If you are ready to lead with heart, inspire excellence and make a lasting difference in the lives of children and young people, we would love to hear from you!
Youth Care Operational Lead
- Full Time / Ballarat Location
- Salary: $124,903 - $130,120 plus superannuation
- Salary packaging options up to $15,900 plus meals and entertainment
- Above award entitlements, including 3 days paid Christmas Leave
- Rewarding and Meaningful Careers with professional development and dedicated resources to support your growth
- Award-winning inclusive employer, working to build safe, connected, diverse and thriving communities, through the services we provide that are driven by our values.
Our Opportunity
The Youth Care Operational Lead is a newly created leadership role. We are seeking an exceptional Leader to help shape the future of Cafs Therapeutic Residential Care and After Hours Programs. The role offers the opportunity to drive meaningful outcomes for children and young people who have experienced trauma, leading a passionate and highly skilled team committed to safe, relational and therapeutic care.
Working within our TBRI framework, you will influence practice, build workforce capability, strengthen placement stability and create the conditions for young people to experience healing, connection and hope.
At Cafs, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to heal, grow and thrive. This is a unique opportunity to influence practice, champion therapeutic care and drive meaningful, lasting outcomes for young people who need it most.
About You
- You have a strong desire to deliver meaningful outcomes for young people.
- You have demonstrated knowledge, skills, and experience in trauma informed principles and approaches.
- Experience in providing professional supervision / reflective practice
- Experience working in Out of Home Care sector or Statutory Service System
- Demonstrated experience in implement systems and leading teams to take proactive approaches to problem solving, seeking opportunities to design innovative solutions, recognising the wider business context
- Your highly developed cultural awareness and sensitivity, partnered with excellent communication skills, will enable you to build strong relationships, with our stakeholders.
- An Out of Home Care registration.
Mandatory Qualifications
- Minimum Tertiary level qualifications in Social Work, Welfare, Psychology or relevant field.
- Formal training in professional supervision / reflective practice is essential
Our Organisation
Cafs (Child and Family Services Ballarat) is an independent community service organisation based in Ballarat for over 160 years. We provide over 50 programs across a range of service areas providing care for clients within communities across the central highland region. Our practice is underpinned by our preferred model of care, Trust Based Relationship Intervention (TBRI), and our organisational values of Respect, Innovation, Collaboration, Kindness and Integrity are at the forefront of everything we do.
Join an organisation committed to healing, hope and meaningful impact across generations and help create brighter futures every day! APPLY NOW
Applications close 31st July 2026. Please note that applications may be reviewed as they are received, and applicants may be contacted for interview prior to the closing date. All applicants must be eligible to work in Australia, and employment will be subject to satisfactory Police and Victorian Working with Children Checks.
To find out more about this opportunity please refer to attached Position Description when applying or contact Rebecca Pilven, Manager Youth Care on 03 5337 3333.
Our Commitment
Inclusion and diversity are at the heart of everything we do at Cafs. We welcome applications from all people, including Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders, people with disabilities, the LGBTIQA community, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Supporting your application Our recruitment process includes 1-2 panel discussions. Some questions may be provided in advance. For adjustments or support, contact [email protected]
