Therapeutic Youth Worker Jobs Canberra at MacKillop

October 8, 2026
$40 - $43 / hour

Job Description

Explore Therapeutic Youth Worker Jobs Canberra with MacKillop Family Services. Earn $40.49–$43.42 per hour with salary packaging, training and wellbeing benefits.

Job Description

Explore various youth support roles, designed to support youth in overcoming their personal challenges.

For those interested in making a difference, youth support roles represent a fulfilling career choice.

The rise in demand for skilled professionals makes youth support roles a great option for job seekers.

Filled with opportunities, youth support roles can help you build a successful career.

youth support roles with MacKillop Family Services provide an opportunity to support children and young people who have experienced complex trauma, disrupted attachments and significant adversity.

For more information, visit our career page dedicated to youth support roles.

Join a community committed to youth support roles and improving youth outcomes.

Find fulfillment in youth support roles by supporting vulnerable youth in your community.

MacKillop Family Services is currently recruiting several Casual Youth Support Workers to work across Canberra ACT within its Therapeutic Residential Care program.

There are multiple casual positions available, with the official MacKillop careers listing currently advertising 10 vacancies.

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Our organization focuses on empowering professionals in youth support roles.

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The position is classified at SCHADS Level 3, with an advertised hourly rate of $40.49 to $43.42, depending on qualifications and experience.

As a Therapeutic Youth Worker, you will provide intensive, trauma-informed care to children and young people with complex emotional, behavioural and psychological needs.

You will work alongside clinicians, care team members and allied health professionals to implement individualised therapeutic plans and create environments where young people can feel safe, develop trust, strengthen emotional regulation and build positive relationships.

The fulfillment of helping others is just one of the benefits of youth support roles.

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The skills you will develop through youth support roles are invaluable.

The role includes a variety of shifts, including sleepovers and active night shifts.

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For people searching for youth support roles, this MacKillop opportunity offers meaningful frontline work, competitive SCHADS rates, generous salary packaging, professional development and the opportunity to contribute to positive long-term outcomes for young people.

Join us in making a difference with youth support roles.

About MacKillop Family Overview

MacKillop Family Services provides support to vulnerable children, young people and families across Australia.

The organisation delivers services in areas including:

  • Therapeutic residential care
  • Child and family services
  • Disability support
  • Education
  • Out-of-home care
  • Community programs

MacKillop focuses on helping children and young people experience safety, stability, connection and opportunities to thrive.

Its approach recognises that many young people entering residential care have experienced significant adversity or trauma.

Support therefore needs to be consistent, compassionate and informed by an understanding of how trauma can affect development, behaviour, emotional regulation and relationships.

Youth Support Roles

This position is based across:

Canberra ACT

Successful employees report to the House Supervisor and work within residential and community environments.

The position is:

Casual

Applicants need flexibility to work different types of shifts.

These can include:

  • Day shifts
  • Evening shifts
  • Weekends
  • Sleepovers
  • Active night shifts

Candidates should carefully consider whether they can meet these roster requirements before applying.

Responsibilities

Therapeutic Youth Workers play an important role in providing safe and consistent support.

Build Therapeutic Relationships

One of the most important responsibilities is developing meaningful relationships with children and young people.

These relationships should be built on:

  • Trust
  • Respect
  • Consistency
  • Safety
  • Compassion
  • Professional boundaries

Young people who have experienced disrupted relationships may require time before they feel safe trusting adults.

Workers therefore need patience and reliability.

Support Emotional Regulation

Therapeutic Youth Workers help young people develop strategies to understand and manage their emotions.

This may involve:

  • Emotional coaching
  • Calm communication
  • Supporting coping strategies
  • Reinforcing positive behaviours
  • Helping young people identify emotions
  • Modelling healthy responses to stress

The purpose is not to punish emotional responses but to help young people develop safer and more effective ways of managing difficult situations.

Support Young People with Complex Behaviours

The role involves working with young people who may demonstrate complex or high-risk behaviours.

Workers need to remain calm and follow established therapeutic and safety plans.

Responses should be:

  • Consistent
  • Trauma-informed
  • Professional
  • Respectful
  • Safety-focused

Employees should avoid reactive or confrontational approaches.

Implement Individualised Case Plans

Each young person may have an individualised plan outlining their needs, goals and support strategies.

Therapeutic Youth Workers may need to follow:

  • Case plans
  • Behaviour support plans
  • Safety plans
  • Therapeutic strategies

Consistency is particularly important because young people need predictable responses from the adults supporting them.

Trauma-Informed Practice

A strong understanding of trauma is essential for Therapeutic Youth Worker Jobs Canberra.

Trauma can influence how a young person:

  • Responds to authority
  • Builds relationships
  • Handles stress
  • Regulates emotions
  • Interprets other people’s behaviour
  • Responds to conflict
  • Develops trust

A trauma-informed approach considers what may have happened to the young person rather than focusing only on challenging behaviour.

