and respectful relationships
- working with a focus on reflective practice and continuous improvement.
Salary and location
Child and youth workers are employed as Operational Services (OPS) under the South Australian Public Sector Enterprise Agreement: Salaried 2021 (PDF 10.3 MB) and receive a competitive salary.
Child and youth work roles are typically remunerated at OPS2 or OPS3 - with leadership roles at OPS4 or OPS5 - plus employer superannuation (currently 10%).
- OPS2 Child and Youth Support Worker
- OPS3 Child and Youth Worker
- OPS4 Senior Child and Youth Worker
- OPS5 Supervisor
In addition to the annual base salary, shift penalties may apply. This can increase an employee's annual salary by up to $15,000 per annum (dependant upon shifts undertaken).
The South Australian Public Sector also offers attractive salary sacrifice benefits.
These roles are typically ongoing and casual positions, allowing for morning, afternoon or night shifts over a rotating 7-day roster.
Positions are available in various locations around metropolitan Adelaide, as well as Whyalla and Mount Gambier.
Minimum requirements
All applicants must:
- be over 18 years of age
- obtain or hold a valid Working with Children Check issued by the Department for Human Services, to be renewed every 5 years
- be willing to undergo psychological and fitness assessments as part of the selection process
- hold a current South Australian drivers licence (P2 or above) and be willing to drive in the course of their duties
- hold a HLTAID004 'Provide Emergency First Aid in an Education and Care Setting' certificate
- be available to attend the 8 week full-time paid training at the start of employment
- complete the Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention within the first 12 months of employment
- be eligible to work in Australia and meet DCP pre-employment requirements.
Required certification
A Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention is mandatory to work in all child and youth worker roles.
New employees are supported by the department to complete this qualification within 12 months of commencing.
How to apply
All of our current vacancies are listed on our job board alongside specific details for each role including:
- job descriptions
- remuneration
- accreditation and qualifications
- special requirements.
Contact
Department for Child Protection Recruitment
Phone: (08) 8204 2479 or (08) 8204 2473
Email: DCPRecruitment@sa.gov.au