Community Employment Connector

POSITION CONTEXT

This position contributes to the Victorian Government’s provision of supports to help Victorians facing barriers to employment. Community Employment Connectors will provide culturally responsive and individualised support at the grass roots level to help young people and adults from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds to navigate and connect with employment and training services.

Community Employment Connectors will proactively work within local communities and service systems to help disadvantaged jobseekers to prepare for and secure employment through the provision of information, referral and connection supports. They will ensure jobseekers know where they can go to find the information, advice and support they need to move into sustainable work.

Community Employment Connectors will be embedded within community organisations which have existing reach into localised networks and CALD communities. Community Employment Connectors will operate within a network of peers through a community of practice, to share and draw on localised knowledge, learnings, resources as well as models for culturally responsive engagement. Community Employment Connectors will also work with key stakeholders to contribute to a more coordinated and streamlined service experience for young and adult multicultural jobseekers.

The successful applicant will have well-developed interpersonal and communication skills, experience managing and maintaining effective relationships, sound problem solving skills and the ability to work effectively in a team. It is critical for the applicant to have a strong understanding of community engagement and development practice, and prior experience in direct community engagement with young people and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The role provides the opportunity to support disadvantaged CALD and young jobseekers to prepare for and secure work, while contributing to the social and economic recovery and inclusion of all Victorians impacted by the pandemic

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT CONNECTORS PROGRAM

The Community Employment Connectors program aims to support CALD jobseekers facing barriers to entry and re-entry to employment pathways particularly in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This is in recognition that these cohorts already faced challenges to full economic participation pre-COVID which have been compounded further by the effects of the pandemic.

The Community Employment Connector will be required to engage with CALD youth and adults through outreach at multiple sites such as libraries, shopping centres and CALD events, and work in partnership with Community Job Advocates and other service providers to identify the client’s goals to reach successful employment outcomes and refer to appropriate services to meet identified needs.

COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT CONNECTORS KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Community Employment Connectors will:

• Utilise community networks and connections to identify young people and adults from CALD backgrounds who need employment-related support

• Improve access to services by creating links and partnerships with community service providers, agencies, community groups and local leaders and co-designing solutions to known barriers

• Build capacity of smaller ethno-specific organisations to improve employment pathways for community members
• Act as a linkage point to build the cultural capacity of employment services and JVAs in the region
• Engage with local young and CALD jobseekers and others in the community to understand their needs and support options
• Connect people with relevant services that can help them prepare for and secure work, including support to manage non-vocational barriers to employment
• Advocate on behalf of clients to service providers and employers, if required
• Identify gaps and report on opportunities for collaboration and mutually beneficial partnerships to other local service providers, their host organisations and the Department
• Regular collection and management of information and data from participants of the CEC service
• Follow up connections and referrals made to other services
• Represent Community Employment Connectors to various agencies, professional networks and the local community
• Community Employment Connectors will also be required to:
• Attend initial and ongoing training provided by the Department
• Follow operational guidelines (including services standards and procedures for safe delivery of services)
• Participate in ongoing networking and professional development with CECs and Jobs Victoria Advocates across the State via Communities of Practice and other opportunities.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

Relevant experience: Previous community engagement and community development experience and/or knowledge of best practice community engagement principles and practice, particularly with young people and people from CALD backgrounds

High level of interpersonal skills: Demonstrated ability to understand and identify a range of client needs using a client-centered approach; capacity to deal sensitively and intelligently with difficult issues

Strong communication skills: Demonstrated experience engaging and communicating with groups of people, tailoring communication to suit specific cohorts

Negotiation and influence skills: Ability to influence and gain cooperation of internal and external stakeholders to create and maintain mutually beneficial relationships

Adaptation and problem-solving skills: Demonstrated resilience adapting to changing environments; proposes innovative solutions to identified problems

Organisational skills and teamwork: Ability to effectively plan and manage multiple tasks independently and as part of a team; ability to work collaboratively to achieve outcomes

DESIRED EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS

1. Sound knowledge and understanding of the employment, education and/or community services systems
2. Bilingual or multilingual skills relevant to the local CALD communities residing in the Eastern Metropolitan Region of Melbourne
3. Experience working with CALD communities, including with local community groups and leaders
4. A current driver’s licence and your own car

POSITION DIMENSIONS

• All offers of employment at the MIC are subject to a three-month probationary period and satisfactory Police Check and Working with Children’s Check prior to commencement of employment
• The Community Employment Connector Program is currently funded at MIC to June 30th, 2022
• All MIC staff work in co-operation with other staff and volunteers of the MIC