Youth Worker

Youth Worker Cubby House (Wyndham Childrens Court)

• Create a safe space for children & young people visiting the Childrens Court
• Use your skills to build trusted relationships that are integral to child safety
• Access full NFP salary packaging and additional leave

Were seeking an engaged purpose driven individual to coordinate the operations of the CubbyHouse at the Wyndham Childrens Court. We welcome applications from candidates who are available to work between 2 and 5 days per week Monday to Friday.

About the Alannah & Madeline Foundation:

The Alannah & Madeline Foundation was set up in memory of Alannah and Madeline Mikac aged six and three who were tragically killed with their mother and 32 others at Port Arthur Tasmania on 28 April 1996. In memory of his daughters Walter Mikac and a small group of volunteers set up theFoundation with the belief that all children should have a safe and happy childhood without being subjected to violence. The then Prime Minister launched the Foundation on 30 April 1997.

The Foundation:

• identifies issues that adversely affect the wellbeing of children; we work to help them recover and protect them from bullying and violence
• works across the spectrum of prevention and care to deliver state-of-the-art evidence-based programs and products
• works with the best minds to identify and reduce significant threats to childrens safety through innovation and partnerships
• speaks out on the need for systemic change to build a supportive and safe society

Our organisation has the highest commitment to child safety and our Child Safe Policy outlines our safe practices for children.

Our organisation values are embedded into every way in which we operate at the Foundation. Everyone has a responsibility to promote and demonstrate our values: We are curious We are kind always We lead with authenticity We believe in the power of play We take action.

Position in context:

Reporting to the Cubby House Coordinator the Youth Worker is a member of the Children and Families team.

The Cubby House program operates at Melbourne Broadmeadows and Wyndham courts. The Youth Worker plays a vital role in creating a safe welcoming and engaging environment for children and young people attending the Cubby House. Based primarily at Wyndham Childrens Court this role also provides support across our Melbourne and Broadmeadows locations as needed helping ensure children and families receive a consistent high-quality experience wherever they access the service.

In this role you will oversee children and young people (children) who visit the Cubby House: a safe waiting room where the majority are in protective care of the Department Families Fairness andHousing (DFFH). You will also be responsible for building and maintaining effective collaborative relationships with other community court and public service colleagues to enable childrens voices to be heard and their court experience to be safe.

Major Job Responsibilities:

• Provide safe space through child-focused support advocacy andtrauma-informed responses through a broad variety of therapeutic activities tochildren attending the Cubby House the majority of whom are under theprotective care of DFFH
• Manage the day-to-day operations of the Cubby House including theprovision of a clean organised and child centred space with appropriateactivities and equipment for a developmentally and culturally diverse range ofchildren noting the majority will be 10 years and older
• Complete appropriate relevant case notes and data input in a timelymanner
• Ensure behaviours are managed to provide a safe environment for all whouse the space
• Maintain and grow effective relationships with all stakeholdersincluding DFFH Child Protection staff private and government lawyersmagistrates and other court staff court security and protective serviceofficers court chaplains court staff Family Drug Treatment Court staff andother child and family welfare sector workers

Knowledge Experience & Requirements:

• A qualification in Youth Work or equivalent discipline or study towards this qualification (desirable)
• Experience working with children and families preferably those involved with Child Protection (essential)
• Experience with and demonstrated capacity to engage with traumatised children and young people and manage a range of complex behaviours (essential)
• Capacity to work in a complex court environment; capacity to work flexibly and respond to the needs of children and families in the court environment
• An understanding of social welfare and policy environments as well as of the best practice care models and theories relating to child trauma and violence
• Well-developed communication skills experience and maturity to build enduring relationships with the care sector and related stakeholders such as court and DFFH staff

What we offer you:

• Access to full NFP salary packaging benefits
• Flexibility and Wellbeing focus
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) available
• Additional 5 days leave each year on top of the statutory holiday entitlement
• A supportive and friendly team environment
• Learning & Development budget
• 8 weeks paid primary carer leave or 2 weeks paid secondary carer leave
• Substitution of Public Holidays (Australia Day Good Friday and Easter Monday)

To apply:

Please review the full position description for this role by following the below link and ensure youaddress the Knowledge Experience and Requirements section in your application.

close Thursday 30 July 2026 at 5pm. We will be short-listing candidates prior to theclosure of this role so please do not delay submitting your application.

For further information contact Jacki Buchbinder Children & Families Manager via

Important please note:

• The Alannah & Madeline Foundation has the highest commitment to child safety. A police check and current Working with Children Check (or equivalent) are required for the successful applicant