Mental Health Lead Facilitator

Established in 2009, Satellite Foundation is a not-for-profit that connects and empowers young carers – children and young people – where a family member experiences Mental Health challenges.  Satellite aims to foster a strong connection between young people, their families, and the wider community.  Satellite Foundation’s programs use a combination of creativity and the sharing of lived experience to combat isolation and promote confidence, self-esteem, and good coping strategies.  Satellite offers peer support in a range of in-person and online programs, workshops, activities, and projects that are centred on connection.

The opportunity

Reporting to the Program Delivery Manager, the Mental Health Lead Facilitator will work with the Satellite team in facilitating a range of programs and activities primarily for young adults, aged 18-25 years.  We are looking for a part-time (22.8 hours per week) program facilitator who specialises in Mental Health. 

Facilitation teams within Satellite’s programs consist of a ‘triangle’ that recognises the three elements essential to Satellite’s programs: creativity, lived experience and Mental Health. Our facilitators work in teams each taking on a leading role as either the Creative Facilitator, the Lived Experience Facilitator or the Mental Health Facilitator. Within each program we aim to have a person who is confident and trained at leading at least one of these areas.

Creative Practice: Our Creative Practice Facilitators are responsible for the creative/play-based activities in our programs.

Lived Experience: This facilitation role is for someone who has their own loved one/parent/family member who has a mental illness or Mental Health challenges.

Mental Health: This role monitors the social and emotional wellbeing of young adults in our Satellite spaces, and leads light-touch, kind conversations about familial Mental Health and self-care in our programs.

We recognise these roles are often interchangeable and we encourage collaboration and communication across all three areas.

Satellite facilitators may also be invited to participate in other opportunities including external consultations, co-design workshops and recruitment processes as part of their involvement with Satellite. 

This role will primarily work on programs tailored specifically for young adults aged 18-25 years. The incumbent will need to work flexible hours, able to deliver programs in the evenings (online and in person) and on weekends at retreats.  Secondarily, the role may also support the co-facilitation of programs and activities for children and young people aged 8-17 years.

Please refer to the position description for a full list of what you will be doing in this new role and the essential and desirable skills and experience we are after.  All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory National Police Check, a Working with Children Check (WWCC), evidence of legal rights to work in Australia, and evidence of vaccination against COVID-19.

Past participants or volunteers in Satellite Programs with suitable skills and experience are encouraged to apply.

Essential skills and experience

• A relevant tertiary qualification in Social Work, Community Development, Youth/Family work, Public Health or Education at degree level with substantial experience; or Associate Diploma level with substantial experience in the relevant service stream; or less formal qualifications with specialised skills and related work experience sufficient to perform at this level.
• Minimum of 2 years' experience working with young people, families and community experiencing Mental Health, alcohol and other drugs, and other social issues.
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience working in a similar role as a facilitator of group programs (online and in person) with young adults from ages 18-25. Experience in youth or arts facilitation is highly desirable.
• Experience working in trauma-informed spaces.
• A strong understanding of group dynamics and group facilitation.
• Strong interpersonal skills including a demonstrated leadership capacity, positive attitude, strong alignment with the values and objectives of the Satellite Foundation, reliability and flexibility in leading and supporting others.
• Confidence to engage and communicate with various sized groups and individuals, tailoring communication to suit specific targets groups and age ranges.
• Demonstrated understanding of the challenges and experiences of young people from diverse backgrounds including young people who are culturally and linguistically diverse, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex or questioning).
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously, and as an effective member of a team.
• Strong passion for supporting children and young people experiencing Mental Health themselves or in their families.

Desirable skills and experience

• A lived and/or living experience of Mental Health challenges (their own and/or of a significant other in their life) and an understanding of the issues relating to children, young people, peers and their families where a parent/family member has a Mental Health challenge.
• A creative practice of your own, demonstrated by a keenness to try out new projects and an enjoyment in helping others share their stories through artistic practice.
• A passion to support peer connection between participants based on a shared lived experience with a willingness to support young people to share their own stories and where relevant, share stories of their own.
• Strong computer skills including experience across the Office 365 suite (including sharing platforms, SharePoint and Microsoft Teams).

Culture at Satellite Foundation

Satellite Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and committed to ensuring a safe working environment for all staff and volunteers.  We provide a child safe environment for all children and young people who participate.

Satellite Foundation is committed to creating an inclusive workplace and commits to taking appropriate measures to enable everyone to access employment opportunities and benefit equally from employment-related opportunities by providing reasonable accommodations.

We recognise that there are barriers to employment for people, and we encourage you to get in touch with us to explore alternative application methods or other ways of removing these barriers for the recruitment and selection process.

We encourage individuals with lived experience of Mental Health challenges themselves, or within their families to apply.  We encourage individuals of diverse ages and backgrounds, including but not limited to, those from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Culturally and Linguistically Divers and LGBTQIA+ communities to join our workforce.

How to apply

For more information, contact Robyn Goodwill on 0408 235 ***.  For a copy of the position description please reach out to: *****@satellitefoundation.org.au.

This will be a quick recruitment process for the right person.  Applications are likely to close at 11.59pm, Tuesday, 12 March 2024.

Want to know more about the Satellite Foundation?  

Go to our website: https://www.satellitefoundation.org.au/