| Position Title | Youth Justice Social Worker |
| Salary | PSO5.1 – PSO5.4: $93,136 – $99,813.00 |
| FTE | Full time 38 hours per week |
| Location | Alice Springs |
| Commencement | ASAP |
| Completion | Ongoing |
| Reports to | Managing Lawyer – Youth (Alice Springs) |
| Applications Close | 1 July 2024 |
About NAAJA:
The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency Ltd (NAAJA) provides legal assistance and justice services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Northern Territory. We have offices in Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs. We are recognised as a leading legal service and have received national and local human rights and crime prevention awards for our work.
NAAJA’s legal practice is the largest in the Northern Territory, providing high quality, culturally proficient and accessible advice, casework and court advocacy in both criminal and civil law. NAAJA particularly seeks to achieve social justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through strategic litigation, law reform and education.
The criminal law practice in the Alice Springs office consists of criminal solicitors working in the areas of youth, summary, indictable and appellate crime, supported by administrative and client service staff who play a vital role in ensuring the provision of effective legal services to our clients.
- Flexible working arrangements
- Salary Packaging options
- Leave Entitlements
Position Overview
The position is part of NAAJA’s specialist Youth Justice Team in its Criminal Law Section in Alice Springs. The Youth Justice Support Worker works collaboratively with the lawyers in the provision of services to NAAJA clients appearing before the Youth Justice Court.
The youth justice social worker role will also support NAAJA to ensure the delivery of a culturally appropriate and safe service that is responsive to the rights of young Aboriginal people. Taking a client-centric approach to practice, the social worker will work in collaboration with the young person’s lawyer and wider support systems to support them to identify and strive to address factors contributing to their offending behaviour.
The role includes conducting assessments and obtaining personal background information, liaising with the young person’s family, community, and natural support networks, making referrals to external service providers, and in collaboration with the lawyer preparing bail and sentencing plans that alleviate any risk concerns that the court may have. Some of the concerns that may need to be addressed include accommodation, employment support, education, alcohol and drug issues, mental health and mental impairment (including foetal alcohol spectrum disorder or acquired brain injury), hearing impairment, family disharmony and exposure to domestic and family violence. An important part of the role will also involve developing strong working relationships with external and statutory service providers and using these relationships to advocate for adequate supports for the YP and their family.
The Youth Justice Support Worker will be a highly motivated and well-organised person who has a working understanding of Aboriginal culture and an ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team.
How to Apply:
Applicants for this position must address the selection criteria in their written application, which should be sent to Recruitment@naaja.org.au.
Application Deadline: 1 July 2024
Duties and selection criteria can be found here: Youth Justice Social Worker – Alice Springs DS
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.