Engagement Worker: Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Portfolio

Engagement Worker – Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Diversity Portfolio

(Inner Melbourne, Ongoing – Part Time)

Enjoy the benefits of working within a growing organisation offering career development, flexibility and an attractive annual salary package (including leave loading and superannuation). 

The Role:

VincentCare Victoria is seeking a person to take on the position of Engagement Worker – Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Diversity Portfolio who has experience and qualifications to work from a client centred approach with homeless, and/or marginalized single adults within the new Ozanam House accommodation and Homeless Resource Centre. This position has a specialist portfolio focus on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and the community and is subsequently seeking a person with experience supporting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people who are experiencing homelessness.

The Engagement Worker – Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Diversity Portfolio will work within a multi-faceted team based at the new Ozanam House redevelopment and has a primary focus on supporting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients within the Homeless Resource centre and accommodation units. The redevelopment brings together a suite of homeless services together in one building providing a range of support to people aged over 18yrs including health and treatment services, drop in support (i.e., meals, laundry facilities), case management and initial assessment and planning. The accommodation also on site encompasses 60 crisis accommodation beds, 48 transitional units and 26 Independent Living Units for people experiencing homelessness.

The role aims to provide a safe and supportive drop in and accommodation environment and to co-ordinate the practical aspects of the Homeless Resource Centre and on-site accommodation. Engagement workers provide a variety of supports to clients ranging from assertive engagement, monitoring, managing challenging behaviours and facilitation of planned activity groups. The Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander focus of this Engagement worker role will also encompass identifying potential partnerships and referral sources with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander services to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients, and provide secondary consults and capacity building to staff.

The role sits within the Engagement team and workers must demonstrate unconditional positive regard and develop genuine, non-judgemental and predictable relationships with people through their journey of crisis, recovery and growth. 

VincentCare Victoria:

VincentCare Victoria is an award winning organisation established to provide a range of accommodation and support services to people that are facing disadvantage throughout metropolitan and regional Victoria.

Our aspiration is to be the leader in providing care, hope and advocacy for those facing disadvantage. Our purpose is to create opportunities and lasting change for the most marginalised. VincentCare is well equipped to provide a continuum of services that effectively meet the needs of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. 

Inner Melbourne Community Hub provides a range of accommodation and support services, including crisis accommodation, drug and alcohol case management, and adult outreach. 

Working with VincentCare:

A key strategic priority is attracting and retaining skilled and committed employees aligned to our values. VincentCare has over three hundred dedicated, talented and enthusiastic staff working across a range of programs and services and offers a number of benefits including:

• Career Development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program
• Salary Packaging
• Choice of Superannuation fund
• Family friendly and flexibility
• Study leave
• The Ozanam Scholar Bursary 

Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to the principles of social justice and aim to ensure every individual is treated with dignity and respect regardless of their cultural background, ability, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation or religion.  

Selection Criteria:

• Relevant tertiary qualification (required)
• Demonstrated understanding of the range of needs and issues affecting people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, including those who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and the homelessness sector.
• Experience in direct service delivery within the human services field.
• An empowering approach, demonstrating flexibility and initiative, in working with homeless individuals.
• A connection with and/or be a member of an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community (preferred)
• Ability to work well within a team environment.
• Excellent communication skills, including knowledge of conflict resolution.
• Ability and commitment to be available to work a rotating roster, providing 16 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year staff coverage, as required.
• Evidenced administrative accuracy and detail, including timely data entry.
• A current Victorian Drivers Licence is required.

How to apply: 

Applicants must submit their CV together with a detailed response to each of the key selection criteria in the position description which is available at https://hcm613.peoplestreme.net/vincentcare/erec_external.asp.

Please submit your application through our website at https://hcm613.peoplestreme.net/vincentcare/erec_external.asp

Phone enquiries may be made to Katrina Nguyen, Manager Participation and Engagement 0408 634 227

Applications close: 5.00pm Monday, 26th August 2019

All appointments within VincentCare Victoria are subject to satisfactory completion of a police check and character/performance reference checks.  Police checks will be undertaken for the selected candidate prior to any job offer being confirmed. Police checks are also undertaken on a periodic basis during the period of employment.

All appointments are subject to disclosure of any relevant employment history of formal disciplinary action for improper or unprofessional conduct taken by current or previous employers or any other integrity body within or outside Australia.

The incumbent for this position must have and maintain a current Victorian Working with Children Check or equivalent.