The Detention Transition Specialist is a vital position within the Staying on Track initiative, an innovative and community-driven program supports young people from Mount Isa and the Gulf region. While you're based in Townsville, your connection to the Mount Isa team will be strong, purposeful, and grounded in a shared mission: fostering brighter futures for youth transitioning from detention back into community life. Staying on Track is more than just a program – it’s a commitment to potential, belonging, and transformation. Through structured guidance, cultural engagement, and comprehensive support, we aim to reintegrate young people into society, empowering them to pursue education, employment, and personal growth. As a Detention Transition Specialist, you’ll be a critical part of this journey, collaborating with youth and family workers, local mentors, and community leaders. Your work will help bridge the distance, both geographic and personal and ensuring each young person feels connected, supported, and encouraged, as they transition back into community.
*** Generous relocation assistance available ***
54 reasons is Australia’s leading child rights organisation – no ordinary not-for-profit.
Proudly part of the Save the Children Australia Group and global movement, we’re here to make sure that children and young people have their rights met and thrive, in all their diversity.
With the child’s voice at the centre, we provide quality services to children and their caregivers in every state and territory, and across regions, remote areas and capital cities. From our programs to our support services - this is the place to realise your purpose.
A place to make a difference:
In this full-time permanent role, you’ll support a multidisciplinary team to provide interventions to young people aged 10-17 who are transitioning from detention, back to their communities. Based in Townsville and working in Cleveland Youth Detention Centre, you’ll be part of our Staying on Track team, and report to the Team Leader.
You will make a difference by:
- Supporting the Team Leader to implement our Single Operating Model and Youth Star framework
- Developing and implementing individual transition plans tailored to each detainee’s needs
- Facilitating case management meetings with multidisciplinary teams, and providing a detailed handover on release to the case management team on the ground in Mount Isa
- Developing and maintaining operational stakeholder relationships that are critical to the success of the program
- Facilitating family and community engagement to rebuild relationships and strengthen support networks
- Maintaining accurate documentation and contributing to program evaluation
A place to feel valued:
You have a passion for assisting young people leaving detention to reach their full potential, and for redirecting them from the Youth Justice system, by ensuring their voice is central to goal setting. You’re resilient, not afraid of a challenge, and importantly you’re comfortable working in remote and rural settings.
This role requires:
- Demonstrated skills and experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, particularly young people in contact with the justice system
- Demonstrated experience in youth work / case management roles
- Demonstrated experience in mentoring and coaching colleagues
- An understanding of complex intergenerational trauma
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- An understanding of child protection concerns and commitment to responding safely and effectively
A place to belong:
At 54 reasons, we invest in the development and wellbeing of our people. Our workforce is approximately 600 people strong, and proudly diverse, whether in race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexuality, cultures and beliefs.
It takes all types of people to do the challenging work we do. We are diverse personalities, backgrounds and talents, embracing our differences as one strong and united team. We see and celebrate the unique value you bring to our organisation, and offer a range of rewards for your effort, including:
- Financial assistance with relocation, if moving to Townsville
- Generous award rate salary (Level 5.1 – $51.00 per hour) plus super and full salary packaging benefits -
- Extra leave to use in a range of ways to ensure you’re able to perform at your optimum
- Supportive Managers – we provide professional supervision training and monthly supervision sessions so you can feel supported and build a career
- Support for workplace wellness, including access to our free, confidential Employee Wellbeing Program
- Internal deployment and secondment opportunities, and opportunities to progress within one of Australia’s largest non-profits
Follow this link for the full list of our employee benefits.
Does this sound like the place for you?
We’d love to hear from you. Submit your cover letter and resume below.
Applications Close: Wednesday 10th September 2025.
Position Description: Senior Practitioner – Staying on Track (note that internally, the role is known as a Senior Practitioner).
For more information about the program that this role works in, see our Program Profile. For any queries, please contact Matthew Eekelschot on 0437 855 173 or email [email protected]. Or for more information about a career at Save, visit our Careers Page.
We have tested our application process with diverse groups in mind, with the intent to ensure its straightforward and accessible for all to apply. Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our culture and improve our ability to reach our most vulnerable client groups. But we also know there is no one-size fits-all when it comes to recruitment - so if we didn’t quite hit the mark for you, please let us know at [email protected]. We’re dedicated to ensuring Save the Children Australia is a place where everyone can feel supported – no matter your race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexuality, neurodiversity, culture and beliefs.
Save the Children Australia is a child-safe organisation. All employees are required to undergo a National Police Check, a Working with Children Check, and sign our Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct. We also support the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.
Save the Children is committed to providing and maintaining a safe working environment for its employees and client groups, consistent with our obligations under OH&S legislation.
If you are having any issues with uploading your application for this role, please contact [email protected] for further support.
