Do you want the chance to make a difference one moment, milestone and interaction at a time? Are you interested in helping tamariki develop the skills they need to be meaningful contributors to their whānau & communities? Would you like to share your interests, passions, and culture to help inspire and empower rangatahi? We would love to hear from you!
We are currently accepting Expressions of Interests from candidates who are interested in a career in Youth Work at Oranga Tamariki.
Please note that submitting your Expression of Interest is not a formal application for a role but is to register your interest with us. By submitting your Expression of Interest, you are inviting a member of our Talent Acquisition team to contact you if a suitable opportunity arises.
What is a Youth Worker?
A Youth Worker works in Oranga Tamariki's Youth Justice Residences, Care & Protection Residences, Care & Protection Group Homes, and other residential facilities that provide care and support to youth offenders and/or at-risk tamariki and rangatahi.
The starting salary for a permanent, full time Youth Worker is between $57,760 - $65,334 as well as allowances.
Casual Youth Workers are offered an hourly rate of $26.00 plus 8% holiday.
Mō te tūnga | About the role
We are looking for positive role models to work with our rangatahi, helping them turn their lives around. To help them achieve this, our Residential Youth Workers, as part of a team, provide daily care and support. They get involved assisting our rangatahi to re-engage with school/vocation, attending appointments, having visits with their family, connecting with peers, and managing themselves within the home. We work to keep our rangatahi connected to the positive influences in their lives - mentors, whānau, work and community-based programmes.
This is not a 9 to 5 job - our rangatahi require wrap around support from us which is why our Residential Youth Workers do rostered shifts as we provide 24-hour, 7-days per week care (including weekends and public holidays).
Typical duties of the role can involve:
- Coaching rangatahi through our structured day and through all life necessities
- Participating in activities with our rangatahi
- Supporting our rangatahi by helping them with their studies, teaching them life skills such as cooking, art, music and cultural programmes and mentor them to make positive life choices
- Establishing rapport with rangatahi who have experienced trauma and assist with redirecting behaviour
Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu | What you will bring
- Experience working with rangatahi and tamariki with resilience, initiative and a proactive approach.
- Sound judgement with the ability to manage risk and make tough decisions.
- Empathy, patience and ability to see past what someone may be struggling with.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to adapt to your audience.
- Understanding in tikanga Māori and te reo Māori.
- A tertiary education within psychology, social sciences, social work, sports, music, arts or teaching would be an advantage (but is not required). Life learnings are equally important and we value the life experience of our staff bring to this practical and challenging role.
- A current and valid New Zealand driver's license.
- Meet the Children's Act safety checking and our vetting requirements, including the right to work in New Zealand.
- Flexibility to work different shifts - mornings, evenings, weekends and public holidays.
Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you
Our Youth Workers receive full-time, on the job paid training. We are committed to ensuring that our kaimahi have the best possible preparation and support to prepare them to work in our unique environment.
We also provide ongoing development for our people. Oranga Tamariki is an organisation with great career development opportunities, in meaningful lines of work. A lot of our leadership team started with us as Youth Workers themselves.
Oranga Tamariki offer an impartial remuneration package, that offers progression annually for experience through tenure. We welcome diversity and are committed to working in an inclusive and respectful way.
How to submit your Expression of Interest
We'd love to hear about your experience, passions and interests that have attracted you to youth work and building a career with Oranga Tamariki. To express your interest, please upload your up-to-date CV and answer our comprehensive screening questions.
If you are interested, please ensure that you make yourself familiar with our code of conduct as it sets out our expectations for our kaimahi and requires you to present at work free from the influences of both drugs and alcohol.
