Homeless Outreach Brief Intervention Worker (Day Shift)

Want to Make a Real Impact in Your Community — Join Encircle!

Are you a passionate Human Services professional ready to take your career to the next level?

Do you thrive on making meaningful change and supporting those who need it most?

Encircle is offering an exciting opportunity for an experienced Homeless Outreach Brief Intervention Worker to join our dedicated team of professionals. In this role, you’ll be at the frontline of community care — connecting individuals with vital support, advocating for those experiencing homelessness, and helping shape a more inclusive future.

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Driven by purpose and compassion
• Skilled in brief intervention and client engagement
• Committed to professional excellence and community wellbeing

Encircle Community Services Ltd (Encircle) is the preferred community services provider in the City of Moreton Bay. We are a community-owned and operated organisation offering a range of support services and activities directly to families and individuals living in Moreton Bay and the greater North Brisbane area.

Since 1987, we have been committed to developing programs and services that support the wellbeing of community members, to encourage and enable community participation, and respond to identified community issues and needs.

Encircle operates across six sites including Kallangur, Lawnton, Redcliffe, Strathpine, Caboolture and Kedron. We have 80 staff and approximately 85 volunteers. Our programs and activities demonstrate a wide variety of integrated options for the people in our region.

About this Role

The Brief Intervention Worker provides immediate, short-term support and intervention to individuals experiencing homelessness in the Moreton Bay region. The role includes assertive outreach in public spaces across Moreton Bay to respond to local need, identifying and supporting people who are rough sleeping and experiencing chronic homelessness where they are (i.e. parks, shelters, squats, social housing, boarding houses, rough sleeping).

As part of this response, team members regularly partner with other stakeholders that also deliver frontline services to people experiencing homelessness, including the Department of Housing, MBRC staff, and other community organisations. The role also includes responsibility for answering the after-hours homeless hotline, and staff participate in a roster responding to phone enquires on-call with the aim of providing a 24/7 support service (with associated on-call and public holiday penalty rates provided in accordance with relevant awards).

The role focuses on early intervention, harm minimisation, and providing opportunities for people experiencing homelessness to be connected with a variety of services, programs and networks that match their needs. Interventions and referrals are provided using evidence-based techniques and strengths-based, recovery-focussed and trauma-informed practice frameworks. Support can involve assisting people to pursue viable accommodation options through assessments and referrals and advocating for highly vulnerable individuals and families who may require access to temporary motel accommodation in the Moreton Bay region.

To view the full position description for this role, click here.

Capabilities to be successful in this role

• Ability to communicate effectively with vulnerable individuals, families, and professionals through active listening, clear interpretation, and confident presentation, including public speaking. Adapts communication style to suit diverse cultural and linguistic needs, fostering understanding and trust, including those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to de-escalate vulnerable clients who may be under the influence of drugs and alcohol and who may have a history of trauma.
• High level time management skills as the role requires real time data entry in order to work collaboratively with the Department of Housing on an ongoing basis.
• An ability to identify, conduct and manage safety risks to both staff and clients and their families in accordance with the safeguarding framework and relevant Workplace Health and Safety legislation.
• Applies clinical knowledge to assess needs, identify risks, and implement appropriate short-term interventions or referrals. Gathers relevant information, evaluates options, and makes sound, timely decisions, particularly in high-pressure or crisis situations.
• Understands and respects cultural identities and diverse practices. Works in a culturally safe and inclusive manner, ensuring services are accessible and appropriate for all individuals and communities.
• Works effectively within multidisciplinary teams, contributing to shared goals and maintaining a positive team culture. Demonstrates ethical conduct, transparency, and accountability, while maintaining confidentiality and adhering to organisational policies.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications with experience preparing reports and professional correspondence. Capable of meeting deadlines and fulfilling organisational data entry and reporting requirements.

Key Selection Criteria

1. Demonstrates empathy and respect while empowering vulnerable individuals and families to participate in their care, using strengths-based and recovery-focused approaches to build trust, engagement, and motivation for change.
2. Demonstrated ability in assertive outreach, needs identification, and risk assessment, with the ability to deliver brief interventions in outreach settings. Skilled in supporting vulnerable individuals and familiies experiencing chronic homelessness with complex needs across domains including but not limited to mental health, domestic violence, and drug and alcohol use.
3. Ability to access and apply knowledge of the Department of Housing Social Housing application processes and tenancy legislation, with the ability to support clients in navigating these systems effectively.
4. Well-developed communication and computer skills, with proven ability to manage client records, maintain databases, collect statistical data, and report writing.
5. A high degree of professionalism and well-developed interpersonal skills and the capacity to liaise effectively with diverse stakeholders including clients, service providers, volunteers, and colleagues.
6. Demonstrates a high level of practice reflection and self-awareness.
7. Demonstrated understanding of contemporary challenges, needs, issues and sensibilities of all people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and those from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD)backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ backgrounds and other vulnerable population groups and the application of social justice principles.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Degree or Diploma in Community Services, Social Work or related field (or working towards)
• Minimum of three years’ experience in a similar role

Other

• National Police Check
• Current Driver’s License
• Must be able to work in Australia
• Blue Card
• Current First Aid and CPR Qualifications and/or ability to obtain

Encircle is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from a CALD background and people living with a disability. We are committed to keeping children, young people and the elderly safe from harm.

If you’re ready to be part of something bigger, we’d love to hear from you!!!

To apply for this position please:

• ensure you meet the qualifications and experience requirements;
• provide a cover letter (2 sides A4 maximum) demonstrating your suitability for this role against the key selection criteria detailed in the above; and
• provide a current resume

Please contact us via email or 07 3889 0063 if you have any questions in relation to this position. Applications should be submitted via Seek

Please note that we will not be accepting applications via employment agencies.