YWCA Canberra is a respected feminist, not-for-profit community organisation which has been providing community services and representing women’s issues in the Canberra community since its establishment in 1929. Today, we provide leading and innovative services to women and the broader Canberra community in the areas of children’s services, community services, housing, youth services, personal and professional training, and women’s leadership.
YWCA Canberra has been providing housing and support in the ACT since 1949 and managing homelessness services for families since 1996. The Housing Support Unit (HSU) provides supported accommodation services on behalf of the ACT Government and is a registered community housing provider.
About the Pathways Housing Support Case Manager position:
The Pathways Housing and Support Program provides specialist homelessness service supporting people with uncertain immigration status, including asylum seekers without income or work rights in the ACT, providing accommodation and wrap around support.
This position will be based at our convenient Canberra CBD office and will work proactively across the Housing Support Unit (HSU) to support the expansion of services, innovation and continuous quality improvement in the provision of client services. The main responsibilities of the role will include but will not be limited to:
- Undertake comprehensive assessments to identify eligibility for the program and suitability to live in shared accommodation, identifying support and practical needs.
- Working from a strength based, gender, culturally responsive, human rights, anti-oppressive and trauma-informed practice frameworks.
- Provide proactive case management and support through outreach and headlease accommodation, ensuring access to essentials of daily living
- Help co-ordinate access to health care, trauma and torture support and referrals for migration/legal and employment and training (visa permitting) support through community partners
- Work collaboratively with the Tenancy Support Worker and Pathways Families Support Case Manager to achieve Pathways program outcomes
- Provide advocacy and supported referrals to other services for service users
- Consult with service users to jointly develop individual case plans and regularly review progress towards case goals.
- Undertake needs assessment including urgency of need, risk, appropriate referrals (internal and external) and follow-up assessments and actions.
- Focus on strengthening community relationships and building service users resilience to ensure the best outcomes.
- Liaise with internal and external services to maintain relevant links and networks.
- Build service users capacity through skill enhancement
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- Minimum Diploma in Community Services, or tertiary qualifications in a relevant field such as social work, psychology or human services
- Experience working with the CALD community, specifically men with visa uncertainty
- Experience working effectively with vulnerable and disadvantaged people and those who have experienced trauma or torture
- Understanding of the needs of people seeking asylum or who have visa uncertainty
- Experience working with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness within a supported accommodation/outreach framework preferred
- Experience and/or the ability to work competently with people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- A knowledge and understanding of the impact of family violence and trauma on the cycle of homelessness
- Sound working knowledge of the issues affecting homeless men and barriers accessing appropriate housing including the additional challenges of people with little to no income and uncertainty arising from visa status
What can YWCA Canberra offer you in return?
- A supportive, specialist team with strong leadership and access to ample training opportunities
- Generous entitlements through our Enterprise Agreement including flexible working options to support work-life balance including a 9-day fortnight, 4 day compressed work week and varied working hours to accommodate work-life balance.
- Opportunities for professional development and further study through our in-house registered training organisation.
- Salary packaging options as a PBI registered charity that can improve your take-home pay by $5K annually
- Leading parental leave entitlements, 3 days additional paid annual leave between Christmas and New Year, annual flu vaccinations.
- Access to Employee Assistance Program for free and confidential guidance and counselling
- Join Canberra’s ONLY Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (WGEA).
How to Apply
- Visit https://ywca-canberra.org.au/about-us/careers/ to access the position description and job demands checklist.
- Please submit your application including a CV and a cover letter addressing the selection criteria together through the YWCA-Canberra e-recruitment web portal by visiting https://candidate.aurion.cloud/ywca/production/signin
Want more information?
For a confidential discussion or further information please contact Lucy Roberts via email at Lucy.Roberts@ywca-canberra.org.au. For assistance with applying, please contact human.resources@ywca-canberra.org.au
Applications close on Friday 29th November however applications will be assessed as they are received.
YWCA Canberra reserves the right to close this role early if a suitable candidate is found prior to the closing date.
YWCA Canberra is committed to the safety of children and young people. As such, successful applicants will be required to participate fully in all child protection risk management recruitment processes and ongoing character checking and assessment processes.
YWCA Canberra is an equal opportunity employer. People from diverse backgrounds and with diverse life experiences are encouraged to apply. We specifically encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply.