Project Officer – Youth Participation and Inclusion

About The Role In this role, you will work directly with young people in Greater Geelong to tackle social isolation and loneliness. This hands‑on role is all about genuine partnership facilitating co‑design processes where young people identify what they need, develop solutions, and implement programs together. Working within the Community Engagement Team and closely with the Youth Development Unit, the successful candidate will spend most of their time building relationships with young people, connecting schools and community groups, running youth‑led initiatives, and researching what actually works. This role suits someone who believes young people have the answers and wants to help amplify their voices to create real change. Work type: Fixed Term (12 months) – Part Time (3 days per week) Classification: Band 6 Commencing at $95,760 pa plus super (pro rata) Key responsibilities Facilitate youth‑led approaches to address loneliness by engaging young people in co‑design processes to identify needs, develop solutions and implement initiatives that reduce social isolation and promote connection. Provide subject‑matter advice when required to department leaders and other relevant stakeholders. Undertake research and analysis using evidence‑based approaches to produce insightful, solution‑focused reports, briefings, and presentations on key issues impacting young people in Greater Geelong. Foster and maintain positive relationships with young people, particularly those experiencing or at risk of loneliness and social isolation, building rapport with young people from diverse and marginalised backgrounds. Offer guidance, supervision, and support to students completing their placement to ensure they receive the necessary mentorship and resources to develop their skills. About You To be successful in this role, you will have a genuine passion for empowering young people and belief in youth‑led solutions, particularly in addressing loneliness and social isolation. You will be confident engaging with a diverse range of people, and thrive on being creative, innovative and solutions focused. Essential Experience Relevant qualification in Community Development, Social Work, Youth Work, Social Sciences, Health Promotion or related field and/or significant relevant professional experience in a comparable organisation. Demonstrated experience in the development and implementation of community development and/or youth programmes, particularly those addressing social isolation, mental health or youth participation. Experience in facilitating youth‑led approaches and co‑design processes with young people. Knowledge of youth participation and engagement frameworks with demonstrated skills in co‑design. Understanding of research principles and methodologies particularly in the youth and community development areas. Preferred candidates will be required to undergo a National Police Check as part of the recruitment process (funded by the City). Child Safety Responsibilities We are committed to being a child‑safe organisation and have zero‑tolerance for child abuse. We have specific policies, procedures, and mandatory training in place to support employees, volunteers, and contractors to achieve and adhere to these commitments. Please read our Child Safe Standards Management Policy. Diversity and Inclusion At the City we want a workforce that reflects the community we live in. We welcome and embrace everyone, all people with their own unique experiences, and support and encourage all our employees to do their best work, have equal access to opportunities and a just working environment. For this reason, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from First Nations people, people with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, from the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disability and people of all genders, ages and diverse experience. We are the City From parks to offices, childcare centres to works depots, leisure facilities to the Wool Museum and waterfront, our team plays a vital role in shaping our vibrant and growing community. Our community counts on us to get the essentials right while looking for ways to go beyond. By listening, collaborating, and focusing on sustainability, we strive to do the basics brilliantly and create a lasting impact. If you’re ready to be part of something bigger, join us in shaping the future of Geelong. We support accessibility and encourage discussions about any adjustments or support you may need during the recruitment process. Applications and Enquiries Click the Position Description link to view more information about this position. Enquiries: Sheldan Alexander – Team Leader Social Inclusion Action Group Officer | | Click the Apply button to submit your application or find out more about this opportunity. If we can assist you with any reasonable adjustments in order to submit your application for this role, please contact the Talent Acquisition team via email at noting your preferred method of communication and contact details and a member of the team will be in touch. We collect demographic data to help us learn who our advertisements are reaching and how we can reach an even more diverse audience. We are committed to building a more diverse team. Your responses to our demographic questions are strictly confidential and will not be individually shared. - Hybrid To obtain a copy of the position description, please visit #J-18808-Ljbffr