In choosing one’s career, a lot of things should be considered. Things such as employment options, salary grade, and the challenges it poses all matter. This choice that we have to make should be dealt with utmost care becauseeven if there are numerous options available, setting up a career often requires an investment in both time and money.
One of the most important aspect to consider when choosing a career is taking into account what drives your passion.
If you are a “people-person” who wants to make a difference in young people’s lives or if you get joy from helping others, especially the less fortunate. Why not consider a career in Youth Work.
In this blog, we will discuss the advantages of working with youth as a career choice.
Who are the youth?
There is no definite description of who the youth are; however, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare define youth as the period from 12–24 years of age.
On 30 June 2019, an estimated 3.3 million young people aged 15–24 lived in Australia. Just over half of these people were male (51%, or 1.7 million) and 49% (1.6 million) were female. Together, young people aged 15–24 made up 13% of the total population (ABS 2019a). Even more concerning based on The Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing (also known as the Young Minds Matter survey) undertaken in 2013–14, around 14% of children aged 12–17 met the clinical criteria for 1 or more mental disorders in the previous 12 months (Lawrence et al. 2015).
What is it like to be a youth worker?
Youth workers are individuals who support young people who are facing developmental, behavioural, social, welfare, and protection issues. They provide emotional and practical support and work with groups or individuals. The goal is to address the disadvantages experienced by young people through activities and programs that promote overall well-being and positive outcomes fostering the health, safety, and well-being of young people at risk.
Why working with youth should be your next career choice?
Future Growth and employment opportunitiesis expected to be very strong in the next 5 years according to Job Outlook .
In addition, COVID-19 has caused multiple stresses for young people, including uncertainty about their future, social isolation, increasing rates of unemployment, and financial distress as result. It is anticipated that we will continue to see increases in mental health impacts and youth at risk.
If that’s not enough to make you want to make a difference, read on and find out more reasons why you should choose to make this a career.
1. It gives a sense of fulfillment
Anything that is as challenging as working with youth can definitely give you a sense of fulfillment, especially when you see your patients overcome their own challenges. Knowing that the programs and activities you have designed have helped individuals and prepared them for a better life.
2. It enhances creative thinking
Part of working with youth are the daily duties of conducting counselling sessions, devising programs and activities, raising awareness of youth programs, providing advice and support, and liaising with community and welfare groups. All these activities can stir your mind and enhance your creativity to come up with new and effective ways to help the youth.
3. There are specialised roles to choose from
Working with youth allows you to choose the specific role you want to take on depending on what appeals to you. Among these are:
Drug and alcohol worker
This role specialises in outreach work with youth who are having problems with drugs or alcohol. Part of your work is assessing the severity of the kind of abuse they are experiencing and devising measures to reduce or stop the alcohol or drug intake.
Family support worker
This role is focused more on families experiencing stress or hardship such as financial or personal problems. Family support workers help families cope and maintain well-being by devising effective methods and strategies that alleviate the problem.
Accommodation worker
Working with youth in this role means helping young people who are experiencing difficulties with their living conditions. Your job is to provide assistance to youth who have unsafe home environments.
4. It pays well
According to SEEK, people working with youth in Australia earn an annual income of between $65,000 and $75,000. This doesn’t lag behind case managers and support workers who earn about $70,000 a year.
To become a youth worker, you usually have to complete a Vocational Education Qualification. These include:
- Certificate IV in Youth Work prepares you with the basics of working with adolescents as well as an understanding of the industry.
- Certificate IV in Child, Youth, and Family Intervention gives you the skills needed for working with at-risk families and youth.
- Diploma of Youth Work is for individuals who are already working or volunteering in the industry. This course can help broaden employment opportunities.
And there are many short courses and certificates that you can take to expand your skills to branch into this field or just get a better understanding of young people and the issues they face.
- Creative Therapies – Study art therapy, music therapy, singing therapy, crafts therapy, reminiscence work, writing, and psychotherapeutic writing.
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health – Learn to understand childhood depression, anxiety and eating problems amongst others and forge a career in the caring professions with this short course.
- Adolescent Psychology – Learn to understand issues unique to teenagers, how to distinguish problem behaviour from typical or normal behaviour, and how to respond to teenagers more appropriately.
- Addiction Counselling – Learn different types of addiction and ways of counselling.
As you gain experience, you might take on a more specialised role working in mental health or even working as a drug and alcohol counsellor. You can use your Youth Work experience to gain senior roles like a Senior Youth Worker or Case Manager. You can also move into related fields like community education and social work.
What does it take to become a successful youth worker?
When working with youth, it helps to have these traits.
1. Rapport
Having the ability to relate well with all age groups is definitely an advantage. When you have rapport, you can easily communicate and earn the trust of the person.
2. Sincerity
It’s important to remember that to be an effective youth worker, you have to say what you mean and mean what you say. Young peoplecan easily distinguish if you genuinely care for them or if you’re talking to them only as part of a routine.
3. Balance
Working with youth doesn’t mean forgetting your own personal issues. This is why it’s important that you know how to balance work and personal life and never let one interfere with the other.
4. A non-judgmental, caring personality
Our youth is made up of a young people from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. You will need to be open-minded about other people’s values and beliefs. Many teens have issues with drugs, alcohol and homelessness. Conversations can centre around neglect and abuse. They need someone who will listen to them and offer solutions with a nonjudgmental, attitude and with empathy and understanding.
5. Humility
Youthwho are having problems or challenges does not make them less of a person. In the same way, youth workers cannot also be correct all the time. You cannot impose on individuals your beliefs and what you think should be done in different situations. To effectively carry out your work, you have to be humble and believe that you can still improve and learn from your experiences.
Working with youth is a fulfilling career. But, to be successful at it, you need to have a heart for the youth and the patience to understand that we are all given different chances and opportunities in life.
