Department: Community Investment & Partnerships
Department/Agency: Department of Communities and Justice
Location:
Kariong, NSW, AU, 2250
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Req ID: 85787
Aboriginal Throughcare Mentor
Youth Justice
Temporary full-time up to 2 years
Location: Kariong with hybrid working arrangements
Clerk Grade 7/8 Salary ($116,981 - $ 129,492 pa), plus employer's contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading
This position is open to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people only
Your role
The Aboriginal Throughcare Mentor provides culturally centred, relational, and practical support to Aboriginal young people transitioning from custody to community. The role exists to strengthen cultural identity, connection, and belonging, while supporting young people to engage with services, navigate systems, and successfully reintegrate into community.
The Aboriginal Throughcare Mentor acts as a trusted adult, advocate, and cultural bridge connecting young people, families, community, and services in a way that is respectful, culturally safe, and responsive to individual needs. The role will be split equally between working with young people in custody (Frank Baxter Youth Justice Centre) and in the community (working across Gosford, Newcastle and Maitland Youth Justice Community Office areas).
What you’ll do
Engage young people in the mentoring program through the development of strong, consistent relationships with young people, advocacy, and regular wellbeing-focused support.
Develop and maintain relationships with the Aboriginal community and key stakeholders to successfully deliver the mentoring program, including leading the recruitment, training and support of community mentors.
Support young people to reconnect with culture, community, and Country, while promoting culturally safe practices and guidance, and connection to community mentors
Build strong referral networks and act as a connector between custody, community services to successfully transition Young People from custody to community.
Partner with YJ caseworkers to ensure coordinated services for young people transitioning from custody – liaising with community mentors and community services.
Strengthen connections with families and communities, supporting improved communication and engagement between young people, families, and services.
Collect and collate data and information to track and monitor the mentoring program and measure program effectiveness, providing regular progress reports to enable continuous improvement.
What we’re looking for
This is an identified position and only open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons ( see notes below for further information).
Current NSW Working with Children Check clearance.
Current NSW Drivers Licence with ability and willingness to drive throughout NSW.
Notes: As an Identified role, this role is open only to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons, Australia’s First Nations people.
Where a position is identified, an applicant’s race is a genuine occupational qualification and authorised by Section 14(d) of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977.
There are two alternatives to confirming your Aboriginality, one of which must be uploaded to be considered for the role as follows. Either will be accepted:
Confirmation of Aboriginality form
or
Written confirmation from 2-3 Aboriginal organisations within the community in which you live/work, which addresses the three criteria listed below:
is of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, and
identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, and
is accepted as a such by the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.
Appointments are subject to reference checks. Some roles may also require the following checks/ clearances:
National Criminal History Record Check in accordance with the Disability Inclusion Act 2014
Working with Children Check clearance in accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012
We focus on hiring people who share our commitment and goals of inclusion, collaboration, adaptability, courage and integrity. If you meet the essential requirements and the role resonates with you, please apply – you do not need to meet every desired requirement for us to want to talk to you.
In Addition to the above essential criteria, we are looking for someone who has:
Demonstrated cultural capability, which includes lived experience, knowledge and understanding of contemporary social issues affecting Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander young people, including skills in identifying and/or responding to the diverse needs of Aboriginal young people experiencing significant trauma and disadvantage.
Understanding of Aboriginal Culture, Kinships, Community structures, Protocols
Awareness in of intergenerational trauma, trauma and healing informed.
Knowledge of Cultural safety.
Experience with working Aboriginal young people in or at risk of custody.
Experience supporting young people transitioning from custody back to community
Ability to provide support to young people and families in a Cultural respectful way.
Download the role description.
If you are viewing this ad in Seek and wish to apply via their portal, you will be required to either set up a profile or login via your existing Seek account.
For more information and advice on applying for roles at DCJ, visit Careers for Aboriginal people https://www.dcj.nsw.gov.au/about-us/careers-at-dcj/pathways/careers-for-aboriginal-people.html
What We Offer
We offer a variety of benefits, including:
A challenging and rewarding career
Flexible, autonomous work environment
Competitive pay and conditions
Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities
Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.
Want more information? Visit our website to see more information on Working for us.
We do work that really matters
Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It’s work that really matters.
Apply now and join Australia’s top public sector employer where we will support you and provide an exciting and flexible working environment!
Are you ready to join us?
Click apply. You will need to attach an up-to-date résumé (maximum five pages) and a cover letter (maximum three pages) with a brief outline on how you meet the requirements of the role and answer the targeted question below:
Tell us who you are, where you are from and about your connections to Aboriginal community. How would you draw on those relationships, your cultural knowledge and your connections with ACCOs and mainstream organisations to build trust with young people, advocate for them and create positive opportunities and pathways?
Applications close Sunday, 13th September 2026 at 11:59pm AEST.
Got a question?
For more information about the role or what it’s like to work for DCJ, please contact the hiring manager Catriona McDonnell on 0459 872 534or at
[email protected]
If you’ve got a question about applying or would benefit from an adjustment in the recruitment process to help you perform at your best (including an alternate method submission of the application), please call Olivia Alipalo on 0477 323 408 or via
[email protected]
Visit Recruitment adjustments on the DCJ website to learn more.
Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit
We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience, and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers, and other diversity groups.
To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit Inclusion and diversity on the DCJ website.
Other Information
A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.
For more information visit Applying for DCJ jobs on the DCJ website (for all roles except Aboriginal Identified).
Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.
To keep up with recruitment opportunities at DCJ, follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CareersatDCJ/
The Welcome Experience
Thinking about moving to regional NSW? Get free, personalised support with housing, schools, jobs, and settling in. Learn more: www.nsw.gov.au/welcomeexperience
The careers site currently promotes this service on the ‘Discover roles with DCJ in regional NSW’ page.
