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
Footscray and Broadmeadows 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.
