Volunteer Board Director

Project Youth is a not-for-profit community organisation that has been operating since 1992 in the Sutherland Shire and Georges Rivers areas in South East Sydney, with an annual turnover of approximately $5.9 million from government, philanthropic trusts and donations.

Our purpose is to create opportunities for young people 12-24 to determine their own future, offering programs that enable young people to be connected, safe, healthy and achieving. We achieve this through a robust 5-year strategic plan with 4 key priorities:

1) Strengthen our Foundations

2) Increase Our Impact

3) Be a catalyst for Social Change

4) Scale & Grow Effectively

We believe all young people deserve the opportunity to thrive – regardless of the disadvantages they may face. Our programs are designed to offer wrap-around supports, recognising that often young people need help in more than one area of their lives to move forward and achieve their potential.

We currently deliver 23 programs across three streams:

1. Early intervention – we provide drop-in, school based, outreach and peer-support programs for young people who are in contact with the justice system, disengaged from education or at risk of this, engaging in unsafe behaviours like alcohol and other drug abuse, or experiencing challenges with family and other relationships.
2. Housing and homelessness – we offer a housing support pathway program spanning crisis refuges, semi-independent accommodation and transitional housing. We are also a partner in the delivery of the NSW Government’s Rent Choice Youth program.
3. Education, employment and training – we support young people to remain in education through our alternative education program called Project Educate. We also upskill young people for employment and connect them with jobs through our employment program, which combines a case management approach with work-readiness training and vocational qualifications. We also operate a social enterprise café supporting young people into the hospitality industry through qualifications, traineeships and employment.

The positions

We are seeking applications to fill volunteer Board positions with knowledge or skills/experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Sector experience and leadership in youth services, homelessness, mental health and /or early intervention
• Lived experience in an area that Project Youth works in
• Senior Leadership in Not-For-Profit, corporate or Government organisations
• Proven capability to provide strategic and sound corporate governance oversight
• Finance and Treasury, including growth plans, fundraising and financial sustainability
• A thorough knowledge of the current issues affecting young people, including policy/advocacy

What is expected of Board Directors

• Attend the Board meeting at our Miranda, Menai or Hurstville centres bi-monthly on a Tuesday evening (or via zoom for interstate Directors)
• Review Board papers and other proposals ahead of each Board meeting
• Provide visionary strategic leadership and exceptional governance
• Contribute to decision making and provide advice in your area/s of expertise
• Work towards achieving Project Youth’s strategic and financial goals
• Participate and represent the Board at sub-committee meetings and events as required

Selection process and checks

Project Youth aims to have a Board that is diverse in terms of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, cultural background and lived experience to reflect the communities Project Youth serves. We encourage people with lived experience and/or first nations people to apply, even if you don’t meet the other criteria.

Applications will be assessed against:

• Relevant knowledge and skills/experience identified above
• Expertise in a profession or lived experience that would add value to the Board (including social work, finance, education, legal, mental health, HR, youth work, marketing, health, fundraising, leadership, strategy)
• Previous experience as a Board Director
• The capacity to devote the necessary time to undertake the responsibilities of a director

A selection panel will shortlist applicants and conduct interviews at one of our Youth Centres at a convenient time (or via Zoom for interstate applicants).

Project Youth is committed to implementing safer recruitment practices. This means we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the young people we support and all staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment. As a result, successful applicants will be subject to a number of pre-volunteer checks; including reference checks, a Police check, and a Working with Children check. Please note criminal history does not immediately affect employment opportunities. Applications will be assessed on merit.

How to Apply

Closing Date: 26^th August 2022, 5pm

Please send your resume and a covering letter answering:

1. Briefly outline what you consider to be the most significant challenges disadvantaged young people face, with an detailed exporation of strategic planning, actions and initiatives the board of Project Youth could take as a response to this.

2. Demonstrated ability to provide effective and inspirational executive leadership in a changing environment.

Send your application to Jodie Darge, CEO via email jodie@projectyouth.org.au

For our Annual Report & Strategic Plan please refer to our website www.projectyouth.org.au