Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Darren Best

Youth Worker
Lowood,QLD

Summary

Dynamic Outreach Officer with CASA Community Accommodation and Support Services, skilled in crisis management and community engagement. Successfully developed targeted outreach strategies, enhancing service access for underserved populations. Proven ability to foster strategic partnerships and advocate for client needs, ensuring effective support and resource connection for individuals facing homelessness. Dedicated outreach professional prepared to drive community engagement and public awareness. Expertise in developing and implementing outreach strategies that connect with diverse communities. Known for fostering teamwork, adapting to dynamic situations, and possessing strong communication and organisational skills.

Overview

2026
2026
years of professional experience

Work History

Outreach Officer Homeless

CASA community accommodation and support services
Mackay , Queensland
12.2024 - Current
  • Implemented data-driven approaches to evaluate the effectiveness of outreach initiatives, making necessary adjustments for continuous improvement.
  • Prioritized safety by designing risk management plans for all organized events.
  • Increased community engagement by organizing and conducting outreach events.
  • Provided tailored support to individual clients, connecting them with relevant programs or resources based on their specific needs.
  • Maintained up-to-date knowledge of industry trends, emerging issues, and best practices in outreach work through professional development opportunities.
  • Collaborated with internal teams to design educational materials for outreach programs.
  • Promoted organizational mission by attending networking events, conferences, and workshops.
  • Established partnerships with local organizations for collaborative programs and services.
  • Developed targeted outreach strategies to reach underserved populations in the community.

YOUTH WORKER

KALYAN YOUTH SERVICE
01.2023 - 12.2024
  • Established trusting relationships with young people through empathetic listening and genuine interest in their lives outside of program hours.
  • Promoted a safe, inclusive environment by establishing clear expectations and reinforcing positive behaviors among participants.
  • Completed necessary reports and documentation to maintain thorough, accurate case records.
  • Provided individualized support for at-risk youth, resulting in increased self-esteem and positive behavior changes.
  • Provided guidance and advice to youth, supporting navigation of diverse personal and social issues.
  • Promoted positive peer interactions by facilitating group activities and modeling respectful communication techniques.
  • Managed and led activities promoting growth in mental, emotional, and educational areas.
  • Organized and facilitated recreational activities to engage youth in positive, team-building experiences.
  • Advocated for the unique needs of each young person by partnering with school personnel or other service providers when appropriate.
  • Developed strong relationships with community partners to secure resources and opportunities for the youth served.
  • Assisted in identifying and reducing barriers to youth engagement and development.
  • Improved program effectiveness by collaborating with colleagues to develop innovative strategies for youth development.
  • Mentored new staff members to promote professional growth within the team and ensure consistent service quality across all programs.
  • Implemented comprehensive assessments to identify areas of improvement and tailor intervention plans accordingly.
  • Engaged young people in discussions about mental health, leading to increased awareness and access to support resources.
  • Developed and implemented weekly life skills workshops, leading to improved self-esteem and independence among participants.
  • Conducted outreach to identify and engage non-participating youth in community, expanding reach and impact of programs.
  • Strengthened family connections with regular communication and support sessions, reducing instances of youth homelessness.

Youth Worker/case Manager

Aboriginal Family Support Services (AFSS)
01.2019 - 01.2022
  • Case manage homeless youth ages 15 to 26 (men and women)
  • Assist with living skills, finances, job seeking, and housing applications
  • Advocating for youth with external services
  • Client referrals, Case notes, reports.
  • Mentor, life skills, counselling.
  • Promoted a safe, inclusive environment by establishing clear expectations and reinforcing positive behaviours among participants.
  • Completed necessary reports and documentation to maintain thorough, accurate case records.
  • Managed and led activities promoting growth in mental, emotional, and educational areas.

Youth Worker /SSO2

Youth Education Centre DECD
01.2017 - 01.2018
  • Mentoring young people
  • Assisting young people in classroom to SACE level.
  • Advocating for young people
  • Dealing with conflict in a school setting
  • Working in a high security environment,(Cavan Detention Centres)

Youth Worker

Incompro
01.2016 - 01.2017
  • Therapeutic youth worker
  • Assist in daily living and hygiene of young people
  • Accompanying young people to appointments and advocating
  • Mentoring young people

Supervisor/mentor

Community Development Program
01.2016 - 04.2016
  • Support and mentor men within their own community
  • Horticulture, welding, home maintenance, work hardening, skill training.

Frac hand / operator

Condor Energy QLD and Cooper Basin
05.2014 - 01.2016
  • Pump operator
  • HC truck driver
  • Mixing chemicals
  • Loader operator
  • Rigging duties
  • EWP around high pressures
  • Maintenance of equipment
  • Rig move
  • WHS duties

operator assistant/HC truck driver

Halliburton, Cooper Basin gas field Moomba
02.2013 - 05.2014
  • Truck driver, rig moves, mobilising equipment
  • Water transfer from pits to tanks
  • Operating ground valves to well head
  • Operating mountain mover and sand operations
  • Maintenance of HT 2000 and grizzly pumps
  • Pump operating
  • Operation of Hy Torc
  • Rig up and rig down of iron

Scaffolder / Dogman

Urban super way South Road
10.2012 - 02.2013

OHS&E Field Officer

SGS Moomba Cooper Basin
06.2012 - 11.2012
  • Well site audits
  • Staff training
  • Safety research
  • Site safety meeting
  • Order and maintain safety equipment
  • Assisting with site operations

