Community Engagement Coordinator
Career Description
Our Melbourne based Community Engagement Coordinator leads community engagement efforts to support referrals into Little Dreamers’ services. Reporting to the Young Carer Engagement Lead, the role focuses on outreach, connecting with ‘hidden’ Young Carers and facilitating their access to support. It also involves promoting inclusion, strengthening community capacity and fostering connected, healthy communities.
Let’s talk about you!
This role requires strong networking and relationship building abilities, effective stakeholder collaboration and professional representation of Little Dreamers. Strong verbal and written communication skills, including report writing and public speaking are essential. Experience in the Young Carer space, supporting vulnerable youth or having lived experience as a Young Carer, along with connections to schools or support networks would be highly beneficial.
Core Responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities of this role include, but are not limited to:
Outreach, Identification and Promotion:
- Create opportunities to identify Young Carers and communities and support them to access the services and support;
- Work closely with the relevant State Manager to understand the program needs of the team and then plan community engagement activities to facilitate engagement in those programs;
- Identify opportunities and support the delivery of events for target groups to increase the profile of Little Dreamers;
- Participate in, and represent Little Dreamers in local interagencies, advisory groups and professional networks, and the wider local community to promote the organisation, referral pathways and support strategies to build sector capacity and awareness;
- Represent Little Dreamers at industry expos and other awareness events;
- Work in collaboration with stakeholders, including Carer Gateway partners where appropriate;
- Identify opportunities to enhance community engagement;
- Provide internal support and training to Little Dreamers’ staff members on the approaches to community engagement; and
- Create an evaluation framework to assess effectiveness of strategies for community engagement.
Young Carer Engagement:
- Engage with Young Carers to facilitate referrals to Little Dreamers programs;
- Provide Carers with information on internal and external programs/services ensuring referral pathways for Carers and their families;
- Ensure referrals and service confirmation is provided to state based teams with accurate and complete information that allow for the timely commencement of services;
- Support Young Carers with a high level of customer service ensuring Young Carers are listened to with patience and non-judgement;
- Attend programs and assist with delivery throughout the year to experience the vision, mission and impact of Little Dreamers; and
- Create an environment that Carers will find welcoming, real and inclusive.
Other duties as required by the Young Carer Engagement Lead.
Key Selection Criteria
- Ability to build relationships from the ground up and network effectively within the community
- An ability to liaise, consult and negotiate effectively including an ability to encourage participation and develop effective partnerships with stakeholders
- Proven ability and experience in representing organisations
- Effective communication skills, verbal and written, including the ability to develop reports, public speaking and conference presentations
- Strong focus on excellent customer service
- Understand the importance of client confidentiality
- An understanding and demonstrated commitment to social inclusion and diversity
We’ll be stoked if you also have this experience or knowledge:
- Understanding of the carer or Young Carer space
- Direct experience working with vulnerable young people
- Lived experience as a Young Carer
- Established connections with local schools or Young Carer support networks
We’re looking for someone who is committed to being a humble, hungry and kind human, who is friendly, excited by the Little Dreamers purpose and mission, positive, proactive and action-oriented.
* Please include experiences within community and volunteer positions, we value your community contributions.
Benefits
When you join the Little Dreamers Team, you join a community of people committed to making a difference. We come together with shared values, passion and a collaborative culture. We are a rapidly growing organisation with access to a lot of development opportunities. We operate within a leadership structure that accepts and embraces everyone’s ideas and hard work to create the world that we want to see for Young Carers.
You also get access to salary sacrifice packaging, internal EAP program, up to 10 days of paid carers leave, and generous parental leave packages.
Application Process
Get your Resume and Cover Letter ready and show us how your skills and experiences make you the perfect person to fill this position. None of this “To whom it may concern” stuff, show us what you’ve got!
Email your application (resume and cover letter) to careers@littledreamers.org.au with the subject line: Community Engagement Coordinator
Shortlisted applicants will be notified and we’ll begin the interview process which may consist of a phone chat and then probably some more traditional interviews (they’ll be fun, don’t you worry).
Classification
This position is classified as a Level 3, permanent part time (22.8 hours per week) employee under the Social Community Home Care and Disability Industry Award 2010 (MA000100).
