Befriend is a Perth-based non-profit nurturing inclusive, connected, thriving communities. We’re currently looking for a warm-hearted community organiser to help grow community spirit in Swan’s urban growth corridor!

About Befriend

Since its launch in 2010, Befriend has grown to become a powerful change agent in the space of relationships and inclusion. Our grass-roots community building initiatives have sparked 15,000+ West Australians to take action to nurture community connection, and our work in partnership with citizens, community organisations, researchers and government is changing the conversation around the power of community. We’re continuing to develop our capability to contribute towards systemic change.

About the Team

We are a small but mighty team, working in a fairly flat organisational structure, trusting and supporting each other to work autonomously and make informed decisions. We are avid learners, experimenters, collaborators and do-ers. We aspire to develop Befriend as a radically-inclusive, participatory organisation that values the contributions of all, and acts with intention to create spaces for autonomy, connection, growth and fun!

Position Purpose

Swan’s urban growth corridor has seen significant development in recent years. Extensive new housing developments mean that many local residents are new to the area, and the community is in its early stages of developing strong local networks. Befriend’s Community Building team have been working in partnership with local residents to kick-start new community groups, events and neighbourhood connection initiatives. Due to some role changes within the Befriend Team, an opportunity has opened up for a new teammate to join us!

The Community Building Support Partner will work alongside our Swan Community Builder, assisting in our work supporting local residents to bring their community connecting ideas to life. You will engage with community members, explore their ideas for connecting their community, and provide personal and practical assistance to help them turn their ideas into realities.

We anticipate your role will involve a mix of personalised support (talking with community members about possibilities and plans), promotional support (creating and sharing compelling communications) and administrative support (coordinating tasks, developing resources, refining grant applications etc).

The key responsibilities of this role:

• Relationship building - Developing supportive relationships with Swan residents from diverse backgrounds, learning about their values, interests and hopes, and exploring their ideas for enriching community life
• Administrative support - Documenting and tracking the range of tasks needed to assist community members in bringing their ideas to fruition. Reviewing, editing and refining various documents including grant applications, sponsorship request letters and resources for community organisers
• Promotional support - Creating and sharing content across a range of channels to communicate and raise community awareness of new groups, events and activities
• Story recording and co-valuation - Collecting data and stories of personal and community change arising through the community building activities, to inspire more community involvement, enrich team learning, and assist with funder reporting
• Team support - Collaborating closely with the Swan Community Builder, embracing each other’s unique gifts and strengths, and supporting each other’s learning and contributions to best serve the Swan community

Expected Activities:

Each day of community building is different, but we expect the range of activities and duties over time will include:

• Attending meetings with local residents, community organisations, businesses and local networks to explore new possibilities for community-led action
• Documenting meeting notes and coordinating follow-up actions to help new community projects develop momentum
• Co-hosting community conversation groups and workshops that create nurturing contexts for local residents to envision, plan and consider possibilities for their community
• Supporting community members to plan, design, promote and undertake new community groups, neighbourhood events and community-connecting activities
• Connecting local residents with other potential collaborators, organisations and resources that might help their community enrichment ideas to come to life
• Creating new resources that provide information and guidance to community organisers on common challenges and opportunities
• Assisting community members with grant applications and sponsorship requests
• Using Befriend evaluation materials to collect data and stories
• Coordinating tasks together with the Swan Community Builder to ensure all community-led initiatives are well supported
• Co-learning and sharing with our Community Building Team who are working across diverse contexts and projects

The Swan Community is looking for:

• A naturally warm-hearted connector who enjoys meeting and getting to know people from diverse ages, backgrounds and lived experiences
• An open-minded, open-hearted person
• Someone who is highly organised, able to self-manage and work autonomously
• A team player, who is excited to work in a supportive partnership with our experienced and energetic Swan Community Builder
• A skilled wordsmith who creates clear and compelling communications
• Someone who is confident working with a range of digital tools (including social media, Canva, Mailchimp, Asana and the Google Suite)
• Someone who is happy and able to flex their time to connect with residents and colleagues at different times of the week/weekend
• Familiarity with the Swan urban growth corridor. Experience living, working or playing in the local area (Brabham, Dayton, Bennett Springs, Caversham) is preferable but not essential
• First hand experience supporting new community-led groups or neighbourhood initiatives is preferable but not essential

Please note this role requires provision of (or willingness and ability to obtain) a current valid National Police Clearance and Working with Children Check.

Position details:

• Part-time position (0.4 FTE) on a fixed-term contract to 31 December 2025, with the possibility of extension
• Salary $71,616 pro rata, plus 11.5% employer superannuation contribution
• Optional salary packaging of up to $15,900 in tax-free pay per year
• Four weeks annual leave plus bonus Christmas leave period
• A team of passionate, community-minded folks to support you in your development. Read more about our team and work culture here.
• Work where you want, when you want, how you want. You do you.

For questions about this role, please contact Nick on 0421 061 042 or [email protected] using the subject line: Swan's Community Building Support Partner enquiry via EthicalJobs.

We recognise that not everyone has access to the same educational and employment opportunities. Societal attitudes and systemic barriers can create real challenges when it comes to feeling confident to apply for a new role. Whilst this role has specific qualities and experiences that we are seeking, please be assured that our recruitment team consider all applicants holistically. We know that strength comes with diversity, and welcome all unique applicants from all backgrounds and life experiences. If you’re feeling unsure about your suitability, you’re welcome to get in touch with our team for a friendly phone chat.