Custodial specialist / Estates officer

Department for correctional Services
01.2010 - 01.2012
  • Maintaining estate grounds, buildings and infrastructure
  • Case management of offenders in my care
  • Working with sex offenders
  • Building resocialisation and work skills
  • Establishing, maintaining farm crops and facilities
  • Work site inductions
  • Maintaining budgets
  • Safety and security of prisoners in my care
  • Interaction with external organisations
  • Supervision of contractors
  • Building maintenance
  • Purchase of new equipment and risk assessment’s
  • Maintaining tool and equipment register
  • Training of employees
  • Training workshops for women prisoners

Custodial specialist / OPS 3 FIELD SUPERVISOR

Department for Correctional Services
01.2005 - 01.2010
  • Company Overview: Department of Environment and Heritage
  • Responsible for securing, storing and accounting for all tools and machinery, vehicles, trailers and equipment used on the program including protective clothing.
  • Contribute to the safe and secure containment of prisoners by maintaining the condition of tools and machinery used on the program.
  • Monitor prisoners use of tools and machinery
  • Administration tasks – Prisoner pay, training documentation, training records, case notes, ordering of supplies.
  • OH&S audits
  • Attend Supervisor meetings
  • Provide accredited training to prisoners in the use of hand tools, chainsaw, brush cutter etc.
  • Maintain First Aid box
  • Conduct on-site Risk Assessments ( location, task, site, emergency procedures etc)
  • Case Management of offenders
  • Department of Environment and Heritage

FOREST CONSTRUCTION WORKER

Forestry, SA
  • Fencing
  • Planting pines and native trees
  • Watercourse management
  • Control of noxious weeds
  • Identification of pests and weeds
  • Control burning
  • Sirex wasp - trap tree plots
  • Supervision and budget management of work program
  • Tree felling
  • Pruning – low, high
  • Track clearing
  • Plantation stocking counts
  • Firefighting duties

GROUNDSPERSON

Elizabeth East Schools
  • Maintain and operate all machinery ( tractors, mowers, brush cutters, chainsaws, power tools and hand tools)
  • Maintain lawns, flower beds, trees and shrubs
  • Control noxious weeds, storage and mixing of all chemicals, poisons and fertilisers
  • Sweeping, painting, tiling, welding, building maintenance
  • Responsible for purchase and supply of materials and equipment required for job
  • Supervision of land care programs involving interaction with student groups
  • Supervision of adults participating in “Working Bees”

VOLUNTEER

Para Wirra National Park
  • Collection of seeds for propagation
  • Weed and pest control, baiting rabbit warrens, fencing, cleaning, garbage disposal.

SCAFFOLDER

Instant Scaffolds
  • Forklift driving
  • Truck driving
  • Bobcat operation
  • Erection and dismantling of scaffolds, swing stages
  • Working from plans, suspending scaffolds (cantilever)

STAGE ERECTOR

Australian Seating Systems
  • General building site work
  • Forklift driving
  • Erecting and dismantling seating platforms

ANIMAL ATTENDANT

Intensive Industries
  • Maintenance of animal housing areas
  • Administration of injections, feeding, furrowing and mating programs

MECHANIC Assistant

Central Automatics
01.1981 - 01.1985
  • Repair automatic and manual gearboxes and associated mechanical repairs

Education

No Degree - Cert 4 Horticulture

TAFE SA
SA

No Degree - Cert4 Correctional Practice

Correctional Services
Northfield, SA

No Degree - Youth Work

TAFE SA
SA
01-2017

Skills

  • Crisis management
  • Crisis communication
  • Trauma-informed care
  • Counseling techniques
  • Client needs assessments
  • Behavioral management
  • Conflict resolution
  • Crisis intervention
  • Youth advocacy
  • De-escalation techniques
  • Case file management
  • Individual counseling
  • Cultural sensitivity
  • Cultural Competency
  • Case management

Timeline

Outreach Officer Homeless

CASA community accommodation and support services
12.2024 - Current

YOUTH WORKER

KALYAN YOUTH SERVICE
01.2023 - 12.2024

Youth Worker/case Manager

Aboriginal Family Support Services (AFSS)
01.2019 - 01.2022

Youth Worker /SSO2

Youth Education Centre DECD
01.2017 - 01.2018

Youth Worker

Incompro
01.2016 - 01.2017

Supervisor/mentor

Community Development Program
01.2016 - 04.2016

Frac hand / operator

Condor Energy QLD and Cooper Basin
05.2014 - 01.2016

operator assistant/HC truck driver

Halliburton, Cooper Basin gas field Moomba
02.2013 - 05.2014

Scaffolder / Dogman

Urban super way South Road
10.2012 - 02.2013

OHS&E Field Officer

SGS Moomba Cooper Basin
06.2012 - 11.2012

Custodial specialist / Estates officer

Department for correctional Services
01.2010 - 01.2012

Custodial specialist / OPS 3 FIELD SUPERVISOR

Department for Correctional Services
01.2005 - 01.2010

MECHANIC Assistant

Central Automatics
01.1981 - 01.1985

FOREST CONSTRUCTION WORKER

Forestry, SA

GROUNDSPERSON

Elizabeth East Schools

VOLUNTEER

Para Wirra National Park

SCAFFOLDER

Instant Scaffolds

STAGE ERECTOR

Australian Seating Systems

ANIMAL ATTENDANT

Intensive Industries

No Degree - Cert 4 Horticulture

TAFE SA

No Degree - Cert4 Correctional Practice

Correctional Services

No Degree - Youth Work

TAFE SA

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