About you

This role will suit a candidate with the following skills and experience:

• Proven experience in employer engagement, recruitment, or workforce development, with strong knowledge of local labour market conditions in Western Melbourne.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with training and education providers, including TAFEs, RTOs, and community education organisations.
• Experience working with diverse community groups, including multicultural communities, young people, and participants with complex needs.
• Strong understanding of training pathways, apprenticeship/traineeship models, and education entry requirements.
• Highly developed communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills, with ability to coordinate multi-stakeholder pathways.
• Ability to work in a participant-centred and trauma-informed manner, with a focus on trust, respect, and tailored support.

About the program

Western Pathways is an engagement and diversionary program designed to respond to community concerns about increasing social and economic disadvantage and its connection to negative social and community behaviours across Melbourne’s western region. The program supports people experiencing economic and social exclusion, with a strong focus on young people aged 15–24 and their families who are facing unemployment and increasing cost-of-living pressures. Through early intervention and prevention, Western Pathways works with individuals and families before offending occurs, supporting positive choices, reducing risk factors associated with antisocial behaviour, and strengthening community safety and wellbeing.

The program delivers a participant-centred service from initial engagement through to further education, training or employment. Tailored pathways are developed in partnership with each participant, aligning individual aspirations with workforce and community needs while ensuring access to holistic supports that promote health, mental health, family stability and overall wellbeing. Central to Western Pathways is the development of trust-based, culturally safe relationships that enable staff to understand participants’ goals and circumstances and respond effectively. Referrals are sourced from Victoria Police (including Proactive Policing Units), youth and community organisations, cultural organisations, courts, government agencies and families. Engagement is voluntary and does not impact existing welfare or support arrangements. The ultimate objective of Western Pathways is to improve long-term employment and wellbeing outcomes, reduce intergenerational disadvantage, and promote positive community engagement and participation across Melbourne’s west.

How to apply

• Upload your resume and cover letter incorporating your responses to the Key Selection Criteria from the Position Description.

• For further information please contact Bianca Barbarisi on 0428 511 463.

Applications close at 5.00pm Thursday 26 March, 2026.

Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and the closing date may be subject to change without notice.

Please apply in confidence.

Jesuit Social Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. We celebrate and welcome all people regardless of ethnicity, cultural background, age, gender, sexuality, disability or religious affiliation.

We strongly encourage applications from all community members including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, members of the LGBTIQA+ community, people with a disability, people of culturally diverse backgrounds and working parents.

Jesuit Social Services is a Child Safe organisation and is committed to protecting children and young people from harm. We require all applicants to undergo an extensive screening process prior to appointment.