Youth Court Practitioner - Port Augusta

About KWY:

KWY is a leading Aboriginal Community-Controlled organisation in South Australia, committed to Creating a Space for Change for Aboriginal families and communities.

Since 2011, KWY has worked to break the cycle of domestic violence, promote safety for women and children, and reduce Aboriginal children in the child protection system through a specialised suite of programs focused on empowering families through culturally grounded support and healing.

Supporting over 1,800 families annually and growing, KWY offers a dynamic and values-driven work environment where your contributions make a real impact. Join our inclusive, collaborative team and help drive meaningful change.

About the position:

Mangrove Court (Port Augusta) provides structured supervision for young people who have offended, with a focus on supporting engagement and compliance with court orders, problem-solving, and pro-social behaviour. The program facilitates access to relevant services to address health needs, substance use, and offending behaviours. Participants’ progress is reported to the Court, both verbally and in writing, over a four- to six-month period to assist the Magistrate in determining appropriate court outcomes.

The KWY Youth Court Practitioner supports young people engaged in Mangrove Court through a therapeutic, holistic, youth-centred, and strengths-based approach. Services are tailored to the individual needs of each young person, and where appropriate, their family, with consideration given to culture, health, wellbeing, and broader socio-demographic factors. Practice is culturally safe and trauma-informed, with a strong focus on supporting the young person’s cultural, mental, physical, and social development, as well as their education, employment, and life skills.

The role includes providing timely written reports to the Youth Court, transporting young people to and from court hearings, and supporting them before and during proceedings. A minimum of two hours of direct engagement per week is required, in addition to court attendance and ongoing collaboration with the Mangrove Court Coordinator.

The practitioner provides developmentally appropriate, child-focused, and culturally responsive information and resources, prioritising the best interests of the young person and fostering strong therapeutic relationships aligned with evidence-based practice.

Key Responsibilities:

• Meet and intake with the Aboriginal Youth Justice Officer, family and young person within one week of referral.
• Provide a detailed case plan to the Mangrove Coordinator outlining a four-month intended schedule for service delivery. The plan should address the challenges and concerns identified in the assessment report prepared by the Mangrove Coordinator.
• Provide timely written reports to the youth courts as they are required.
• Minimum x 2 attendances/contact per week with the young person – plus Court attendance (total x 3 contacts per week).
• Transport of young person to Court and preparation of young person to speak for themselves.
• For each attendance at Court, the provider must prepare a Court report
• Attend each hearing and provide verbal update to the Court regarding service provider engagement.
• Engagement with the Court Elders and Respected Persons on the service provision being provided to young people.

About you:

• Demonstrated skills, experience, and knowledge in working with Aboriginal people to address Child Protection and Domestic, Sexual and Family Violence concerns.
• The applicant will operate within a therapeutic, trauma-informed framework. 
• The applicant would have demonstrated experience and knowledge of case management and working with Aboriginal families.  
• Clinical and therapeutic understanding of the impacts of trauma, particularly domestic, family and sexual violence, on youth and family functioning.
• Demonstrated knowledge, experience and understanding of working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities.  
• Demonstrated understanding of the impacts of domestic, family and sexual violence, child abuse and neglect.
• Demonstrated experience and understanding of working therapeutically with youth who have experienced trauma. 
• Ability to work in a sensitive, complex and demanding environment with a high degree of autonomy and self-management including the ability to manage challenging and confronting situations and behaviours.
• Excellent communication skills including experience in developing and facilitating presentations and family group meetings, ability to write case notes and referrals.
• Experience in working in a highly confidential manner.
• Ability to work effectively in a team, and independently as required. 
• Demonstrated high level of ability in using Information Technology and Microsoft Office, and other data programs. 

What we offer:

• Competitive salary: $ 60,465 (Part Time 0.6 FTE) Classification under the SCHADS Award Level 5.1
• Salary Packaging: Attractive salary packaging options, including meal entertainment benefits, novated leasing, and more up (package up to $15,900 per FBT year)
• Generous leave benefits: Additional 7 days of gifted leave on top of the 4 weeks annual leave (gifted leave conditions apply)
• Professional development: Growing organisation with great career opportunities and ongoing training and career growth
• Inclusive culture: Join a friendly, values-driven team passionate about supporting the community
• Employee Assistance Program: Support for your wellbeing

Job requirements:

• You must hold a current South Australian Driver's License or a license which permits you to drive in South Australia (and be willing to drive a service vehicle).
• You must be willing to travel to other regional SA locations when required either by car or via an airline, including flying to Adelaide for training and All Staff meetings.
• Successful candidates will be required to clear and maintain probity checks including National Criminal History Record Check (Police Clearance) and Working with Children Check (applicants need to hold a current WWCC to apply).

Desirable Criteria:

• Relevant qualifications in the domestic, family and sexual violence, youth justice and child protection sectors. This includes a degree in Social Work, Psychology, Social Sciences, or a Diploma in Community Services, Human Services, Health Sciences, and/or equivalent.
• Previous experience of working within the youth justice system.
• Knowledge of issues pertaining to homelessness, addiction, and mental health.  
• Demonstrated understanding of Narrative Principles of Practice with emphasis on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities.   
• Knowledge and understanding of restorative approaches to practice

About applying:

• Please submit your application via Seek, including a cover letter addressing the essential and desirable criteria outlined in the position description.
• Visit our website www.kwy.org.au/vacant-positions to download the full job description.
• Applications close once position is filled.
• Start date: As soon as possible

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.