SALARY AND BENEFITS

• 0.8 FTE fixed-term contract to 28/02/2025 - 4 days
  
• Be part of a friendly, supportive, and committed team
• This is a SCHADS Level 6 position plus superannuation
  
• Salary Packaging options available
• Currently located in Prahran area
  
• Hybrid working environment with 50% office based

We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, people with lived experience of disability, people from the LGBTIQA+ communities, and applicants of diverse cultural backgrounds, faiths, spiritualities and applicants who speak additional languages as well as English.

Position Overview

The Community of Practice (CoP) Coordinator is responsible for managing consumer workforce activities and initiatives that will strengthen professional development and networking opportunities for consumer workers across Victoria. The CoP Coordinator is an integral part of VMIAC’s Lived and Living Experience Workforce Team which formed in 2022.The CoP Coordinator manages two key workforce initiatives, which have a strong focus on consultation and co-design with consumer workers:

• Co-designing a community of practice for Consumer Consultants in the clinical mental health sector, and
• Developing a bank of consumer workforce position/role descriptions as part of the Lived and Living Experience Workforce Development program.

Over the past 12 months, the work of the CoP Coordinator role has grown in influence and complexity due to stakeholder interface and associated requirements. We are seeking someone who is passionate about consumer leadership, able to manage their own workload and operate under limited direction from senior management. With a passion for workforce development, The CoP Coordinator may also provide ad hoc supervision or reflective practice to other members of the team, such as LLEW Project Workers, to support their skill development.

THIS IS A CONSUMER LIVED AND LIVING EXPERIENCE POSITION

Applicants must be people with lived or living experience of mental health challenges, trauma or emotional distress who have accessed mental health and/or other related services specifically to support their mental health and wellbeing.Applicants must be capable of reflecting on how their own lived experience interacts with that of others; and be able of contributing to the development and implementation of collaborative ways of working.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

Community of Practice

• Supporting and resourcing the sector around the needs of Consumer Consultants specifically, and the consumer workforce more broadly.
• Co-design a Consumer Consultant CoP alongside consumer consultants, and develop a list of recommendations to operationalize the CoP.
• Engage consumers who have been supported by consultants as appropriate during the project.
• Increase the capacity of Consumer Consultants to respond to shared challenges arising in the clinical sector through peer-to-peer reflection and professional skills sharing.
• Encourage and promote increased access to professional development and community opportunities for members of the CoP.
• Promoting the needs of consumer consultants and requirements for sector organisational readiness.
• Collaborate with existing Basecamp CoP for Consumer Consultants and the Statewide Consumer Consultant Council (SCCC).

Position Description Bank

• Collect existing position descriptions and role resources to scope the requirements consumer workforce roles
• Review and adapt position descriptions in consultation with consumer workers to improve role clarity.
• Networking with consumer workers in several disciplines to ensure diverse views are heard and considered as part of project planning, design, delivery and evaluation.
• Plan and facilitate online meetings (including consultations and co-design sessions) that respond to project needs.

Project Management

• Ensure there is always an up-to-date project plan for the Community of Practice and PD Bank initiatives.
• Ensure project evaluation is regularly considered and thoroughly reported.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders, including but not limited to: The Department of Health, Tandem, SHARC, CMHL.
• Contribute to the delivery and evaluation of other LLEW Team projects as required.
• Complete tasks as directed by the LLEW Manager.

Supervision

• Be prepared for, and actively engage in, own supervision.
• Provide support and/or ad hoc supervision to LLEW Project Workers (SCHADS Level 4 or 5) as directed by the LLEW Program Manager

Teamwork

• Consistently demonstrate consumer values when working with others.
• Provide support to the daily functions of the LLEW Team (eg: collaborating with other team members, contributing to meetings, supporting LLEW resource development or events).
• Participate in monthly VMIAC staff/team meetings
• Work under the direction of VMIAC’s Code of Conduct to create a safe and supportive workplace
• Actively contribute to Workplace Health and Safety by taking reasonable care for personal health and the safety of others in the workplace; raising concerns as they arise to ensure a safe work environment for employees, consumers and visitors.

Representation, relationship development and events

• Represent VMIAC in sector forums and conferences as required

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA (TO BE ADDRESSED IN APPLICATION):

Essential

• A lived or living experience of mental health challenges, trauma or emotional distress (as described on Page 2).
• A sound understanding of consumer values.
• Experience or training in consultation, co-design and/or coproduction.
• Sound understanding of consumer workforce experiences and perspectives, with a minimum of one years’ work in a designated consumer or lived/living experience role.
• Demonstrated experience networking with government stakeholders and developing and maintaining collaborative and collegiate organisational partnerships.
• Excellent time management skills and ability to meet project deadlines.
• Confidence working and consulting with diverse communities (including but not limited to: LGBTIQA+, people of refugee backgrounds, people with a disability and First Nations peoples).

Desirable

• Experience working as a Consumer Consultant or understanding of the work of Consumer Consultants.
• Training or qualifications in co-design or co-production.
• Experience in a supervisory or support role for other staff.
• Training in Intentional Peer Support, Cert IV in Mental Health Peer Support or similar.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Use of company vehicle for business purposes.
• Use of company laptop and mobile phone as required.

REFERENCES AND CHECKS, PROBATIONARY PERIOD

• Preferred candidates are required to complete and/or provide Police and Working with Children checks prior to final confirmation and commencement of employment.
• Referees are required and will be contacted for short listed applicants
• This role is subject to a probationary period of six months.

SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT

VMIAC will provide regular supervision and mentoring to the person in this role. All VMIAC roles include training and development opportunities, which can include the development of leadership and other required skills and attendance at conferences.

For enquiries relating to this position, please contact HR Officer, Melissa Jones at [email protected], using the subject line: Community of Practice Coordinator enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.