Lead Tenant

- Melbourne location, on Wurundjeri Country

- Volunteer mentor position

- Rent and utilities paid for

An exciting volunteer opportunity to play a key mentor role to young people living in out of home care in the Northern Region. For over 140 years, Berry Street has adapted to a changing world, and we will continue to adapt to achieve our purpose.

Our Vision for 2026: Together we will courageously change lives and reimagine service systems. We look forward to working with our staff, carers, partners, supporters and government, to ensure children, young people and their families can create the future they imagine for themselves.

The Opportunity

The Lead Tenant role is a live-in, voluntary mentor role for 1-2 young people for the duration of their placement in the program. The Lead Tenant supports the young person/people by modelling a share/house mate model, assisting them to learn how to negotiate the shared living space, chores etc. The Lead Tenant acts as a positive role model, they are engaged in education/training/employment and demonstrate independent living skills such as cooking, household shopping, cleaning and gardening. They are expected to be the ‘responsible adult’ of the house, establishing and maintaining appropriate boundaries and rapport with young people, and providing honest feedback to Berry Street staff.

About You

The program is looking for people who believe that young people deserve every opportunity to develop to their full potential, who model effective communication, are committed to supporting young people and work in collaboration to the Berry Street values and philosophy. Lead Tenants are provided with training, support, access to after-hours support and supervision.

Responsibility of the Live-in Lead Tenant:

• Manage the day to day running of the household
• Act as a positive role model to provide support and guidance to young people
• Foster mutually supportive relationships between themselves and the young people in the household as well as with the Berry Street case manager
• Demonstrate and educate young people to learn basic housekeeping, cooking, nutrition and budget management
• Actively participate in meetings, discussions and planning to address the needs of the young people
• Invest time and emotional energy to develop a relationship with a young person
• Communicate effectively in a range of settings, including resolving minor disputes
• Undertake training to further build their capacity to effectively support young people
• Provide feedback and updates to case managers
• Assist in the development and implementation of a plan to address the young person’s immediate, short and long term needs.

The Benefits

🛌🏻 Lead Tenant(s) would live rent and utilities free

👂🏽 Access to 24 hour crisis support

📖 On-going support and training

🏅 Supervision and professional development opportunities

📍 Safe and secure accommodation

📝Case management

How to Apply

Applications including resume and cover letter to be submitted as soon as possible as they will be reviewed as they are received.

Further queries to Matthew Telgenkamp, Team Leader - Complex Case Services - Home Based Care Management via email [email protected]

We believe in diversity, inclusion and equality and are committed to ensuring that our workplaces are a reflection of the Victorian community. We recognise the benefits that diversity and inclusion brings, and in turn encourage talented people from all backgrounds, abilities and identities to apply to our vacancies.

We encourage applications from people with lived experience of disability. You'll receive adjustments and support throughout the whole process — from the application stage to starting in the workplace. If you require the position description in a different format or any accommodation or assistance during the application and interview stages please contact the person listed on the ad or alternatively email [email protected]

Berry Street Yooralla is committed to being a child safe, child friendly and child empowering organisation. In everything we do we seek to protect children. We are committed to the cultural safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children; children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds; children with a disability; children who identify as LGBTIQA+. We aim to ensure every individual is treated with dignity and respect regardless of their cultural background, ability, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, spirituality or religion.

Please Note; the successful applicant will be subject to comprehensive reference and background checking prior to volunteering, including a NDIS Screening Check, Working with Children Check and National and International Police check (if required) and NDIS training.