Community Engagement Worker - Benalla & Wangaratta

Support major mental health reform in Victoria to ensure that everyone is supported.

This is an amazing opportunity to shape the future of peer and community-led mental health services by being part of the launch of the Local Mental Health and Wellbeing Service in Benalla & Wangaratta.

This local support is a key recommendation of the recent Royal Commission into Victoria's mental health system and promises to make our community a better place to live.

About the service

Wellways, Albury Wodonga Health and ACSO are working together to provide mental health and wellbeing supports in Benalla & Wangaratta to ensure everyone can access treatment and care closer to home.   

The new Benalla & Wangaratta Mental Health Local will provide welcoming and inclusive support for people aged 26 years and over who are experiencing mental health challenges, including people with co-occurring alcohol and drug addiction treatment and care needs.  

We are working with the local community and people who have a personal experience of mental health issues and recovery to build these services so they are the best they can be.  Our services will be led by lived experience and coproduced with the local community so they are the best they can be. 

The Benalla & Wangaratta Mental Health Local is committed to reconciliation, lived experience and inclusivity. We strongly encourage and warmly welcome people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, people with a lived experience of mental health and disability and people who identify as LGBTIQA+ to apply. Even if you only meet some of the criteria, we'd love to hear from you. 

Role Purpose

Reporting to the Community Capacity Team Leader, the Community Engagement Worker, (employed by Wellways) has the objective to establish the Building Community Capacity team and manage and support the team in their goal to promote the Benalla & Wangaratta Local. This will mean establishing relationships, working with hard-to-reach community members, hidden cohorts and support people who are unable to access services via the central hub in an outreach setting.

The Community Engagement worker will work with communities to ensure they can better identify and respond to psychological distress and promote social and emotional wellbeing. You will empower communities to support one another in maintaining social and emotional wellbeing.

In this role, you will identify and facilitate opportunities that promote the inclusion of, and build the capacity of, people and community groups to access local services Gateway services and achieve healthy, strong and connected communities.

Requirements

• Certificate IV in Social Science or related discipline.
• Experience in the human services or related sector, including individual and community development work
• Demonstrated skill in establishing empowering and supportive partnerships with communities and a broad range of services in the community
• An understanding and demonstrated commitment to social inclusion and diversity.
• Current Victorian Drivers Licence
• National Police Check, Working with Children Check, Evidence of right to work within Australia and evidence of COVID-19 booster vaccination or valid medical exemption.

Benefits

• Flexible working arrangements
• Access to salary packaging and leave loading
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities

The Mental Health Locals teams will have an amazing opportunity to drive much-needed mental health improvements for our communities.  

For a confidential discussion about the role contact Mariana Curti, Recruitment Advisor on 03 7064 1636.