• (0.8FTE)

Summary of position

MIC receives funding under the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) as well as funding under the Victorian Home and Community Care Program for Younger Persons (HACC-PYP) to deliver the Access and Support (A&S) Program in the Eastern Metropolitan Region of Melbourne (EMR).

The A&S Program works with people aged over 65 years and people with disabilities aged under 65 years and their carers who face barriers to accessing services due to their diversity. Diversity is defined as people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, dementia and people who are socially and financially disadvantaged, people who identify as LGBTIQ, veterans, people living in remote areas, people who are care leavers and parents who were separated from their children by forced adoption or removal.

The program provides short term, individual support to help people to remain living at home independently and/or to access services that best meet their needs, as well as identifying gaps in service provision and developing appropriate responses. The MIC’s A&S Program is one of approximately 50 similar programs in Victoria and one of 7 in the EMR. The position is currently funded to June 30th 2023, with a possible extension to June 30th 2024.

Background

Migrant Information Centre (Eastern Melbourne) provides support to people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds residing in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. The region covers the Local Government Areas of Boroondara, Whitehorse, Manningham, Maroondah, Knox, Yarra Ranges and Monash. MIC is managed through a Board of Directors.

The centre’s objectives include:

• provide poverty support and emergency relief programs to CALD families and individuals;
• to deliver post arrival services relevant to new migrants and refugees in the Eastern Region, as to ensure effective local settlement and orientation;
• enhance direct provision of settlement services to migrants in the Eastern Melbourne Region (the region);
• provide a primary focus for settlement planning, coordination and delivery in the region, with the objective of ensuring effective and culturally sensitive service provision to CALD individuals, families and communities by mainstream agencies;
• enhance existing links with and between a range of service providing agencies in the region;
• identify service gaps and/or shortfalls in relation to individuals and families from CALD backgrounds by mainstream agencies within the region and to provide advice and assistance related to appropriate service delivery in the development of new, alternative or additional services for people from CALD backgrounds to bridge gaps and shortfalls;
• assess duplication of service within all areas of migrant settlement and to facilitate an effective network grid for the minimisation of duplicate services;
• provide support and assistance to CALD community leaders and groups in the region, including auspicing groups where appropriate to undertake activities that reflect the values and objects of the MIC, where they do not have the means to apply for funding or facilitate activities on their own.
• investigate technology-based solutions for the provision of information on services available within the region to the wider community; and
• carry on any other activity which in the opinion of the majority of the Board of Directors would comprise the spirit and intent of the Board.

MIC has a strong commitment to ensuring that all children and young people accessing the MIC are safe, listened to and protected and that all Child Safe Standards are reflected in our day-to-day work practices.

Key Duties of the Access and Support Worker

• Provide information and support to older people aged over 65 years and younger people aged under 65 years who have a disability to assist them to access services where they face barriers due to their diversity
• Develop effective links with diverse communities and individuals and the services that support them across the EMR
• Provide information about aged care and disability services and the broader service system for diverse communities and individuals, including facilitating information sessions and forums for groups
• Work collaboratively with Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) and Home and Community Care Program for Younger Persons (HACC-PYP) funded services to facilitate and promote improved client access and support to meet the needs of A&S clients
• Complete all client recording and reporting requirements

Key Selection Criteria

Essential

• Experience in working in the community sector in a direct service provision role supporting people from diverse backgrounds
• An understanding of diversity issues as they relate to individuals and their engagement with community, government and health services
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated experience in delivering client focused services
• Demonstrated experience in working collaboratively with a range of service providers in the community sector with a specific focus on aged care and disability support services
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent computer skills
• Demonstrated ability to apply a practical solution-focused approach to problem solving.
• Current driver’s licence

Desirable

• Knowledge and experience in working in Aged Care services in Victoria, including experience working with My Aged Care and knowledge of the Home Care Common Standards
• Knowledge and experience of the HACC-PYP, NDIS and disability support services
• Familiarity with the Home Care Common Standards
• Tertiary qualification in Social Work, Community Services, Community Welfare or other relevant discipline
• Ability to speak a language other than English

position dimensions

• All offers of employment at the MIC are subject to a three month probationary period and a satisfactory police check, working with children’s check and only open to those who have had at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccination prior to commencement of employment
• The A&S Program is currently funded at MIC to June 30th 2023
• This position reports to the MIC Senior Project Officer
• All MIC staff work in co-operation with other staff and volunteers of the MIC