Pathways Mentor

National Disability Services (NDS) is Australia's peak body for non-government disability service organisations, representing over 1000 service providers and their workforce of over 150 thousand people who collectively provide support services for nearly 2 million people with disability.

NDS has a strong and influential presence in every state and territory across Australia. Our core functions are to advocate to government for sector-wide changes and improvements, to inform our members about issues that impact them, and to provide resources and services that assist them to deliver sustainable high quality support services for people with disability.

NDS employees have the passion to make a difference, are driven to deliver the highest quality support and services to our members, and thrive in an environment of positive change and continuous improvement.  If this sounds like you, check out this opportunity below!  Or, to find out more about NDS, please visit our website.

Location:     Flexible

Hours:         Flexible, approx. 4-12 hours per week over 8-12 weeks.

                     There will be 15-25 hours of paid training at the start of the program.

Status:        Casual         

Position Purpose: 

Pathways Mentors will deliver a program of mentoring support to young people with disability aged 12-14 as part of the Pathways from School to Work project pilot. Pathways Mentors will model positive futures and employment options, healthy high expectations, and a social model of disability to young people with disability, their parents and carers, and relevant Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) employees and participating employers.

• Participate in pre-pilot induction and training program
• Provide mentoring support to a young person with disability (the mentee) as part of the Pathways project pilot
• Model and promote a rights-based social model of disability
• Develop collaborative relationships with the mentee’s parents/carers, relevant school staff, and participating employers
• Provide information and education to young people with disability, parents/carers, DECYP employees, and participating employers on available supports, resources, and evidence-based best practices for school-to-work transition support
• Participate in the Pathways pilot evaluation process, including at least two surveys and two individual interviews
• Follow mandatory reporting and other Child and Youth Safe Organisation requirements

• Perform other duties and responsibilities as required by manager/supervisor from time to time
• Comply with NDS’s policies and procedures at all times, including (but not limited to) HR, Quality, Work Health & Safety (WHS), IT, Security, and Data Privacy
• Demonstrate the NDS values of Build respectful relationships, Lead change, Deliver clarity & impact, Support and develop others, and Embrace diversity.

1. Lived experience of disability
2. Experience of job searching, job applications, interview, and working in open employment
3. Experience communicating about disability experiences and support needs, including about disclosure and disability adjustments in the workplace
4. Commitment to the social or human rights models of disability
5. Proactive and self-driven
6. Ability to attend mentoring and stakeholder activities in-person
7. Ability to self-reflect and sensitively provide constructive feedback
8. Willingness and capacity to travel within their region (or to coordinate own supports to do so)
9. Ability to navigate unfamiliar environments independently (or coordinate own supports to do so)
10. Experience working with young people with disability preferred
11. Experience in mentoring roles preferred

Pathways Mentors will deliver a program of mentoring support to young people with disability aged 12-14 as part of the Pathways from School to Work project pilot.

Pathways Mentors will model positive futures and employment options, healthy high expectations, and a social model of disability to:

• young people with disability
• their parents and carers
• relevant Department of Education, Children and Young People (DECYP) employees, and
• participating employers.

This is a disability-specific position. Pathways Mentors’ lived experience of disability in employment will be an essential part of their mentoring role.

NDS is committed to providing reasonable workplace adjustments, including through the recruitment process. We encourage potential applicants to contact NDS to discuss any adjustments you may require during the recruitment process or in the workplace. Please contact ******@nds.org.au or call on 03 6212 7*** to let us know the best way to communicate with you.

We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and value diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We encourage all applicants, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, LGBTIQ people and people from culturally diverse communities to join NDS.  

Expressions of interest close:  4 June 2024. To express interest in the role, click on the Apply button or contact Roen Meijers at ******@nds.org.au or 03 6212 7***.

The successful applicant must be prepared to undertake a pre-employment police check. In addition, due to the inherent work, health and safety considerations and legislative requirements of this role, they must also be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (i.e. double dosed plus recommended booster doses) prior to commencing any work, unless medically exempt. 

No agencies please.