Young Carer Support Coordinator (Peer Support)

Career Description

Hello! We’re Little Dreamers, Australia’s leading non-profit organisation working with Young Carers around the country. 

A Young Carer is anyone under the age of 25 who currently provides, or intends to provide, care in their family for a parent or sibling who has a chronic illness, mental illness, disability or addiction.

Founded in 2009 by a Young Carer, we love building and delivering high quality programs that create deep and meaningful impact in the lives of young people providing care in their families. And we’re pretty good at it too. 

To date, we have supported over 5,000 Young Carers, we deliver eight core programs alongside ad hoc supports, advocacy and community awareness campaigns. We have strong corporate partnership and funding relationships and have raised over $5 million to improve the quality of life for Young Carers around Australia. 

We have even received recognition from Queen Elizabeth II and have been named as an internationally best practice organisation for Young Carer support.

Our team is made up of 50 incredible humans working across VIC, NSW, QLD. We are humble, hungry, kind and work hard to reach our goals. We believe in a world where every single Young Carer is supported by someone or something by 2030. Sounds fun right?!

By joining the Dream Team, you will play an integral part in supporting young people who often miss out on having a childhood.

About the role

As a Young Carer Support Coordinator, you play a pivotal role in providing key support to Young Carers engaged in Peer Support in the Bundaberg region.

Your daily tasks involve conducting intakes and Carer Stars, forming Peer Support groups, and personally delivering in-person sessions within your designated catchment area.

Balancing intake processes, administrative duties, and hands-on delivery ensures your close involvement in the impactful innovation of Peer Support programs tailored to meet the needs of the Young Carers under your care.

Safeguarding Children and Young People

We take safeguarding children and young people seriously, and as an employee of Little Dreamers, you are required to meet the behaviour standards outlined in our Code of Conduct. As a part of your duties and responsibilities, you are also required to:

• Foster a welcoming and secure environment for children and young individuals.
• Prioritise the safety and well-being of children and young people whom we work with.
• Ensure that your interactions with children and young people are both positive and secure.
• Provide adequate care and supervision for children and young people under your responsibility.
• Serve as a positive role model for children and young people.
• Notify management of any suspicions, concerns, allegations, or disclosures of alleged abuse, whether involving personnel or external individuals.
• Report any policy violations by fellow personnel, regardless of their severity, to management.
• Take action and report any incidents of racism according to our Code of Conduct.
• Support children and young people in expressing their culture and enjoying their cultural rights. 
• Maintain up-to-date documentation of a valid Working with Children Check (or equivalent). 
• Undergo periodic checks of ‘national criminal history records’. 
• Inform management of any criminal charges or convictions received during the course of your employment that may pose a potential risk to children and young individuals.

Core Responsibilities

Intake and Registration (40%)

• Ensure Young Carers meet the eligibility requirements for accessing services and supports;
• Registration of Young Carers into Carelink;
• Utilise the Carer Support Framework and Carer Star to complete intake, assessment and planning;
• Conduct Risk assessments, including assessment of suicide risk and violence risk, develop action and
  safety plans to mitigate any risks, providing follow up support if required, and communicating all risk
  with the Peer Support Practice Lead; and
• Provide Young Carers and their family with information on internal and external programs/services
  ensuring referral pathways for Young Carers as required.

Peer Support Group Delivery (40%)

• Lead facilitation of In-Person Peer Support Groups within your targeted area, including monitoring resource levels and ordering more when required, setting up and packing down venues, and complying with all venue requirements;
• Adapt structured session plans to meet the needs of each group of Young Carers, creating a safe and inclusive support environment for participants;
• Create a space where Young Carers feel comfortable to share and reflect on their experiences;
• Work within the Carer Gateway Peer Support and the CHIME Framework to deliver impactful Peer Support groups; and
• Utilise your own lived experience (where applicable) to explore topics related to Young Carers and their caring roles.

Group Management and Administration (15%)

• Following a deep understanding of the Young Carers in your catchment area, develop Peer Support Groups of similar size, with Young Carers with commonalities including attending the same school, or caring for the same type of person;
• Communicate all group allocation information to Young Carers and their families as required;
• Regularly communicate with Young Carers participating in Peer Support Groups regarding engagement and attendance; and
• Input all necessary information into Carelink.

Data Analysis, Reporting and Community Engagement (5%)

• Collect and report on data related to Peer Support program delivery, outcomes and program effectiveness; and
• Prepare regular reports for internal stakeholders, highlighting key achievements and areas for improvement.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with community organisations, support groups, and stakeholders to enhance the reach and impact of Peer Support services;
• Collaborate with our Carer Gateway consortia partners (as required) to identify opportunities for collaboration and resource-sharing.