Accommodation Options for Families Worker

Why join Launch Housing

Launch Housing is an independent Melbourne based community organisation passionately committed to ending homelessness. From providing high quality housing and an innovative range of support, education and employment services, we bring solutions to homelessness under one roof for thousands at risk of, or experiencing the crisis and trauma of homelessness.  With over 400 staff working across 16 locations in metropolitan Melbourne, we combine direct action with advocacy, research and innovation to drive widespread change.

Our people are the backbone of our organisation and supporting their wellbeing and professional development is critical to our ability to help our clients and the community. We value lived experience and diversity in our staff, and provide high-quality training & supervision, wellbeing days, access to an Employee Assistance Program and much much more to ensure your career with us is fulfilling.

Don’t just walk past homelessness.  Join the solution.  

Our permanent and fixed-term employee benefits include:

• Contributing to useful and rewarding work and giving something back to the community

• Wellbeing days, ceremonial leave, carers leave and study leave 

• Flexible working arrangements 

• Purchased leave 

• 17.5% leave loading 

• 8 weeks’ gender neutral paid parental leave after 12 months of service for both the primary and secondary carer

• Training and career growth opportunities across Launch Housing

• A portion of your income can be tax-free by salary packaging your personal expenses

• Additional tax-free salary packaging on dining and accommodation expenses

• Positive, supportive and progressive work environment

About the opportunity:

The Accommodation Options for Families (AOF) Worker is part of Launch Housing’s Homelessness Solutions & Impact portfolio and delivers targeted housing support to families and children who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Specifically, the role assists families and children in crisis to move into affordable long-term housing, often in the private rental market.

Where required, the role also links families with appropriate long term support services and assist families and children to positively engage in their communities of choice. The AOF program is based out of Launch Housing's three entry points, and this position in particular is based out of the north.

This position is a permanent, full-time position with some capacity for hybrid work-from-home arrangements.

• Providing outreach services that assess, monitors and evaluates the housing and support needs of a small caseload of families and children who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
• Working with a strengths-based approach, empowering people to make changes or gain understanding of things going on in their lives.
• Developing relationships with clients to enable empowerment to take place over time.
• Delivering ongoing case-management housing and support services to families and children living in purchased short term accommodation and/or private rental accommodation. Services provided will include crisis intervention, assistance to secure safe, affordable and secure accommodation, assistance to secure or maintain long term accommodation, assistance with public and social housing applications, distribution of financial assistance and links to appropriate support services.
• Encouraging families that are being supported by the AOF program to consider appropriate and realistic long term housing options.
• Effectively link families and children with appropriate supports, including but not limited to educational, health, social, recreational, training and employment services.
• Undertake advocacy on behalf of clients with other agencies to ensure equity of access and delivery of services. On occasion this will require the worker to accompany the parent and/or children to relevant services.
• Undertake advocacy work with public, private and community housing providers and other key government and non-government agencies to achieve sustainable, long-term and safe housing outcomes for families and children.

• A relevant tertiary education or demonstrated experience working in housing/case management (mandatory).
• A valid Victorian driver’s licence (mandatory).
• Experience working with clients with complex needs and social policy/client support frameworks (highly desired).
• Demonstrated experience working with internal and external stakeholders.
• High levels of interpersonal skills, active listening, empathy, social awareness and emotional intelligence in verbal communications.
• Experience in client advocacy.
• Ability to demonstrate cultural sensitivity and to adjust personal style in response to client differences.
• Effective time-management and ability to take responsibility for work outcomes.
• Effective problem-solving ability.
• Demonstrated commitment to the values of Launch Housing and our mission to end homelessness

Applications close 08 February 2025, if you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact Andrea Aguilera on andrea.aguilera@launchhousing.org.au.

How to apply

To apply for this opportunity, please click on "Apply for this job" button. Please submit a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria and your CV.

For a copy of the position description please contact us at careers@launchhousing.org.au.

Launch Housing offers a wide range of career opportunities and employs a diverse range of talent. We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons to apply!   We acknowledge, respect and celebrate Aboriginal cultures, languages, connections to Country and heritage, customs and practices. We're committed to support Aboriginal peoples to obtain genuine and fulfilling career with us!

Launch Housing is a dog-friendly organisation, which allows dog owners to bring them in some of our sites, please contact the relevant Hiring Manager if you have any questions or concerns prior to your interview.

If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know at careers@launchhousing.org.au.

Launch Housing is committed to being a child safe organisation and has zero tolerance to child abuse. Our hiring process involves rigorous screening of applicants. All of our people including students, contractors and volunteers must hold a valid Working with Children Check and satisfactory criminal history record check. 

Launch Housing is an Equal Opportunity employer and supports accessible working arrangements for all. This includes people with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, culturally, religiously and linguistically diverse people, young people, older people, women, and people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender diverse, intersex or queer. We acknowledge Lived Experience as a unique expertise and encourage people with a Lived Experience of Homelessness to apply. All applicants must have the right to work in Australia.

Launch Housing is working to become more trauma informed and as a leading employer in the homelessness sector, it is important to let you know that you will hear stories of distress, hardship, trauma, or violence when working with us. We encourage you to reflect on how this may impact you when considering applying for the role.