Workers should aim to create experiences of safety and consistency.

Therapeutic Care Frameworks

Employees may work within therapeutic frameworks informed by concepts such as:

  • Attachment theory
  • Neurodevelopment
  • Positive behaviour support
  • Social learning
  • Emotional coaching

These frameworks can help staff understand the underlying needs that may contribute to behaviour.

Workers should implement approved strategies consistently and participate in ongoing professional development.

Crisis Response

Some situations may involve emotional escalation or crisis.

Therapeutic Youth Workers must be able to maintain a calm and supportive presence.

This includes:

  • Following safety procedures
  • Applying approved intervention strategies
  • Communicating clearly
  • Seeking additional support when required
  • Maintaining professional boundaries
  • Documenting relevant incidents

The worker’s response can strongly influence whether a difficult situation escalates or de-escalates.

Creating Safe Environments

A central responsibility is helping young people experience an environment that feels:

  • Predictable
  • Safe
  • Respectful
  • Structured
  • Supportive

Young people who have experienced instability may benefit significantly from predictable routines and consistent adult responses.

Workers should help create this stability through reliable everyday interactions.

Supporting Social Skills

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Therapeutic Youth Workers may also support young people to strengthen social and relationship skills.

This can involve helping them:

  • Communicate appropriately
  • Resolve disagreements
  • Develop friendships
  • Recognise boundaries
  • Build confidence
  • Participate in community activities

These skills can contribute to longer-term independence and wellbeing.

Multidisciplinary Teamwork

Successful youth support requires collaboration.

Therapeutic Youth Workers may work with:

  • Clinicians
  • House Supervisors
  • Case Workers
  • Allied health professionals
  • Other Youth Workers
  • External services

Team members should share relevant information appropriately and contribute to consistent therapeutic care.

Requirements

Candidates need to meet several important employment requirements.

Certificate IV Qualification

Applicants should hold:

Certificate IV in Community Services, Youth Work or a related field

A higher relevant qualification may also be accepted.

Candidates who do not currently hold the qualification may still be considered if they are willing to obtain it according to MacKillop requirements.

Driver’s Licence

Applicants need a:

Valid and current Driver’s Licence

Youth Workers may need to support young people with transportation and community activities.

Criminal History Check

Successful applicants need a satisfactory:

Criminal History Check

MacKillop states that this check is paid for by the organisation.

Working with Vulnerable People Check

Applicants require a valid:

Employee Working with Vulnerable People Check

This must meet ACT employment requirements.

NDIS Worker Screening Check

Candidates also need a valid and current:

NDIS Worker Screening Check

MacKillop may assist successful candidates with the application process where required.

Engage with challenging yet rewarding Therapeutic Youth Worker Jobs Canberra that require dedication and compassion.

First Aid Certificate

Applicants require a:

First Aid Certificate with at least six months validity

Candidates should check the expiry date of their certificate before applying.

Experience

MacKillop is seeking candidates with experience supporting young people who may have:

  • Complex trauma
  • Mental health challenges
  • Disability
  • High-risk behaviours
  • Significant emotional needs

Applicants should clearly demonstrate relevant experience in their resume.

Examples may include work in:

  • Residential care
  • Youth services
  • Disability support
  • Community services
  • Mental health
  • Child protection

Key Skills

Successful applicants should demonstrate several important skills.

Resilience

Youth residential care can involve challenging situations.

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Workers need to remain professional and emotionally regulated even during difficult shifts.

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Communication

Strong interpersonal communication is essential.

Workers should be able to communicate respectfully with:

  • Young people
  • Colleagues
  • Clinicians
  • Supervisors
  • Other professionals

Emotional Intelligence

Employees need to recognise both their own emotional responses and those of the young people they support.

Good emotional intelligence can improve communication and crisis responses.

Compassion

Young people should be treated with dignity and respect regardless of challenging behaviour or previous experiences.

Benefits

There are several benefits associated with these Therapeutic Youth Worker Jobs Canberra.

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1. $40.49 – $43.42 Per Hour

The advertised SCHADS Level 3 rate is:

Minimum Salary: $40.49 per hour

Maximum Salary: $43.42 per hour

The applicable rate depends on qualifications and experience.

2. Salary Packaging up to $18,550

Eligible employees may access salary sacrifice benefits of up to:

$18,550 per year

Enhance your skills and grow your career with Therapeutic Youth Worker Jobs Canberra.

Salary packaging can potentially reduce taxable income and increase take-home pay depending on individual circumstances.

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3. Employee Wellbeing Support

MacKillop provides free confidential support relating to areas including:

  • Mental wellbeing
  • Physical wellbeing
  • Financial wellbeing
  • Social wellbeing

Seek Therapeutic Youth Worker Jobs Canberra that offer professional development and skill enhancement.

