Community And Youth Engagement Officer

About Gidgee Healing

Gidgee Healing (‘Gidgee’) is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service, representing the health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the Northwest, and Lower Gulf regions of Queensland. We are committed to supporting Aboriginal communities’ own solutions to living long healthy lives; strengthening their culture, and regaining their spirit. Our mission is to provide holistic and culturally appropriate health services, underpinned by a philosophy of community participation, and with a strong focus on care coordination.

We provide a broad range of primary health care and aged care services, and we are now the largest Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service provider by land area in Queensland. Our vast service footprint spans approximately 640,000 km2, including some 11,000 Indigenous people. Our service includes two Hospital and Health Service regions (Central West and Northwest) and shares its boundary with the Western Queensland Primary Health Network (WQPHN).

Job Summary

To improve health outcomes for young people aged 12-25 years affected by mental health and/or alcohol and other drugs, through client-centered care, a community-orientated approach, and through the delivery of sensitive, accessible, and quality services.

• Encouraging help-seeking behavior by young people, their friends, and families. Responding and providing early intervention services utilising evidence-based practice to provide an integrated model of care for young people at risk of poor mental health and related issues.

• Increasing the communities’ capacity to identify young people as early as possible who may be at risk of mental health crisis, related issues, and substance use.

• Ensuring the key components of a young person’s social recovery, including links to education, training, and employment, are central to the care provided.

• A significant increase in the number of young people that are identified and responded to with evidenced based interventions, at a much earlier stage to reduce the number of young people reaching the crisis stage.

Functional Accountabilities

Functional accountabilities of this role include:

• Organise and oversee all headspace Mount Isa’s external Community and Youth Engagement activities. This includes supporting other headspace staff, co-contributed staff, and private practitioners who may take part.

• The Community and Youth Engagement Officer is the external ‘face’ of Headspace Mount Isa and is expected to represent the centre at relevant locations and events, particularly those of most relevance to Headspace core business (GP’s, schools, universities, other health, and Youth services etc.).

• Directly responsible for the recruitment, retention, and facilitation of the centre’s Youth Reference Group, ensuring the groups meets face to face regularly and participates in other areas of the centre as required.

• Increasing Community and Youth awareness and knowledge of the centre and the services it will provide. This will also include advertising and establishing the youth reference group.

• Works to the headspace Mount Isa work plan, and leads activities designed to achieve improved awareness of and access to the service. They also play a key role in all online community engagement activities.

• This position requires after-hours/weekend work.

Selection Criteria

• Qualifications in health care, youth work, community work, counseling, leadership, or a related discipline.

• Knowledge and understanding of the theory underpinning evidence-based interventions and clinical practice as well as demonstrated excellence in the practical application of such, in the areas of youth mental health and alcohol and drug use.

• Demonstrated experience undertaking intake and screening activities, including comprehensive bio-psycho-social assessment to determine client needs, and to assist clients to access appropriate services.

• Knowledge and experience conducting risk assessments, including suicide and violence risks.

• Highly developed communication (including written and interpersonal skills) to engage with young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a culturally appropriate manner.

• Community engagement and advocacy skills with experience establishing and maintaining effective relationships with staff, clients, carers, and stakeholders.

• Knowledge of, and/or experience with, the Mount Isa youth health sector is highly desirable.

• Ability to prioritise and manage multiple and completing work tasks and deliver to agreed deadlines.

Other Requirements

• Current C Class Drivers License (QLD) – essential.
• Satisfactory police check – no serious Criminal/Court record.
• Current Blue Card (working with children and young people) or willingness to apply for a Blue Card.
• Evidence of COVID-19 Vaccination. min requirement of 3 x shots.
• Willingness to work flexible hours as required, including the requirement to travel, work, and stay overnight for up to several days at a time in remote areas.
• Willingness to travel by road and small plane.

If you are interested in applying for this position, click APPLY! Applications are to be submitted by COB Friday 29th September 2023.

For further information please contact Human Resources 1800 GIDGEE or **@gidgeehealing.com