Community Inclusion Officer - Housing and Homelessness

At Wollongong City Council, we continuously strive to create an Extraordinary Wollongong for our community. We focus on the delivery of exceptional services, infrastructure and facilities for our community. Our aim is to work toward the community's goals in the Our Wollongong Our Future Community Strategic Plan 2035.

Wollongong is a great place to work, live and play! Together, our responsibility is to create an inclusive community where everyone is welcome, valued and belongs. Our strength is the diversity of our people.

We lead with courage, openness and curiosity and believe our employees are the key to our success. Learn more about us here.

The opportunity

Are you looking to make a meaningful difference in your community? In this role, you will bring people, services and ideas together to support positive outcomes for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and housing stress.

As our Community Inclusion Officer, you will coordinate Council's homelessness initiatives across the Wollongong Local Government Area, helping deliver practical responses to rough sleeping while leading partnerships projects, to build awareness, strengthen community wellbeing and promote social inclusion.

This is not a housing provider or case management role. Instead, you will work with community organisations, support services, government agencies, community members and Council teams to coordinate responses, build partnerships and create opportunities for lasting community impact.

You will join a dedicated team within the Community Development and Engagement branch that is committed to creating a more inclusive and connected community. Together, you will deliver initiatives that support people experiencing or at risk of homelessness while helping Council achieve broader goals for social justice, access, equity and community wellbeing.

This is a part-time 21 hour per week term contract position for up to three years. Salary from : $58.88 up to $69.24 per hour, plus superannuation (Salary package will be assessed based on skills, experience and qualifications)

Find out more about what we do here: Homelessness and Unstable Housing | City of Wollongong

Under Part 2, Section 6 of the Child Protection (Working With Children) Act 2012, this position has been designated as requiring a paid NSW Working With Children Check.

How you'll make a difference

You will help coordinate Council's response to homelessness and housing stress. In this role, you'll:

• Coordinate Council's response to rough sleeping by connecting people with specialist support services and facilitating local responses.

• Lead delivery of key homelessness, housing and community inclusion initiatives.

• Build and maintain partnerships across community, government, housing and homelessness sectors.

• Increase community awareness of homelessness, housing stress and available supports through engagement, education and advocacy.

• Use research, data and community insights to identify emerging issues, inform decision-making and drive continuous improvement.

• Strengthen program delivery and accountability through effective systems, monitoring and cross-Council collaboration.

About you

You understand that homelessness is a complex issue that cannot be solved by one organisation alone. You bring empathy, sound judgement and the ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of people to create positive outcomes.

You have experience in community development, community services, social inclusion, local government, human services or another environment where building relationships, coordinating projects and working through complex Homelessness community issues has been central to your role.

You will bring:

• Experience applying community development principles and working with diverse communities

• The ability to build productive relationships with stakeholders, service providers, government agencies and community groups

• Strong project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver outcomes

• Confidence working with competing viewpoints and navigating complex issues in a respectful and constructive way

• Strong communication skills, including the ability to engage with people from all backgrounds and experiences

• The ability to balance creative thinking with sound processes, governance and accountability

• Experience using data, research and evidence to inform decision making and measure outcomes

• A collaborative approach and genuine commitment to social justice, inclusion and community wellbeing

• A current Paid NSW Working with Children Check

• A commitment to Council's values of Respect, Integrity, OneTeam, Sustainability and Courage

Why you'll love working at Wollongong City Council!

• True work-life balance
  We know you work hard, and we make sure that effort is rewarded with real flexibility. Our hybrid work options, flex-time, and rostered days off mean you can maintain balance while delivering great outcomes.

• Great working conditions
  Enjoy a 35-hour work week or a 9-day fortnight with a regular rostered day off (RDO).

• Career growth and recognition

We are committed to supporting your personal and professional development. Our initiatives include a reward and recognition program, corporate learning opportunities, study assistance, and leadership development programs to help you grow and succeed.

• Generous leave provisions
  Benefit from five weeks of annual leave per year (pro rata) and access long service leave after just five years.

• Health, safety, and wellbeing
  We prioritise a safe workplace for everyone, every day, everywhere. Our wellbeing programs support mental, physical and social wellbeing of our people to be at their best and include an Employee Assistance Program, skin and hearing checks and discounted gym memberships.

• A vibrant social culture
  Join our Social Club for monthly activities, an annual trivia night, and fantastic Christmas events!

Participate and engage in meaningful work, and contribute to our extraordinary community, where together we make a difference.

For more information, click on 'Apply' to be redirected to Wollongong City Council's job vacancy page.

Applications close 11:59pm Sunday 22 November 2026

We invite everyone to apply no matter your identity, you'll be welcome. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people who are culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), people with disability and veterans.

Wollongong Council adheres to the principles of a child safe organisation and is committed to the care and protection of all children and young people in the community.

Applicants are required to undergo a rigorous employment screening process which will include Reference, Identity and Medical History Checks, and may also include a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and Working with Children Check. Employment is subject to clearance of all these checks.