CQID is experiencing organisational growth across all services and seeking suitable candidates for a range of positions.
CQID is one of the largest employers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Central Queensland region. Offering a broad range of service areas, with roles that serve our community across Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Emerald, Gladstone, Hervey Bay, Longreach, Maryborough and Woorabinda.
A new organisational structure, designated HR team and the implementation of a new Workforce Strategy. Striving to support employees on their career journey is a priority and contributes us to being an Employer of Choice.
Purpose of the Role
The REAL Mentor – Reconnection, Employment and Learning (REAL) provides personalised, culturally safe mentoring and practical support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants transitioning from incarceration into the community.
Working under the direction and supervision of the Program Coordinator – REAL, the position maintains a direct participant caseload and provides support across the pre-release, on-release and post-release stages of the REAL Program. The Mentor develops consistent, trusting relationships with participants and works alongside them to identify goals, develop and review Individual Action Plans and address barriers to successful reintegration.
The position provides flexible, participant-led support across correctional and community settings, including outreach. Support may include connection to employment, education and training, housing, health and wellbeing services, culture, Country, family and community supports, together with practical assistance and life skills development.
As a significant component of the role is delivered within the correctional environment, the successful applicant must be able to obtain and maintain approval to access Capricornia Correctional Centre and comply with all Queensland Corrective Services operational, conduct and security requirements.
Program Overview
The Reconnection, Employment and Learning (REAL) Program is an Australian Government funded initiative that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people transitioning from incarceration into the community.
The program provides culturally responsive mentoring and practical support to participants for up to six months prior to release, immediate high-intensity support on release and ongoing mentoring for up to 12 months following release. The program aims to strengthen connections to employment, education, training, culture, housing, health services, family and community supports while reducing barriers to successful reintegration.
The REAL Program is underpinned by principles of self-determination, cultural safety, trauma-informed practice, strengths-based service delivery and participant-led goal setting.
Responsibilities and Duties
Participant Mentoring and Case Support
-
Maintain an allocated participant caseload and provide consistent, individualised mentoring and support throughout the participant’s REAL journey
- Build culturally safe, respectful and strengths-based relationships with participants and support participant choice, self-determination and goal setting
- Engage participants prior to release, on the day of release where required and throughout the post-release period
- Undertake regular participant contact through correctional centre visits, face-to-face community engagement, outreach, telephone and virtual servicing as appropriate
- Monitor participant engagement, progress, changing circumstances, risks and barriers and respond flexibly to individual needs
- Maintain professional boundaries, confidentiality and respectful relationships at all times
- Identify complex or high-risk participant matters and escalate these to the Program Coordinator in accordance with CQID policies and procedures
Individual Action Planning and Goal Achievement
-
Support participants to identify meaningful goals and develop, agree, implement and regularly review Individual Action Plans
- Ensure Individual Action Plans reflect participant strengths, self-determination, values, circumstances and goals across community belonging, cultural identity, family and kinship, learning and education, social and emotional wellbeing, employment and physical health
- Work with participants to identify practical actions, activities, connections and services that support achievement of their goals
- Review participant progress, celebrate achievements and adjust goals and supports where participant circumstances or priorities change
- Complete Individual Action Plans and associated records within required program timeframes and Departmental systems
Pre-release and Release Support
-
Work with correctional centre staff to engage eligible participants, coordinate visits and support referral, registration and onboarding processes
- Provide pre-release mentoring and support to prepare participants for successful transition into the community
- Support participants to identify and address barriers prior to release, including identification, income support, accommodation, transport, communication, life skills and connection to relevant services
- Coordinate referrals and practical release arrangements in line with the participant’s Individual Action Plan
- Provide immediate, culturally safe and high-intensity support on release or discharge from court where required, responding to urgent needs and supporting participant stability
- Support participants released unexpectedly or from remand to access immediate transitional assistance, including accommodation, food, clothing, transport, income support and other essential services where required
Post-release Outreach and Reintegration Support
-
Provide ongoing face-to-face and outreach mentoring following release, taking support to participants where appropriate rather than relying solely on site-based servicing
- Support participants to reconnect with family, kin, community, culture, Country and language where appropriate and participant-led
- Assist participants to access housing, health and wellbeing, mental health, alcohol and other drug, disability, family violence and other community supports as required
- Support participants to build life skills and address practical barriers to community participation and independence
- Maintain regular contact with participants and actively re-engage participants where engagement reduces, taking account of individual circumstances and community and cultural obligations
- Support participants experiencing changes in circumstances, including parole, community corrections requirements, transfer or reincarceration, in accordance with REAL Program requirements
