A sleepover shift includes sleeping onsite overnight, with staff required to respond if support is needed. An active overnight shift is an awake shift, where staff remain on duty throughout the night and continue carrying out support tasks, administration, and any other child-specific planning.

You’ll be supported by an experienced team around you, including leaders, supervision, debriefing, on-call support, clinical support, and the Employee Assistance Program.

You’ll receive training in therapeutic and trauma-informed practice, including Therapeutic Crises Intervention (TCI), plus role-specific onboarding and ongoing learning to help you work safely and confidently.

This varies depending on the home, the needs of the young people, and the level of support required.

Yes — some shifts, especially sleepover shifts, may involve working one-on-one with a young person. Staff are supported by clear plans, handovers, routines, and escalation processes, with on-call support available when needed.

Yes — some young people may present with complex or challenging behaviours linked to trauma and other support needs. Therapeutic Youth Workers are trained to respond calmly, safely, and therapeutically.

Yes. A sleepover shift includes sleeping onsite overnight, while remaining available to respond if support is needed.

Safety is a core priority. Staff are supported through training, behaviour support plans, team protocols, debriefing processes, and on-call support when needed. Staff also have access to their own secure bedroom and office space.

This role is less about physical strength and more about understanding trauma-based behaviour, emotional resilience, self-regulation, sound judgement, confidence, consistency, and the ability to stay calm under pressure.

No two days are the same, but a typical shift may include handover, supporting routines, school drop-off or pick-up, meals, medication support, therapeutic activities, documentation, and helping to create a calm and predictable home environment.

This is rewarding work, but it can also be emotionally demanding. You may be supporting young people through trauma, dysregulation, and tough moments, while staying calm, safe, and therapeutic yourself. At times, this may also involve responding to property damage.

The relationships. The small wins. The chance to create safety, stability, and positive memories for young people who need it most — and the long-term outcomes this can help create.

All of our Therapeutic Youth Workers need to hold, or be working towards, a Diploma in Community Services or a related diploma.

A Therapeutic Youth Worker role can open pathways into leadership, casework, therapeutic support, operations, and other child and family services roles.

Residential care operates across morning, afternoon, evening, sleepover, and active overnight shifts. Rosters are built around the needs of the home and the young people we support.

Residential care operates 24/7, so all Therapeutic Youth Workers need to be available to work a rotating roster, including at least one sleepover shift.

Hours can vary depending on your availability, the needs of the service, and the homes you’re working in.

Yes. Direct experience can help, but it’s not everything. We also look for people who are calm, emotionally intelligent, reliable, respectful, self-aware, and able to build trust with young people.

You’ll need to write clear, accurate notes and updates, as well as have basic computer literacy. Good written communication is important for handovers, documentation, reporting, and keeping young people safe.