Community Engagement Worker

About the North East Metro Mental Health & Wellbeing Connect (NEMMHWC)

Access Health and Community will lead the North East Metro Mental Health & Wellbeing Connect Centres, in partnership with Self Help Addiction Resource Centre (SHARC), healthAbility and Inspiro, to deliver mental health and wellbeing services for families and carers in North East Metro region of Victoria. We aspire to provide a service of hope, recovery and humanity to improve the mental health and wellbeing of families and carers within our community. Our service is codesigned, governed and led by people with lived/living experience as families or carers of people with mental health and/or substance use challenges.

The opportunity

The Community Engagement Worker is responsible for coordinating and developing Community Engagement, carer participation and capacity building activities for the North East Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect service. You will help ensure family, carer, and supporter’s needs and contributions are recognised and actively included in the development and design of services.

As the Community Engagement Worker you will have the opportunity to use your own lived/living experience as a family member, carer or supporter of someone with mental health and/or substance use challenges to support and lead community/carer engagement, raising the profile of and facilitating access to the North East Metro Connect services, reducing stigma and discrimination associated with carers seeking support for mental health and AOD concerns, and creating partnerships with local organisations, schools and other community members.

This role will also coordinate capacity building and community awareness events, and liaise closely with the Manager, the Lived/Living Experience Practice Lead and the Program Coordinator.

This role is critical in the development of the community profile of North East Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect and in ongoing partnerships with key stakeholders. The Community Engagement Worker will also coordinate the Connect service’s online presence and impact via social media and The First Stop website. This role may involve some after-hours and off-site work.

What you will be doing

• Engage with local service providers, carer groups, and other Connect services to develop strong working partnerships and referral pathways, as well as to plan for activities, events, educational workshops and groups, with a focus on priority stakeholders including services who work with LGBTIQA+ people, young carers, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds.
• Ensure the Connect activities are promoted in line with health literacy and health promotion principles.
• Implement activities/programs for families, carers, supporters and the broader community which promote access to the Connect services and facilitate engagement with other relevant services.
• Assist with developing health promotion activities suitable for families, carers and supporters that promote wellbeing and opportunities for social connection and engagement.
• Liaise and align with the AccessHC Communications team to support communication and dissemination of information to the community.
• Represent North East Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect and AccessHC on relevant networks and committees as required in a professional and respectful manner.
• Develop and maintain appropriate networks and resources to enable the referral of families and carers from North East Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect to local health and community services.
• Provide education and information sessions to the community as required to promote North East Metro Connect services and increase access for families, carers and supporters.
• Collaborate with the Program Coordinator to coordinate and deliver community events/activities for families, carers and supporters.
• Liaise with the Lived/Living Experience Practice Lead and the Lived Experience Reference Group to develop and promote social connection and wellbeing activities for families, carers and supporters
• Engage and empower participants, clinicians and the community to better understand the family/carer/supporter perspective
• Build supportive and respectful relationships with all people engaged in the North East Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect

What you will bring

Be willing to effectively, respectfully and appropriately use your lived/living experience as a family member, carer or supporter of someone with mental health and/or substance use challenges in your role.

• Tertiary qualifications in health/social sciences, community development, youth work, health promotion or a related field, with a focus on Community Engagement and health promotion.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience working in community, family/carer, AOD or mental health services.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant software applications, use of social media and online platforms (such as Survey Monkey).
• Personal lived experience as a family member, or carer or supporter of someone with mental health and/or substance use challenges
• Demonstrated understanding of the key issues affecting families, carers and supporters of people with mental health and/or substance use challenges, and how these may intersect with physical health, gambling, neurodevelopmental conditions, intellectual and physical disabilities
• Demonstrated understanding of trauma informed practice, recovery-oriented and strengths-based approaches and family-inclusive practice

Attributes

• A genuine commitment to supporting families and carers in line with the Victorian Royal Commission Recommendations
• An ability to work sensitively and from a trauma-informed approach with people of diverse cultures, abilities, ages, sexualities and gender identities
• Lived or living experience as a family member, carer or supporter of someone with mental health and/or substance use challenges
• Demonstrated behaviours consistent with North East Metro Mental Health & Wellbeing Connect Centre values

Culture & Benefits

We offer more than just a fulfilling career; we provide an environment where you can thrive in a culture of collaboration and support. Our team members share a common commitment and passion to make a positive impact, and we believe that this shared ethos creates a range of benefits for all who work with us. From opportunities for personal and professional growth to a sense of purpose and belonging, our culture promotes an environment of success and fulfilment.

Come join us and experience the rewards of a career where you truly make a difference. Please review NEMMHWC benefits: https://accesshc.org.au/FCLC-benefits

Apply Now

If you are excited about this new opportunity, please forward your resume and cover letter responding to the key selection criteria. Please refer to the position description for the key selection criteria information on our careers website: https://accesshc.org.au/careers/

For further information and/or if you would like the opportunity to discuss this role. Please contact Manager, North East Metro Mental Health Wellbeing Connect: Katherine Cameron: ***************@accesshc.org.au P: 03 9420 9***

Apply now, as applications will be assessed as they are submitted, and the role may be filled before the end of the application period.

Applications close date: 22nd March 2024

The North East Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect is a Child Safe Organisation that values inclusivity and diversity. We encourage applications from people with disabilities, those with lived experience of mental health and/or alcohol and other drugs (AOD) challenges, and those with diverse genders and sexualities

Our vision for reconciliation is an Australia where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience equitable health and social outcomes. Our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) will contribute to achieving reconciliation. We will seek an understanding of and acknowledging histories and injustices, support the active expression of culture, build strong, trusting relationships, and apply culturally appropriate practices within our work.

We will work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to create a welcoming and safe place for everyone at our services. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people, who are the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and we pay our respects to Wurundjeri Elders past, present, and future, and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

As a vaccine positive organisation, we encourage COVID-19 vaccinations and offer disability services, requiring successful applicants to undergo a NDIS Workers Screening Check, Working With Children Check, Police Check and potentially an International Check.