Employment, Education and Training Pathways
-
Support participants to identify and pursue employment, education, training and vocational goals
- Connect participants with employment services, training organisations, education providers, employers and other relevant services
- Assist participants to access job-readiness activities, foundation skills, licences, tickets, training and other supports relevant to their Individual Action Plan
- Coordinate referrals and provide warm handovers to employment and other service providers where appropriate
- Where participants receive concurrent services, work collaboratively with other providers, with participant consent, to ensure supports are complementary and not duplicated
Correctional Centre and Stakeholder Engagement
-
Develop and maintain productive working relationships with Queensland Corrective Services personnel and other stakeholders involved in participant transition and reintegration
- Comply with correctional centre access, security, conduct, scheduling and operational requirements
- Maintain personal correctional centre access approval and participate in required inductions and training
- Work collaboratively with community organisations, government agencies, employment and training providers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations to support participant outcomes
- Liaise with Community Corrections, parole officers and other relevant services with participant consent where required to support coordinated service delivery and reduce the risk of unintended breaches of conditions
Information Technology, Records and Compliance
-
Maintain accurate, timely and complete participant records, case notes, consent records, Individual Action Plans, referrals, activities and outcomes
- Enter and update participant information in Departmental information technology systems and CQID systems within required timeframes
- Ensure participant identity, privacy and consent requirements are completed and records are securely managed
- Record participant engagement, progress, warm handovers, transfers, exits and other required program activity
- Provide accurate program data and reporting information to the Program Coordinator as required
- Comply with privacy, information security, Right Fit For Risk, records management and other contractual requirements relevant to the REAL Program
- Participate in team meetings, case discussions, supervision, program evaluation and continuous improvement activities
Essential Selection Criteria
-
Demonstrated experience providing mentoring, case support, outreach or practical assistance to individuals experiencing complex social and personal challenges
- Demonstrated understanding of the challenges experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people involved with the justice system and the impacts of incarceration, trauma, grief and loss, intergenerational disadvantage and systemic disadvantage
- Demonstrated understanding of culturally safe, trauma-informed and strengths-based practice and the ability to apply these approaches in direct participant work
- Demonstrated ability to build trusting, respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities
- Demonstrated ability to support participant-led goal setting, practical problem solving and connection to services
- Strong communication, engagement, organisational and time management skills
- Demonstrated ability to maintain professional boundaries, confidentiality and accurate participant records
- Demonstrated ability to utilise information technology systems, databases and reporting platforms
- Ability to obtain, maintain and comply with all requirements associated with Queensland Corrective Services access approval for Capricornia Correctional Centre and any other correctional facilities relevant to program delivery
Highly Desirable
-
Experience working within correctional services, youth justice, community justice, employment services or reintegration programs
- Experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities
- Knowledge of employment pathways, vocational education and training systems and community support services
- Experience providing outreach services to people with complex needs
- Existing Queensland Corrective Services access approval
- Lived experience and/or strong community connections
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Knowledge
-
Knowledge of the factors contributing to incarceration and recidivism
- Understanding of trauma, grief and loss, adverse childhood experiences and social disadvantage
- Understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, communities and contemporary issues
- Understanding of community services, employment, education and training systems and referral pathways
- Understanding of culturally safe, trauma-informed, strengths-based and participant-led service delivery
- Understanding of the practical barriers experienced by people transitioning from custody to community
Skills
-
Strong communication, engagement and relationship-building skills
- Ability to build rapport and maintain consistent mentoring relationships with participants
- Ability to support participant-led goal setting and translate goals into practical actions
- Ability to work effectively across correctional, community and outreach settings
- Strong organisational, problem-solving and time management skills
- Ability to respond calmly and appropriately to complex needs, changing circumstances and challenging behaviour
- Strong record keeping and case note writing skills
- Ability to utilise information technology systems and databases
Experience
-
Experience working within human services, community services, corrections, employment, education, training or related sectors
- Experience providing direct support, mentoring, case management or outreach services
- Experience working with individuals experiencing complex social and personal challenges
- Experience building service connections, coordinating referrals and supporting warm handover
Minimum Requirements
The successful applicant will:
-
Hold a current Queensland Driver Licence
- Hold or be eligible to obtain a Blue Card
- Hold or be eligible to obtain a National Police Check
- Be able to successfully obtain and maintain access approval for Capricornia Correctional Centre
- Comply with all Queensland Corrective Services security, conduct and operational requirements
- Participate in supervision, mandatory training and professional development activities
- Comply with CQID policies, procedures and practice frameworks
- Comply with Workplace Health and Safety requirements
Please visit https://www.cqid.com.au for more information
