CCCampCareer

Residential Youth Worker

Education, Social & Community Services

Shortage Now

No shortage

JSA currently reports no national or state/territory shortage signal for this occupation.

Snapshot

Median salary

Not available

People employed

2,800

Estimated workforce

Shortage signal

No shortage (national)

Categories identify where a shortage occurs; they are not a severity score.

Visa pathways

CSOL listed (verify visa)

Verify on HomeAffairs

What you actually do

Provides care and supervision for children and young people living in residential facilities, such as group homes.

Scope note: Residential Care Officers are excluded from this occupation. Residential Care Officers are included in Occupation 422132 Residential Care Officer.

Read official OSCA description

Skills & main tasks

Official main tasks

  • Plans and implements programs of supervision and support for children in residential care
  • Supervises and arranges activities to enhance the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of children in residential care
  • Wakes children and ensures they are washed, dressed, fed and ready for educational and recreational activities
  • Supervises children during domestic activities
  • Assesses individual needs, and plans and develops support programs
  • Prepares reports and maintains client records
  • Interviews individuals and assesses the nature and extent of abilities
  • Maintains discipline and reinforces appropriate behaviour standards
  • Monitors and reports on the progress of individuals

Where people work

State / territory distribution

QLD
40.7%
VIC
25.4%
NSW
20.1%
WA
6.3%
SA
3.4%
TAS
1.4%
NT
1.3%
ACT
1.1%

Highest education

Share of workers

Advanced diploma / diploma31%
Certificate III / IV29.6%
Bachelor degree18.4%
Postgraduate6.7%
Year 126%
Year 10 and below3.6%
Year 111.4%

Education & work pattern

Part-time

27%

Female rate

69%

Median age

43

2030 & 2035 employment outlook

to 2030

+6%

5,830 projected jobs

to 2035

+12%

11,469 projected jobs

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Credentials & Pathway

OSCA skill level 2

A classification attribute describing the occupation; it is not a personal eligibility or qualification decision.

Official VET pathways

Diploma of Youth Work

Occupation ready

Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention

Progression pathway

Certificate IV in Youth Justice

Progression pathway

Diploma of Child, Youth and Family Intervention

Transferable skills

Diploma of Youth Justice

Transferable skills

Real jobs right now

Live signal from SEEK, Indeed & more
See all job ads on SEEK

Current vacancy signal

QLD · May 2026

344

ACT · May 2026

18

VIC · May 2026

243

NT · May 2026

55

SA · May 2026

69

NSW · May 2026

323

Where could this career take you?

Compare state-level shortage signals, salary context, study options and visa information for Residential Youth Worker.

Explore this career on Maps

Regional demand

Largest employment base

#1 Adelaide - North

3,180 estimated employed

  1. 1

    Adelaide - North

    3,180 employed

    SA

    +9.73%

    year on year

  2. 2

    Adelaide - South

    2,939 employed

    SA

    +4.29%

    year on year

  3. 3

    Perth - South East

    2,411 employed

    WA

    +8.41%

    year on year

  4. 4

    Perth - North West

    2,294 employed

    WA

    +7.4%

    year on year

  5. 5

    Logan - Beaudesert

    2,150 employed

    QLD

    -0.65%

    year on year

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Possible next career moves

Ranked by current shortage signal and projected employment growth.

2020–2021

Workers in this occupation

2,685

Moved in from another occupation

600

Moved to another occupation

315

Recommendation score: shortage = 2 points, no shortage = 1 point, plus 1 point for each 10% of projected growth to 2035.

  1. 1
    Social Worker

    20 observed moves

    No shortage +12035 +25% · +3CSOL listed

    4

    points

  2. 2
    Aged Care Team Leader

    20 observed moves

    Shortage +22035 +18% · +2

    4

    points

  3. 3
    Aged Care Coordinator

    20 observed moves

    No shortage +12035 +12% · +2CSOL listed

    3

    points

  4. 4
    Disability Services Officer

    10 observed moves

    No shortage +12035 +12% · +2

    3

    points

Data status

Classification
OSCA 411731
Last updated
2026-07-16
Sources
Jobs and Skills Australia OSL · Jobs and Skills Australia DOM · ABS OSCA · Department of Home Affairs Core Skills Occupation List matched via ABS OSCA 2024 v1.0 correspondence Table 2

Labour-market data coverage

  • Shortage signal and drivers: JSA Occupation Shortage List (ANZSCO unit group where applicable).
  • Work profile, state distribution and education: JSA Occupation Profiles (ANZSCO mapped).
  • Regional employment: JSA NERO, June 2026.
  • Career-move observations: JSA DOM, last available 2020–21. Observed Australian worker transitions are not personalised recommendations; many contractors and sole traders are excluded, as are transitions below 10 workers.
  • Vacancy signal: JSA Internet Vacancy Index, 3-month average (ANZSCO unit group).
  • Employment outlook: JSA employment projections (ANZSCO unit group).
  • Training pathways: JSA Training Occupation Pathways.

Data confidence: official-profile-and-csol.

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