Community Organiser and Community Engagement Officer

The Organisation
 
The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) is the peak organisation for community and social services in Australia and a national voice for the needs of people affected by poverty and inequality. ACOSS develops public policy, analyses government policies, conducts research, and promotes its views through publications, the media and public advocacy. ACOSS has 1000+ members, including Australia’s major charities, and not-for-profit community organisations, as well as individuals, from major cities to regional and remote areas; and it works closely with both senior government officials and corporate partners.

Benefits & Culture

ACOSS is a rewarding working environment that provides staff with a strong sense of achievement and recognition for the important work it does.

The Role
 
Reporting to the Deputy CEO, you will work closely with the ACOSS communications and policy teams to lead community mobilisation and engagement, particularly with people with lived experience of poverty and  disadvantage.

The core purpose of your role is to support community empowerment and participation in ACOSS’s public advocacy and change work, including the current ACOSS Raise the Rate for Good Campaign.
Your responsibilities will also include:

• Recruiting, training and supporting individuals to engage with national campaigns.
• Supporting people with lived experience to share their stories and expertise.
• Coordinating and facilitating campaign meetings and events.
• Strengthening relationships with national representative and people-based organisations.
• Supporting ACOSS to develop processes for proactively engaging with representative organisations.

Skills Required
 
To excel in this role you will have:

• A strong commitment to reducing poverty and inequality in Australia.
• Demonstrated experience mobilising and organising communities to effect change (ideally in a social, environmental, or political campaign), using a variety of techniques including online, face to face and phone.
• Proven experience mobilising communities to meet strategic goals and a strong understanding of strategic advocacy and campaigning.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, experience working with, and writing for, digital platforms, and facilitating online meetings with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Strong computer and digital skills; success using social media engagement strategies and digital campaigning.
• Experience in capacity building, training and coordinating.
• Lived experience of poverty and inequality will be highly regarded. Applicants from diverse backgrounds including CALD and First Nations people are encouraged to apply.

If you would like to leverage your mobilisation and engagement experience to reduce poverty and inequality, please submit your cover letter, responding to the skills and experience required, and your resume in Word format, quoting reference #636453. Due to the high volume of current applications, please raise any questions you may have in your cover letter and we will respond to relevant applicants.