• Work Type/s: Contract position 3-9 hours per week (school hours) during government school terms
• Industry: Education & Training/Not-for-Profit
• Area: Sydney CBD and occasionally at a secondary school
• Salary: $50 per hour

The Australian Business and Community Network (ABCN) is a not-for-profit organisation that partners education with business through the development and delivery of mentoring programs for students from high-needs schools. Entirely business-funded, ABCN is made up of over 40 member companies that represent a breadth of industries and include well-recognised, national and global organisations. We are led by an experienced body of CEOs who actively participate in business and education partnerships and support their employees to do the same. Together we share a common vision to create positive change in the community.

Our focus is to improve opportunities and outcomes for disadvantaged students with the aim to raise awareness of the wider range of personal, educational and vocational choices.

This is achieved through the development of structured programs that involve business professionals mentoring students in a corporate environment.

Examples of ABCN programs include:

GOALS (Growing Opportunities and Learning Skills)

GOALS is a one-on-one mentoring program designed to raise the aspirations of students in their middle year of high school. The aim is to broaden awareness of the personal, educational and vocational choices available, maintain student engagement at school and encourage the completion of Year 12 and further tertiary study. Students are matched with a corporate mentor in sessions that include setting goals, communication, managing finances and preparation for the workforce.

Focus

The Focus program provides young women from high-needs schools with the essential leadership skills they need to engage in a successful, meaningful career. Female executive role models mentor the students in small groups to develop their skills and build their confidence, encouraging them to aspire to senior roles in business and the community. Participants may already be holding leadership positions or are about to enter into leadership positions in their schools.

Interview 2 Impress (i2i)

The i2i program is a one-day workshop that equips students from high-needs schools with the essential interview skills needed to engage in employment options beyond school. The facilitated sessions build students’ understanding of job interview techniques and processes. It also allows students to experience realistic interview scenarios in a corporate environment by working with mentors who are able to provide feedback and advice based on their own job interview experiences.

Key Role Responsibilities

Prepare for, and facilitate, ABCN programs to business volunteers and secondary school students in a corporate setting. Workshops are either 90 minutes, two hours or three hours depending on the program. The activities involve teaching content, directing and managing interactive activities and games, overseeing group work, and stimulating group conversation and feedback.

Collect program evaluations electronically (participants use their device and a QR code to access their survey via the Survey Monkey Platform), summarise and communicate outcomes.

Qualifications and Knowledge

Essential

• High quality presentation/facilitation/training skills, applied creatively in workshops to ensure an interactive and engaging experience for the participants.
• Organisation & planning and self-management skills; team-building and problem-solving skills, and the ability to adapt to meet the needs of diverse groups of participants.
• Capacity to be equally comfortable within a school or corporate setting.
• Good availability across Tuesday to Thursday is required. The majority of workshops occur between the hours of 10.00am and 2.00pm (some weeks there may be one workshop to facilitate, other weeks there may be up to three).

Preferred

• Tertiary qualifications in education, training, facilitation or related fields.
• Demonstrated understanding and working knowledge of the principles and practices of training and development. This includes experience facilitating interactive and team-based training programs to a diverse audience (all ages, cultures, background).
• Demonstrated interest in business and community engagement principles and programs.

A full position description is available below.