Are you motivated to help have a positive impact of people's lives?

Are you passionate about health, fitness and wellbeing?

Do you enjoying working with people from all walks of life?

This is an exciting opportunity to support the running and growth of our weekly Community Street Soccer Program Dandenong. This is a 3 hr/week role, which includes a weekly 2hr training session starting 4pm each Tuesday.

ABOUT THE BIG ISSUE COMMUNITY STREET SOCCER PROGRAM

The Big Issue Australia is an independent, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting and creating work opportunities for people experiencing homelessness, marginalisation and disadvantage.

The Community Street Soccer Program, known as Street Soccer, is an initiative of The Big Issue that uses the power of sport to change lives. Street Soccer promotes social inclusion and personal change for participants by providing support and promoting participation, inclusiveness, commitment and team spirit.

The heart of Street Soccer is weekly training sessions held across Australia. Participants get together in a safe and non-threatening environment, allowing them to get fit, make new friends and seek support and advice.

Through the program, we engage people who in many cases have given up on counselling and traditional support systems and services. Our support staff also work closely with players, linking them to services that address issues including homelessness, substance abuse, family breakdown and mental illness.

ABOUT THE ROLE - COACH

The main responsibility of the Coach is to run weekly training sessions that will incorporate some stretching, simple fitness work skills, a match, discussing engaging health promotion activities and promoting the program to key stakeholders in the local area.

The most critical aspect of the role is connecting with the participants and providing them with direction and encouragement to develop and grow as individuals in our community. Some of the players may be experiencing homelessness, mental illness, substance abuse or be generally at risk. This is a role that allows you to use your interpersonal and communication skills to motivate people in difficult circumstances, helping them set themselves achievable goals and encouraging them to seek support for the issues that they may be facing.

The Coach will work with other staff to ensure the performance and growth of the Community Street Soccer Program. This will include supporting the coordination of volunteers and developing the program to meet strategic objectives including health promotion.

Demonstrated experience in a sport or community role would be highly regarded, but not essential. We are looking for someone with a maturity in their attitude, confidence and natural communication skills to work easily with our clients, other staff members and volunteers

Key Results Areas

1. Support the program Coordinator  in the delivery of weekly training sessions
2. Conduct training sessions each week completing components of training as outlined by the National Coach (includes formal introduction, skills session, physical training, health promotion, game component and summary)
3. Provide a level of informal mentoring and role modelling to players at training
4. Encourage and facilitate peer support
5. Develop regular opportunities for participants to take responsibility of sessions and events
6. Work collaboratively with the program Coordinator to develop and run events and activities that allow players to demonstrate the skills and attitude they have developed in the program
7. Support the coordination of a team of volunteers to support training sessions
8. Complete administrative requirements, as required, which includes filling out players code of conducts, attendance records and incident report forms; and
9. Promote the program to a range of support services and recruit participants to the program.

Key Skills and Knowledge

• Highly developed interpersonal skills
• Identifiable leadership skills
• Ability to conduct a basic soccer training session using your personality and creativity to make participants feel relaxed, engaged and welcome
• Ability to work and motivate people facing difficulties in their lives
• Ability to engage and develop relationships with people experiencing disadvantage
• Ability to provide informal mentoring and act as a role model to program participants
• Ability to make sessions fun and challenging for players of all abilities and varied intellectual and physical capabilities
• Ability to engage and develop relationships with community agencies
• Knowledge of local services available to people experiencing disadvantage and the ability to refer players to these organisations
• Some understanding of factors in health and wellbeing of people experiencing homelessness, including people with substance abuse issues and mental illness
• Experience in running leisure recreational activities for people experiencing disadvantage (desirable)

AWARD

The Social, Community, Home care and Disability Services Industry (SCHADS) Award applies to this role - Level 2.2

OUR VALUES

• We treat all people with dignity and respect
• We operate ethically and with integrity
• We think creatively and without limits
• We strive for continuous improvement
• We apply prudent financial and business practices
• We are economically, environmentally and socially responsible
• We value, encourage and support our employees

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, welcoming people with disability or lived experience, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, people from the LGBTQI+ community and those people who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander to our team. When you join The Big Issue, we will value each individual's unique contribution.

How to apply for this job

To apply, please send a copy of your CV and a cover letter briefly addressing the key skills and knowledge listed above

Applications may close earlier if the right applicant is found prior.

Any questions email:

For any queries about the role, please contact Gemma Pidutti [email protected] using the subject line: Community Street Soccer Program Coach - Dandenong Women's enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Prior to an offer of employment all applicants must undertake a National Police Check.