South East Community
Links (SECL) imagines a world where everyone is valued, and systems operate
fairly. We challenge the status quo to create a society where contributions are
recognised and celebrated — especially for migrants, refugees, people experiencing
homelessness, women, and young people. We take action to deliver better social
and economic outcomes for our diverse communities and co-create opportunities
where individuals can unleash their full potential.
Join an
award-winning team creating safer, more inclusive public spaces and helping
communities thrive.
SECL is expanding our
nationally recognised Community Connector Program, a first of its kind
assertive outreach initiative delivered in partnership with Metro Trains
Melbourne and other partners. After winning the 2025 Australian Crime and
Violence Prevention Awards (Gold Award) for our impact in Dandenong and
Frankston, we are now growing our presence to Frankston North and other stations.
We are recruiting for
multiple Community Connectors to join our dedicated team of frontline
outreach practitioners.
The program delivers
on-the-ground, place-based support at train stations, engaging individuals
experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, substance use, family
violence, or social isolation, and meeting them in environments where they feel
safe, respected, and comfortable.
This award-winning
program reduces harm, prevents incidents and strengthens community. Since its
inception in late 2023, it has engaged more than 7,100 community members,
prevented 280 harm related incidents, and referred over 300 people to services.
Key
Responsibilities
- Conduct assertive & proactive outreach
in and around station precincts to individuals experiencing homelessness,
social isolation mental health challenges, AOD issues, or other
vulnerabilities.
- Respond to dynamic and rapidly changing
environments.
- Build trust and rapport with individuals
who may be disconnected from services or experiencing systemic
barriers. Perform risk assessments and develop
short-term support plans, including referrals to housing, health, legal,
and social services.
- Strengthen collaborative relationship with
key stakeholders including Metro Trains Melbourne, Victoria Police,
Protective Service Officers, and other community service providers.
- Advocate for clients within service
systems and support them to navigate complex pathways.
- Maintain accurate and timely
documentation, including daily activity logs, incident reports, and case
notes.
- Provide comprehensive monthly insights
into program performance and location-based trends, highlighting emerging
patterns, risk and opportunities to strengthen service delivery.
- Rotate as required across multiple sites
to maintain strong community presence, support localised needs, and
reinforce cohesive service delivery.
- Consistently comply with SECL’s
operational frameworks, safety plans and practice guidelines to ensure
safe, ethical and high-quality service delivery.
- Participate in team meetings, supervision,
and professional development.
- Promote SECL’s values and contribute to a
culturally safe and inclusive work environment.
Key skills required
to undertake the role
- You are calm under pressure,
solution-focused and committed to social justice
- Tertiary qualifications in Drug and
Alcohol, Social Work, Youth Work, Community Services, Mental Health, or
related field.
- Minimum 3 years’ experience in assertive
outreach, crisis intervention, or frontline community work.
- Demonstrated experience working with
marginalised populations including people experiencing homelessness,
mental health issues, substance use, and family violence, with empathy,
professionalism and resilience.
- Strong knowledge of local challenges as
well as service systems and referral pathways.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal
skills, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
- Commitment to trauma-informed,
person-centred, and culturally responsive practice.
- Physically capable of navigating varied
environments, standing, or walking for extended periods, and responding to
dynamic situations in real time
- Maintain clear and professional boundaries
to ensure personal and client safety, exercising sound judgement to avoid
exposing self or others to risk in high-pressure or unpredictable
situations.
What is in it for
you?
- Work for a respected, values driven
community organisation.
- Contribute to a program that is driving
real community impact.
- Contribute to a team that strongly
believes in advocacy and social change.
- Paid parental
leave
- Additional leave during Christmas and
Easter
- Salary packaging
benefits
- Have fun with a passionate workforce that
is diverse and inclusive
If you are passionate
about early intervention, community safety, and supporting vulnerable people
with dignity, we’d love to hear from you.
For a confidential
discussion about the role, please contact Desiree Kisnorbo, Head of People and
Partnership, at dkisnorbo@secl.org.au or 0423 309 967.
As part of our
commitment to child safety and to supporting vulnerable individuals, all
successful candidates will be required to complete Safety Screening checks
prior to commencing employment. This includes a national police record check
and a valid Working with Children Check
SECL embraces
diversity and equal opportunity. We know that getting this right underpins our
organisation’s values of inclusion, equality, compassion, dignity and choice.
Our team represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills which
reflect the multicultural communities where we work. We strive to be a
place-based service where people of all ethnicities feel welcomed to work,
volunteer or seek help.
