18th May, 2026
- A full-time, ongoing position in a values-based organisation
- Based in our Brunswick office, free onsite parking, close to PT
- Salary of $135,395 + Super + NFP Salary Packaging + Leave Loading
Rebuilding Shattered Lives – Supporting people of refugee background to recover from torture and other traumatic events Your Impact The Ucan2 program sits within the wider Community and Sector Capacity Building (CSCB) program at Foundation House.
The CSCB Program is an innovative program designed to facilitate and support the development, growth, and empowerment of communities from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds to; recover from pre-arrival trauma, resettle positively, and strengthen these communities across Victoria, helping them thrive. Complementing and strengthening this work, CSCB also leads a program that builds on the capacity of the refugee and humanitarian service sector, whilst enabling mainstream health, mental health and wellbeing and education sectors to better understand the refugee and asylum seeker experience.
The Ucan2 Program Leader provides leadership and management of the Ucan2 Program. The program promotes and supports pathways to further education and employment opportunities for young people aged 16-25 years from refugee backgrounds, while supporting their recovery from traumatic refugee experiences.
The program includes: structured group activities (psychosocial and psychoeducational) facilitated within educational institutions or in community settings; provision of work experience opportunities; one-to-one mentoring programs for young people; and engaging with a range of stakeholders including businesses that can offer employment, work experience and/or mentoring opportunities, plus community, recreational and youth services that can offer ongoing supports to participants.
The Role The Ucan2 Program Leader reports to the Manager Sector Capacity Building (SCB) and plays the primary leadership role in the implementation of all Ucan2 program requirements and internal and external stakeholder relationships in alignment with the VFST strategic plan.
Key responsibilities include:
- Actively develop and lead the performance and culture of the Ucan2 program team to plan and deliver high quality services for young people, undertaking effective stakeholder engagement and relationship management, and identifying areas for growth, innovation and improvement.
- Supervise and direct the day-to-day work of all staff, including monitoring and managing performance against key performance indicators and funded contractual obligations, individual workplans and workloads.
- Oversee establishment and maintenance of relationships with key external and internal stakeholders to ensure interactions are targeted, positive and appropriate to meet program objectives. Including: educational institutions with high numbers of newly arrived students from refugee backgrounds, businesses and employers, community, youth and recreational services that support young people from refugee backgrounds.
- Coordinate and oversee the delivery of all aspects of Ucan2 to ensure the program is consistently delivered to a high standard and meets the needs of newly arrived young people from refugee backgrounds.
- Maintain consistency in how group programs are delivered across different sites while ensuring all contractual obligations are met.
- Support and influence a positive team culture and resolve issues as they arise.
- Monitor the efficient and timely recording of all Ucan2 program data, including regular review of data management reports and participant and stakeholder feedback, and make program improvements as required.
- Effectively manage the implementation of the program to ensure all Key Performance Indicators as stated in the funding agreement are met in a timely manner and to a consistently high standard.
Available is one full-time, ongoing position, based in our Brunswick office.
What you’ll need to successfully apply To be successful, you will need to positively respond to the below selection criteria:
- Graduate qualification in Community Development, Youth Work, Social Work, Education, or related discipline.
- Experience in leading and managing teams delivering services to clients with complex needs.
- Demonstrated experience and expertise in the provision of trauma-informed and culturally safe services to young people from refugee backgrounds.
- Experience facilitating psychosocial and/or psychoeducational groupwork activities with young people from refugee backgrounds in a group facilitation setting.
- Experience working in and/or engaging with employment services or student pathways programs with vulnerable groups, and/or sound knowledge of the barriers young people from refugee backgrounds might face when seeking employment.
- Well-developed communication, negotiation and influencing skills to effectively broker and manage successful partnerships with business, education and the community sectors.
- A knowledge of the Victorian Education system, including education pathways for new arrivals.
In return You’ll be rewarded with:
- an attractive remuneration package of $135,395 plus superannuation and annual leave loading
- salary packaging benefits of up to $18,550 and novated car leasing options
- a role with true purpose to make a difference in people’s lives
- a welcoming, highly diverse and supportive team environment
- access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for staff and family members.
About Foundation House We are:
- a state-wide agency offering services throughout Victoria. We currently have approximately 250 staff across our six offices in Brunswick, Dallas, Dandenong, Ringwood, Sunshine and Werribee, and we also provide services in partnership with other agencies in regional and rural Victoria
- values driven and committed to improving the life outcomes refugee background survivors
- an inclusive and equal opportunity employer
- a Child Safe organisation committed to promoting and protecting the interests and safety of children. We also actively play a part in combating family violence, as reflected in our organisational policies, protocols and staff development.
How to apply Please upload your CV and a cover letter (maximum one to two pages) outlining why you are suitable for this role and how you meet the selection criteria as described above.
Refer to the position description below for detailed information about the role and more information about our hiring process.
Position Description: https://tinyurl.com/4wtme4bz
Copy & paste link to download PDF
Applications are due to close 8th of June 2026. Please note, applications may be considered as they are received, and job ads may close early. For enquiries, please contact Justin Curreen-Harris – HR & Recruitment Specialist via jobs@foundationhouse.org.au or by phone on 03 9389 8985.
Appointment to the position is subject to a satisfactory National Police Check, Working with Children Check and Reference Check process. If you have lived for a continuous period of 12 months or more in another country within the last 10 years, an International Police Check from that country will also be required. The successful applicant must be able to demonstrate proof of the Right to Work in Australia.
