Case Worker - After Hours Outreach Service

• 2 x Permanent part-time positions | 30.4 hours per week
• Location: Bungalow, Cairns QLD 4870
• Rostered shifts: 6:00am–2:00pm and 2:00pm–10:00pm across 7 days, including weekends and public holidays
• Salary: $47.81 per hour + Super + not-for-profit salary packaging benefits + Shift Penalty rates
• Make a meaningful difference to the lives of Australians in need

Life at Mission Australia

When you join the team at Mission Australia, you become part of a community who are determined to end homelessness and ensure people in need can thrive. United by our Christian purpose and values, we advocate for a fairer Australia to meet the growing needs of people across the country. Together we’re building hope and possibility for all. 

Find out more about us and our purpose.

Your opportunity

Join Mission Australia’s After Hours Outreach Service and support people experiencing homelessness across the Cairns region.

As a Case Worker, you’ll spend most of your time in the community providing street-based outreach to people sleeping rough, staying in cars or experiencing an immediate housing crisis.

You’ll build relationships, respond to immediate safety and wellbeing needs, and provide practical support including emergency accommodation, identification, housing applications and connections to Centrelink, health, housing and other community services.

Working alongside your team and key services, you’ll help people navigate challenges and take meaningful steps towards greater safety and housing stability. The role involves regular community-based outreach, driving and working outdoors across the Cairns region.

The service operates seven days a week, including weekends and public holidays, with shifts from 6:00am–2:00pm and 2:00pm–10:00pm. Candidates must be available to work both shifts across a seven-day rotating roster.

Your key responsibilities will be to

• Provide street outreach and build positive relationships with people experiencing homelessness.
• Complete assessments, identify risks and respond to immediate safety, wellbeing and crisis needs.
• Provide practical support with emergency accommodation, identification, housing applications and pathways towards stable housing.
• Connect people with housing, Centrelink, health and other community and specialist services.
• Work collaboratively with housing providers, emergency services and other key stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate risk assessments, case notes and required client documentation.

Requirements for success

• Experience supporting people experiencing homelessness, complex needs or significant disadvantage, with the ability to build positive and respectful relationships.
• Experience providing person-centred, strengths-based and trauma-informed support.
• Ability to assess risk, respond appropriately to immediate needs and maintain professional boundaries.
• Ability to work effectively in a community-based street outreach environment.
• Relevant degree in Social Work, Human Services, Community Services or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Current unrestricted Driver's licence and current First Aid and CPR certification.

Before starting work with us, you will need to undertake a national police history check, qualifications, and referee checks, and have a clearance to work with children/vulnerable people.

Your benefits

To ensure our employees feel valued, empowered, and celebrated, we provide a range of employee benefits including: 

• Rewarding work – every day you know you’re making a real difference
• Not-for-profit salary packaging, reducing your tax (details via AccessPay)
• Free external, confidential counselling and access to chaplaincy support.
• Volunteering opportunities  
• Extra leave available including an additional public holiday, additional annual leave day on your work anniversary and the opportunity to purchase further annual leave.

Our culture

Our innovative and inclusive culture will ensure you feel valued at Mission Australia as you help Australians in need and develop in your career.

We prioritise the safety and wellbeing of everyone, both within our team and the individuals we serve.

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment. We actively support and encourage people of all backgrounds; gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background, disability, religion, and sexual orientation to submit an application and aim to ensure that the recruitment and employee experience is as accessible and inclusive as possible. So, whoever you are, if you’re skilled and actively support our purpose and values, you would be welcome at Mission Australia.

If you live with disability and require support to submit your application, please email [email protected] or visit our Careers page for additional contact details.

We strongly encourage applications from people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. For culturally safe support or assistance with your application, please contact us at [email protected]  

Find out more about a career with Mission Australia. 

How to apply

Click 'Apply' and send your application today!

As a committed Circle Back Initiative employer, we will respond to your application.

Applications for this role are shortlisted as received.  Please apply as soon as possible to be considered. Thank you.