Are you passionate about creating safe, inclusive environments where children, young people, and vulnerable adults can thrive? Do you have the expertise to contribute to safeguarding initiatives and drive best practice across diverse service delivery areas? If so, we invite you to join our team as a Safeguarding Coordinator.
At YWCA Canberra, we are proud to be a Child Safe Organisation guided by strong values of respect, equality, inclusion, and responsibility. At YWCA Canberra, safeguarding is at the heart of our organisational culture. We are committed to creating safe, inclusive environments where children feel protected and empowered to speak up. This commitment is embedded in leadership through to every educator.
About YWCA Canberra:
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.
As a values-based organisation, and the only Canberra based Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (WGEA), YWCA Canberra is a great place to work. We have a strong track record in building long-term, sustainable careers with excellent conditions (including charitable salary sacrificing and above award salaries) together with a supportive work environment for all employees to thrive.
About the Role
The Safeguarding Coordinator will play a key role in working collaboratively across both Community Services and Children’s Services portfolios to embed safeguarding practices, respond to concerns, lead investigations and ensure compliance with relevant legislation and standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide advice and make recommendations to the executive on contemporary best practice for child safety ensuring alignment with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations and the ACT Child Safe Standards scheme
- Develop, implement, and review safeguarding policies and procedures.
- Ensure organisational compliance with legislation, standards, and best practices.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding laws and frameworks.
- Integrate safeguarding principles into broader organisational policies.
- Deliver engaging training and induction for staff, students, and volunteers.
- Provide ongoing support, training, and mentoring on safeguarding matters.
- Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous learning.
- Act as the first point of contact for safeguarding concerns or disclosures.
- Promote a culture of safety, accountability and continuous improvement with a learning culture across the organisation
- Investigate concerns confidentially and thoroughly.
- Maintain detailed records of investigations and outcomes.
- Prepare reports and insights for executive leadership and the board.
About You
- Minimum 3 years’ experience in a safeguarding, child protection, or welfare-related role.
- Strong understanding of relevant legislative frameworks including Child Safe Standards, mandatory reporting, and Reportable Conduct scheme (ACT/NSW)
- Previous experience conducting investigations with strong investigative writing skills and report writing ability
- Demonstrated experience driving change with the ability to build strong working relationships through trust and collaboration across all levels of the organisation.
- Excellent communication, training, and interpersonal skills.
- Knowledge of trauma-informed practice and culturally safe approaches
- Tertiary qualification in Social Work, Psychology, Community Services, Education, or a related field
Must hold a valid unrestricted driver’s licence for travel across all our sites as well as an ACT Working with Vulnerable People registration, NSW Working with Children Check and National Police Check
How to apply
- Visit https://ywca-canberra.org.au/about-us/careers to access the position description.
- Applications including a cover letter and CV can be submitted through our recruitment portal here: https://candidate.aurion.cloud/ywca/production/signin
What’s in it for you?
Working at YWCA Canberra offers more than just a pay cheque. Here, you’ll find a job with real purpose, where your efforts directly contribute to improving lives in our community. Whether you’re involved in early childhood education, housing and homelessness, our corporate teams or any of our other programs, you’ll see tangible results of your work.
YWCA Canberra offers:
- Competitive base salary
- 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 that can improve your take-home pay by $5K annually
- Generous parental leave entitlements, 3 days extra paid annual leave between Christmas and New Year, annual flu vaccinations.
- Access to Employee Assistance Program for guidance and free counselling
Want more information?
For a confidential discussion or further information please contact Melanie French via email at Melanie.French@ywca-canberra.org.au
For assistance with the application process please contact recruitment@ywca-canberra.org.au
Applications close on 3 September 2025
Make a difference with us.
At YWCA Canberra, we’ve been championing change since 1929, empowering women and promoting gender equality for nearly a century. Our legacy isn’t built on words alone—it’s rooted in real action. Every day, we transform lives through our community services, affordable housing programs, early childhood education, and leadership initiatives. Whether it’s providing a safe home through YHomes, supporting survivors of domestic violence, or nurturing the next generation of leaders, we walk the talk. Our impact is tangible, and our commitment to building an inclusive, equitable future remains stronger than ever.
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.