A Residential Youth Worker provides direct care and support to young people living in residential care settings, typically aged 12–17. The role involves creating a safe, nurturing, and stable environment, supporting young people’s daily routines, emotional wellbeing, and development of independent living skills.

Duties include assisting with education, health, and recreational activities, maintaining daily case notes, and working collaboratively with a care team to ensure each young person’s needs are met as outlined in their individual placement plans. Residential Youth Workers also act as positive role models, advocate for young people, and help them build connections with family and community.

Residential Youth Workers typically work a variety of shifts to provide 24/7 support to the young people in the house, including mornings, afternoons, evenings, weekends and public holidays.

Each house has a structured fortnightly roster, with fixed working patterns detailed for each position or “line”. Each line has fixed pattern of shifts totalling between 50 and 76 hours per fortnight.

Our night shifts line are separate as we understand that working night shifts isn’t for everyone and is difficult to adapt to sporadically.

Shift work is a core part of the role, and penalty rates apply for after-hours, weekend, and public holiday work.

Casual employees have the flexibility to undertake any shift across any house within the region.

Yes. The minimum mandatory qualification is a Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention (Residential and Out of Home Care), or an equivalent relevant qualification recognised under the Residential Care Workforce Training Initiative.

If you hold a relevant qualification, you may need to undertake additional “Top Up” training to meet the requirements.

Previous experience working with young people who have experience trauma, or general experience in the human services field is highly very highly regarded, and often a great way of demonstrating you understand the inherent responsibilities of the orle and your ability to work effectively with young people, however, it is not always essential.

The most important thing is a commitment to quality care, resilience, and a willingness to learn. Relevant experience can include work in youth work, community services, education, or similar fields. Demonstrating the right personal qualities, such as empathy, teamwork, and a client-focused, trauma informed approach is also very important.

In addition to the required qualifications, you will need to complete mandatory training in areas such as First Aid, CPR and Fire Safety.

Other training in areas such as trauma-informed care, child protection, and behaviour management are provided to all our employees as part of their induction and ongoing professional development.

Residential Youth Workers are supported by a multidisciplinary team, including House Coordinators, Team Leaders, and therapeutic specialists. Regular supervision, team meetings, and access to Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) are available. You’ll also have opportunities for formal and informal consultation, peer support, and ongoing training to help you succeed in your role.