Friends Matter is dedicated to the professional delivery of the PEERS® social skills training program for adolescents and young adults. We assist teens and adults with autism/Asperger’s, ADHD, intellectual disability and social anxiety who are experiencing social isolation due to challenges resulting from these conditions. 

PEERS® is a 16-week evidence-based social skills course that teaches people with social challenges how to make and keep friends. It is rules based with each week’s lesson building upon previous skills taught. Student appointed advocates (usually parents) are also provided with skills to support the participant during and beyond the life of the course.

We are seeking a Social Educator/PEERS® Consultant to work three half days per week providing face to face delivery of our teen program (Tues - Thurs from 4:30-6:00pm), and group based parent support via lunchtime ZOOM sessions. Your total weekly commitment will be 17 hrs (including admin) for 32 weeks of the year. The start date is mid July 2021.

Our courses are weekly and run twice per year FEB - JUNE and JULY - NOV, with teen groups breaking for school holidays. Opportunities to eventually expand these hours may be available for the right person.

About you:

• Ideally, you will hold a teaching or youth based qualification with experience in classroom delivery and/or youth coaching or mentoring.
• You will have PEERS® Certification or be willing to train.
• Your basic counselling skills will help you to navigate parent/consultant interactions.
• You will have an interest in and understanding of autism, ADHD, and social anxiety. A lived experience of any of these challenges will be highly regarded.
• You will be a confident, committed self-starter and have a proven ability to build strong rapport with teenagers and confidently connect with their parents/carers.
• You will be highly organised with attention to detail.
• Your dedication to providing outstanding service and going “above and beyond” will place you high on our candidate list as will your positive social outlook, and warm sense of humour.
• Excellent punctuality is essential as is a willingness to build your reputation as an outstanding service provider.

As a consultant:

• You will have access to your own up to date computer and printer as well as reliable transport.
• You will be willing to professionally promote the delivery of the PEERS® program through Friends Matter.
• You will have suitable space available to work from home (computer based only), as well as provide face to face lessons to teens, 3 afternoons per week in Chatswood.
• You will be familiar with PowerPoint and ZOOM, have an ABN and be willing to obtain public liability and professional indemnity insurance prior to commencement.
• You hold a current Working with Children Check and a current First Aid Certificate.

In return, Friends Matter will reward you with excellent remuneration plus 9.5% superannuation, workers compensation, ongoing support, training, and the opportunity to earn a casual income that will provide you with a work/life balance that you’ll never want to surrender.