Youth Initiative Coordinator

Youth Initiative Coordinator  (Volunteer)

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land across Victoria and Australia.  We respect and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and emerging.  We live, work and play on stolen lands for which sovereignty has never been ceded.

Always has been, always will be Aboriginal land.

Dates                   September 2020 – February 2021 (with potential to extend)

Hours                   Approximately 4 – 6 hours a week, increasing during the Festival and other peak periods. Hours will vary to fit around your other commitments

Remuneration      None – Volunteer role, any relevant expenses covered

Location              Remote working, with regular Zoom meetings

Reports to            Impact Manager

About the role

EFFA is Australia’s leading film festival dedicated entirely to showcasing the world’s best environmental films. Its key point of difference is its community engagement agenda. This includes post-screening panels, activations, engagement campaigns, and projects to facilitate experiences for a local audience. The Impact team is responsible for creating community engagement and participation opportunities and measuring the impact of the festival on audiences in terms of quantifiable actions taken.

This role is specifically designed to increase our engagement and work with Australia’s youth – a community we know is deeply involved in today’s Environmental agenda. The role will design, plan and implement youth initiatives, screenings and campaigns and work with local relevant organisations to create partnerships.

The Youth Initiatives Coordinator will be key in showcasing and celebrating the young people involved in fighting today’s climate emergency.

This is a voluntary position, running from September 2020 to late February 2021 with the possibility of extension. The average time commitment is approximately 4 hours per week, with more time required closer to the festival. Hours will vary and are flexible to suit around your other commitments. You will be predominantly working remotely, with regular virtual meetings throughout the year.

Key responsibilities

• Research ways to engage EFFA’s existing and new youth audiences
• Design, plan and implement youth initiatives, screenings and campaigns
• Watch the films chosen for the program and support researching key issues to identify relevant experts, organisations and calls to action, if needed
• Contact and develop relationships with partner organisations, individual and groups, as agreed with the Impact Manager
• Research campaign ideas and assist in the development of campaign strategies and develop methods to monitor the impact of the festival and its activities
• Connect panellists, facilitators and specially invited guests with each other, ensuring suggested discussion points remain on message and relevant to the film/topic at hand, and ensure they have a highly positive experience at EFFA
• Connect community members, organisations, businesses and specially invited guests with each other, ensuring increased engagement with EFFA’s existing and new audiences

About us

The Environmental Film Festival Australia (EFFA) is an entirely volunteer-run organisation.

EFFA, established in 2010, is more than just a film festival – it’s a catalyst for positive and sustainable change. We inform, inspire, entertain and educate audiences of all ages, sharing films from around the world. Our key mission is to showcase great cinema and art that champions the people, organisations and projects protecting our environment, celebrates nature, flora, fauna and wildlife, and illustrates the unprecedented global threats our world faces, such as climate change, food sustainability, habitat loss and pollution.

Our annual festival includes screenings, art exhibitions, panel discussions, parties and special events. We also run smaller events throughout the year, including digitally. Visit effa.org.au to find out more.

Benefits of volunteering

EFFA has a passionate, values-driven and diverse team who were attracted to the festival for a multitude of reasons: from bringing unique perspectives to the big screen to harnessing their unique skill sets to enact social change. EFFA provides an opportunity to gain experience in a leading arts festival and to help contribute to a better world.  By being part of EFFA, you’ll:

• Inspire audiences of all ages to make positive and sustainable change, as we tackle the biggest challenges the world has ever faced
• Work with and promote the world’s best environmental filmmakers and artists, while being part of one of Australia’s most notable sustainability events
• Complimentary access to EFFA screenings and events

About you

Please note: You must be between the ages of 18 and 25 to be eligible for this role. As someone who keeps up-to-date with local youth environmental organisations, topics, experts and thought-leaders, you will have your finger on the pulse and be brimming with ideas to engage Melbourne’s local and diverse communities with meaningful and impactful experiences.

You are passionate about raising youth voices on the environmental and climate crisis and increasing youth participation to address challenges.

Key selection criteria

Essential

• Experience working on youth impact, activist of change campaigns (through a marketing, social science or lobbying context)
• Experience in coordinating activist campaigns and events, identifying speakers and interesting organisations.
• Knowledge of local youth environmental organisations and groups.
• Experience working with diverse communities.
• Highly organised and a self-starter.
• Passionate about empowering young people by providing them with resources, platforms and professional/personal development opportunities.
• A current Working With Children Check and a Police Check, or willingness to acquire them (at EFFA’s expense)

Desirable

• Experience working in the arts, film, festival, environmental or not-for-profit sector.
• An interest in contemporary environmental issues at a local, national and international level.
• A passion for film, particularly documentaries, shorts and issues-based cinema.

How to apply

To apply, please email your CV and a cover letter detailing how your experience relates to the Key Selection Criteria outlined above and why you would like to volunteer for EFFA to Impact Manager Carolin Saan at carolin@effa.org.au.  Applications are due by Midnight on Wednesday 16 September and will be assessed as they are received so please apply as soon as possible.

We welcome applications from people of all abilities, cultures and backgrounds, however you must be aged between 18 and 25 to be eligible for this role. We encourage Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples to apply. Candidates’ access requirements will be met during the interview process and in an ongoing capacity to ensure success in the role.