Youth Worker

Youth workers support young people, work with them and their families, help them build healthy connections, and give guidance in health, education, training and employment.

Pay for youth workers varies depending on experience, responsibilities and location.

Job opportunities: Chances of getting a job as a youth worker are good, as demand for their services is increasing.

Length of training: 1-2 years of training usually required.

About the job

What you will do:

• forge relationships with young people, and their families,peers, and communities, and schools, training providers and employers
• provide support, information and resources
• help young people link with social services
• plan, deliver and evaluate programmes and events for young people
• write reports, prepare funding applications and manage

Skills and knowledge needed:

• how to work effectively with young people
• practices and resources that are useful for working with young people
• youth culture and the communities they live in
• physical and mental health issues among youth
• laws and policies that affect young

How to enter the job

There are no specific requirements to become a youth worker.

Secondary education: No specific subject requirement

Personal qualities needed:

• good leaders and communicators who can relate to people of all ages and cultures
• good problem-solvers who are able to remain calm in an emergency
• honest, ethical and impartial, and able to keep information private
• energetic and enthusiastic, with a sense of humor
• able to work well under pressure

Useful experience:

• voluntary work with youth, such as at a youth work agency, or sports coaching
• work that involves helping people, such as teaching, counselling, social work, community work or church work.

Related jobs: Counsellor, Minister of Religion, Community Worker, Probation Officer, Social Worker.

Vocational pathways: Social and community services.