Therapeutic Specialist/ Practitioner – Youth Justice

• Make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families
• Full time 9-month opportunity with a NFP organisation based in Launceston
• $55.72 - $58.19 p/hr + Super + Salary Packaging up to $15,900 + car

About the opportunity
This is a unique opportunity to make a real difference by providing direct therapeutic support to young people at Ashley Youth Detention Centre and children living in care, while also helping to build the skills and confidence of the staff and carers who support them.
As a Therapeutic Specialist/Practitioner, you’ll act as both a consultant and practitioner, playing a key role in shaping and delivering therapeutic support for young people within the Ashley Youth Detention Centre. You’ll collaborate with program staff, care teams, other professionals, and where appropriate, families, to develop innovative, trauma-informed approaches that best support each individual young person.
Alongside this, you’ll carry a small and varied caseload across the broader Therapeutic Services Tasmania program. This may include counselling and group work with children, young people, and their parents or carers; providing clinical leadership to strengthen trauma-informed care in out-of-home care settings; and delivering training to professionals and carers.

Australian Childhood Foundation
The Australian Childhood Foundation is a leading not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting children and young people to recover from the impacts of abuse, neglect, and family violence. We provide specialist therapeutic services, advocacy, and education programs underpinned by the latest research in neuroscience, attachment, and trauma. Our work is driven by a commitment to creating safe, supportive environments where every child can thrive.

About you - Key Selection Criteria:

• An appropriate tertiary qualification in Psychology, Social Work or a related discipline.
• Eligibility for membership of the relevant professional association.
• Demonstrated ability to provide leadership and direct service in the clinical assessment and treatment of children, young people and families.
• Highly developed ability to provide secondary consultation and advice to clinicians and other professionals.
• Demonstrated capacity to lead and manage in an area of challenging and complex practice.
• Demonstrated knowledge of trauma, attachment and neurobiology frameworks and theories.
• Substantial experience in the area of child abuse and/or in working with traumatised children.
• Demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively and the capacity to negotiate and liaise with volunteers, including carers, DHS, other agencies and the community.
• A sophisticated understanding of the complexity of the service system and the issues involved in providing services to statutory clients.
• A current Tasmanian driver’s licence or equivalent.
• A current Working with Children check or equivalent.

What we offer

• Salary Packaging – Increase your take-home pay with up to $15,900 of tax-free benefits.
• Wellbeing Support – Access to confidential Employee Assistance program
• National Network – Connect with a passionate professional community across Australia.
• Guided Supervision – Regular individual and group supervision to support your growth.
• Values-Driven Culture: Be part of a trauma-informed, child-focused organisation that puts children’s needs and voices at the centre of everything we do.
• Real Impact – Contribute to innovative programs that create meaningful change for children, young people and families.
• Free specialist training through the Centre for Excellence in Therapeutic Care
• Company-Provided Vehicle: Navigate your responsibilities with a company vehicle as part of your salary packaging

To learn more about our work and the impact we’re making for children and families, please visit: https://www.childhood.org.au/

To Apply:

If you are interested in making a difference in the lives of children, please click APPLY and attach a copy of your current resume along with a cover letter, addressing each of the Key Selection Criteria.

🔎 For a copy of the Position Description please visit: https://auschildhood.sharepoint.com/sites/HumanResourcesHub/Shared Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx?viewid=4331ad9e-bc83-4125-b7da-8b4da2d43d07&id=/sites/HumanResourcesHub/Shared Documents/External Access/Position Description/PD - AYDC Therapeutic Specialist Practitioner - Launceston VN436.pdf&parent=/sites/HumanResourcesHub/Shared Documents/External Access/Position Description

Applications close on 27 Noveber 2025, unless a suitable candidate is appointed earlier.

Australian Childhood Foundation is committed to protecting children and young people from harm. We require all applicants to undergo an extensive screening process prior to appointment including National Police Check, Working with Children Checks and additional State based program checks.
Australian Childhood Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people with a disability are strongly encouraged to apply. Members of the LGBITQ+ community are strongly encouraged to apply.