It’s the little moments that count for Child and Youth Worker Brittany Bombski.

Those special times when she’s able to connect with the children in her care and maybe, just maybe, change their lives.

Brittany, 31, works as a Child and Youth Worker for the Department for Child Protection in Mount Gambier, where she cares for children and young people living in residential care.

“We get a lot of what we call gold nuggets,” she said. “Those little wins that make it all worth-while.

“You can be sitting at the dinner table one night with the kids and really connect; change the whole direction of their life.

“You don’t always see the results straight away, but you might bump into them on the street years later and they tell you how good their life is going and you think: ‘maybe they did listen’.”

Brittany is telling her story in line with a focus on local recruitment for Child and Youth Workers in the state’s south-east.

She has worked for DCP for the past six years after being recruited from the non-government sector, and cares for up to four young people at a time.

Carers like Brittany work in teams over three shifts in DCP’s residential care homes 24/7 and provide crucial support to children and young people, who have often experienced trauma and abuse.

In her time with DCP, Brittany’s managed to complete her Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention and have a daughter of her own, who’s now two.

With DCP’s assistance, she has also almost completed her psychology degree.

“That’s something that I never thought I’d ever be able to achieve,” she said. “DCP has been really flexible, giving me the time to complete that degree.

“That also happened when I returned from maternity leave in an admin role. The flexibility I was offered was amazing – I was even allowed to go home to breast feed.

“I never experienced anything like it before, and that’s why I’m still here.”

DCP has about 700 children and young people in the residential care system aged up to 18, across the state.

Brittany says a big part of her job is helping give the children a sense of achievement and provide a good day-to-day routine.

“We not only help with that, we also role-model it too,” she said. “I absolutely love it.

“I’m not going to sugar coat it though – it can be really challenging. But like everything in life, if you put in the effort, you get the rewards. You get to be the person they never had in their life.”

For Brittany, the biggest help for her in what can be a challenging work environment is the people she works with.

“We’re a small team, and it’s a really unique team culture,” she said. “This job requires a bit of resilience and the people we have here carry you through.

“Once I was on board though, I never looked back.”

Child Protection Minister Katrine Hildyard praised South Australia’s hardworking child and youth workers.

“Child and Youth Workers play such a vital role in supporting and empowering children and young people who have experienced significant trauma. The dedication of Brittany and her co-workers genuinely changes lives. I am so grateful to them.”

“Brittany’s story exemplifies the profound impact these workers have on the children with whom they work. They help the young people who most need our support know that they are not alone, that there is someone who cares about them and will be there alongside them as they navigate their journey.”

"We are committed to attracting passionate individuals to join our workforce, especially in regional areas like Mount Gambier. I hope Brittany’s story and the positive difference she has made will inspire others to consider this rewarding career and contribute to improving the lives of children and young people across South Australia."

If you’re considering a career as a Child and Youth Worker, read more about the job on the Department for Child Protection website, visit the DCP career portal to apply, and contact DCPRecruitment@sa.gov.au to register for the next free, online information session on Tuesday 20 May at 6.30pm.