This can be particularly valuable in emotionally demanding youth-care work.

4. Therapeutic Model of Care

MacKillop operates as a Sanctuary Organisation.

The organisation’s work is informed by the Sanctuary Model, which focuses on creating safe environments and helping people cope effectively with stress and trauma.

This provides employees with a structured therapeutic framework for their work.

5. Ongoing Training and Supervision

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Employees are expected to participate in ongoing training and supervision.

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Consider the impact your work in Therapeutic Youth Worker Jobs Canberra can have on young lives.

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This can help workers develop skills in:

  • Trauma-informed practice
  • Behaviour support
  • Crisis response
  • Reflective practice
  • Therapeutic care

Seek Therapeutic Youth Worker Jobs Canberra that allow you to thrive both personally and professionally.

6. First Nations Career Pathways

MacKillop’s Warrungarli Strategy supports First Nations recruitment, retention and professional development.

This forms part of the organisation’s broader commitment to culturally safe employment.

7. Staff Community Networks

Employees may have opportunities to participate in internal staff networks, including:

Ngindaay Guumaldanha, MacKillop’s Aboriginal Staff Network.

These networks can strengthen professional connection and cultural support.

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Reflective Practice

Therapeutic Youth Workers are expected to participate in reflective practice.

This involves thinking carefully about:

Therapeutic Youth Worker Jobs Canberra allow you to make a real difference every day.

  • What happened during interactions
  • Why a young person may have responded in a certain way
  • How staff responses influenced the outcome
  • What could be done differently next time

Reflective practice supports professional learning and better therapeutic care.

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Positive Behaviour Support

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The role involves evidence-informed approaches such as positive behaviour support.

This approach focuses on understanding why behaviour occurs and creating strategies that promote safer alternatives.

It is not simply about stopping behaviour.

Instead, workers aim to understand:

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  • Triggers
  • Unmet needs
  • Communication difficulties
  • Environmental factors
  • Emotional states

This can help teams develop more effective responses.

Supporting Long-Term Development

Consider how Therapeutic Youth Worker Jobs Canberra can help you fulfill your career aspirations.

The goal of therapeutic residential care extends beyond managing immediate behaviours.

Workers help young people build capacities that may support their future.

These can include:

  • Emotional regulation
  • Trust
  • Social skills
  • Confidence
  • Independence
  • Healthy relationships
  • Problem-solving

Progress may happen gradually, which makes consistency especially important.

Who Should Apply?

Enhance your skill set while working in Therapeutic Youth Worker Jobs Canberra that prioritize youth welfare.

These Therapeutic Youth Worker Jobs Canberra may suit candidates who:

  • Hold or are willing to obtain Certificate IV in Community Services or Youth Work
  • Have experience with complex trauma
  • Understand trauma-informed care
  • Can support challenging behaviours calmly
  • Have strong communication skills
  • Can implement behaviour and safety plans
  • Hold a current Driver’s Licence
  • Hold or can meet screening requirements
  • Have current First Aid certification
  • Can work sleepovers and active nights
  • Are comfortable working in a multidisciplinary team
  • Want to make a positive difference for young people

Diversity and Inclusion

MacKillop Family Services values diversity and aims to provide culturally safe and inclusive services.

The organisation welcomes people from different:

  • Cultural backgrounds
  • Language groups
  • Gender identities
  • Sexual orientations
  • Religious or spiritual backgrounds
  • Socio-economic backgrounds
  • Age groups

MacKillop particularly encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates to apply.

How to Apply

Candidates interested in the role should submit an application online.

Be part of a team dedicated to Therapeutic Youth Worker Jobs Canberra.

Before applying, prepare an updated resume highlighting:

  • Youth-work experience
  • Trauma-informed care experience
  • Relevant qualifications
  • Behaviour-support experience
  • Residential-care experience
  • Mental-health experience
  • Driver’s Licence
  • First Aid
  • Working with Vulnerable People status
  • NDIS Worker Screening status

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Shortlisting is occurring immediately, so suitable applicants may benefit from applying early.

Build Your Youth Work Career with MacKillop

For candidates searching for Therapeutic Youth Worker Jobs Canberra, MacKillop Family Services offers the chance to provide meaningful trauma-informed support to vulnerable children and young people.

The position pays $40.49 to $43.42 per hour under SCHADS Level 3, depending on qualifications and experience.

Employees may also access salary packaging of up to $18,550 per year, wellbeing services, professional supervision, training and workplace community networks.

If you are resilient, compassionate, comfortable working with complex behaviours and committed to helping young people experience safety and stability, this casual Canberra opportunity may be a strong fit.

Inquire about our available Therapeutic Youth Worker Jobs Canberra today!

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