Youth Worker

• Putting young people first, recognising their potential, and help achieve better outcomes
• Provide support, aroha and maintain a safe environment for our young people
• Realistic outlook and resilience are a must to succeed in this role

Do you want to help young people find a direction in life outside the justice system?  We are looking for a positive role model to provide support, aroha and maintain a safe environment for our young people to achieve better outcomes and make a difference one moment, milestone and interaction at a time.

Mō mātou | About us

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children has a commitment to putting tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of what we do. In our work, we aim to demonstrate these values:

• We put Tamariki first
• We believe Aroha is vital
• We respect the Mana of people
• We are Tika and Pono
• We value Whakapapa
• We recognise that Oranga is a journey

We are committed to ensuring that New Zealand is the best place in the world to be a child. We are also committed to ensuring Oranga Tamariki partners with hapū, iwi and Māori organisations to find appropriate solutions for tamariki in need.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

As a Youth Worker, you will create opportunities to work towards positive goals. You'll be a champion for our young people, helping them recognise and realise their own potential, and give them hope to turn their lives around. 
  
If you genuinely care about providing young people with direction and hope, and giving them something to aspire to, you'll get immense satisfaction from this role. Putting young people first, recognising their potential, and helping them break the cycle benefits not just them, but all Kiwis.

This position will see you involved in all aspects of supporting the team to implement the non-social work components of the young person's plan. The scope for development in this role is great and you will be a valued member of the team.

• Engaging with whānau and other people involved in the rangatahi's plan
• Spending time with the rangatahi and relating well to young people
• Working alongside Social Workers to support the mahi of bringing to life the Care Standards and positive outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi
• Attending meetings with the rangatahi and other professionals from a range of different agencies e.g. Police, Education, Health and the community
• Making and coordinating appointments for rangatahi
• Involving in activity based and recreational programmes with our rangatahi
• Taking young people to appointments that do not require a social workers presence
• Helping rangatahi to learn independence skills such as shopping and budgeting
• Supporting rangatahi at Family Group Conferences
• Recording and other administrative tasks to support the team
• Supporting rangatahi to attend visit e.g. with mental health and education services
• May be required to attend visits to the home or with other whānau

These are just examples; a lot will depend on the special skills you bring to the team and how these can contribute to better outcomes for our rangatahi. You will be involved in the planning for the rangatahi and provide valuable feedback to the team from your involvement.

Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu | What you will bring

You will need to be a realistic and resilient person to succeed in this role. These are young people who have experienced significant and serious challenges, and have often been in the Youth Justice system for some time. Our Youth Workers and staff are potentially the first who genuinely care about them, and you will need to treat them with empathy, tolerance, consistency and understanding to build a positive relationship. 
 
Our kaimahi will usually have these skills and experiences:

• Have training or a qualification relevant to Youth Work
• Great engagement skills to overcome barriers
• Experience with conflict resolution
• Cultural awareness particularly around Māori and Pacifica communities
• Ability to establish relationships with people from all walks of life
• Good computer skills, particularly with MS Office Software, report writing is part of this role
• A current, and full driver's license and ability to work some weekend hours
• Experience in social services or working with at-risk youth is ideal, however applicants with transferrable life skills are encouraged to apply
• Ability to be flexible with working hours
• Understanding and appreciation of cross-cultural practices in particular; knowledge of tikanga Māori, and Pacific peoples' culture

If you will have established relationships and networks across the area and a good knowledge of the key players to help you make a difference in the lives of youth then apply today.

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

Oranga Tamariki offer a step-based remuneration package, that offers progression annually for experience through tenure. Annual remuneration for this position starts between $57,760 and $65,334 dependent on experience.

We also offer a vibrant and supportive team, flexible work options and a genuine commitment to wellbeing. We offer significant training and professional development so that you can thrive and grow. We welcome diversity and are committed to working in an inclusive and respectful way. This is your opportunity to apply your skills and experience to the wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi.

To see all the benefits of working for Oranga Tamariki, please visit https://mahi.orangatamariki.govt.nz/working-with-us/employee-benefits/

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to Apply

Apply online with your CV and Covering Letter. If you are an Oranga Tamariki employee already, please ensure you apply with a log in using your Oranga Tamariki email address. If you have any questions about role, please contact [email protected]

Applications for this role close on Sunday 30th August 2026.

If you are interested in any of our vacancies, please ensure that you make yourself familiar with our code of conduct as it sets out our expectations for our kaimahi and requires you to present at work free from the influences of both drugs and alcohol.