Resilient Lismore seeks Wellbeing and Welfare Coordinator

by Social Futures Community Hub | 8, Jun 2022 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, Employment opportunities

Resilient Lismore is seeking a a Wellbeing and Welfare Coordinator to be based in Lismore. It is a part-time position, 25 hours per week, with occasional Saturday work. It is a12 week fixed-term, with possible extension based on funding.
Award: Level 4.1 SCHADS Salary: $74,000 – $82,000 per annum (pro rata) depending on experience, plus 10% superannuation and 17.5% leave loading.

About Resilient Lismore

Resilient Lismore is a grassroots, community-led organisation that first formed as Lismore Helping Hands during the 2017 floods in Lismore, NSW. It is a community based charitable organisation supporting Lismore residents and businesses in their recovery by connecting them with volunteer help, donated goods and materials, information and services. Our purpose is to mitigate the impacts of poverty, disadvantage and suffering that result from natural disasters, through the mobilisation of
both spontaneous and formal offers of help in the recovery effort.

Position Summary

Under guidance of the Executive Director, this role will coordinate the wellbeing activities of Resilient Lismore. This role will coordinate the provision of trauma-informed, low intensity interventions, that include individually tailored psychological and social wellbeing support, referrals and practical recovery assistance.

Dependent on successful funding from the Healthy North Coast (HNC) Community Wellbeing and
Resilience Grant Fund, this role may be extended for up to two years to manage project
implementation of ‘Above Water’ a community outreach and wellbeing project for flood impacted
residents. The outcome of the application should be known in July / August.

About the ‘Above Water’ Project

‘Above Water’ will cover a range of activities:
1. Low intensity interventions providing individually tailored psychological and social wellbeing support/referrals and practical community-based rebuild solutions.
2. Empower vulnerable residents through co-design processes to lead, network, build social capital and strengthen community connectedness using soft entry points (workshops, skills building, creative arts).
3. Build an experienced disaster recovery workforce. Enhance skills / capabilities through training and experiential learning.. Mentor emerging leaders, and volunteers with a lived flood experience to actively engage in their own recovery while supporting the community’s recovery.
4. Coordinate collaborative approaches, improve communication, respond to needs and co-create innovative responses through developing and chairing the Lismore Wellbeing Collective, our advocacy work and working with collaborators and recovery involved organisations.
5. Offer wrap-around trauma-informed care with partnerships addressing emerging needs, e.g. assisting flood-affected community workers with pro bono professional supervision through Australian professional membership associations.

Reporting

The Wellbeing & Welfare Coordinator reports to the Executive Director, and works closely with the
other core coordinators (Volunteer Coordinator, Recovery Coordinator, Field Coordinator) and the
Operations Manager.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Community Wellbeing
● Support well being and debrief processes for RL volunteers and staff
● Under guidance from the ED, coordinate community outreach and wellbeing activities for flood impacted residents in order to connect them with a wide range of support.
● Coordinate provision of timely trauma-informed support to community members, and respond to referrals and requests for support.
● Coordinate warm referrals to mental health and other wellbeing services as required.
● Ensure a culturally safe environment for flood affected community members.
● Implement strategies to improve awareness of support, mental health and wellbeing services available to the community.
● Monitor and report on emerging community wellbeing and mental health needs.
● Oversee the accurate collation and publishing of wellbeing services and information on the Flood Help NR website and social media, with the Communications Officer.

Team Management

● Manage a small team of wellbeing volunteers.
● Alongside the Executive Director and Recovery Coordinator, assist with the management of
up to 20 university placements students (from July), and complete any reports and
supervision requirements (noting that supervision will primarily be provided by the
University).
● Respond to any issues or feedback from volunteers or students, and raise issues as
necessary with the Executive Director or University as required.
● Work with Volunteer Coordinator to ensure volunteers complete timesheets.
● Ensure well being volunteers are appropriately trained/briefed on dealing with flood affected community members, including identifying training needs (e.g. Accidental Counsellor, Mental Health First Aid).
● Work with Volunteer Coordinator to improve Resilient Lismore volunteer support / wellbeing, and develop a check-in tool and debrief process for Resilient Lismore volunteers.
● If HNC grant is successful, assist the ED and Operations Manager with recruitment of staff, including developing job descriptions.

Partnerships & Community Engagement

● Coordinate and chair the Lismore Wellbeing Collective, which aims to improve communication between local community groups and co-create innovative responses to community needs.
● Assist with writing project proposals and grant applications as required.

Compliance

● Contribute to the development, review and implementation of policies and procedures relevant to the project and the organisation.

Above Water Project Management

● If HNC funding is successful during the initial contract term, it is expected you will work with the Executive Director to review and finalise the project implementation plan, and assist with staff recruitment and implementation as appropriate within realistic timeframes. As stated above, it is anticipated that if HNC funding is secured, this role will be extended and be
responsible for project implementation over the two year period. This will require the role
responsibilities and deliverables to be revised in line with the funded project.

Other

● Assist with other duties as requested by the ED.

ABOUT YOU – Selection Criteria

● Tertiary qualifications and at least 3 years’ experience in social work, community welfare, psychology, mental health or similar.
● Training and experience in delivering trauma-informed care and support.
● Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
● Strong collaborator with experience in community, client and stakeholder engagement.
● Project management skills and ability to work creatively to recommend solutions and strategies to achieve project outcomes.
● Excellent organisational and time-management skills with the ability to prioritise.

Desirable

● A Lismore or Northern Rivers based person is desirable.
● Team leadership experience

To apply:

This is initially an internal application process available to people who have registered with Resilient Lismore, but may be opened to the wider public depending on the number of suitable candidates. If you are interested, please call Elly on 0418 639 927 to discuss this role and the ‘Above Water’ project in more detail.
Ideally this candidate will be willing to take on the Above Water project coordination if HNC funding is successful, but we can be flexible if the ideal candidate does not wish to take on the longer term project.

To apply, your application must include:
● A 1-2 page EOI that addresses the selection criteria and highlights your suitability and interest in the position
● A resume with at least two professional referees
Applications are due midnight Sunday 19th June 2022 to Elly Bird at [email protected]
We are an LGBTIQA+ friendly organisation and provide a safe, equitable and enjoyable workplace.
Wellbeing