The Olive Way is a community outreach program of the Brunswick Uniting Church. It is a “drop-in” program open three days each week from 10:00am-1:30pm, hosted in a café style space and adjoining church hall on Sydney Rd, Brunswick.

Olive Way exists to be community sustained by Christian hospitality.

This is achieved by promoting the values of inclusion, acceptance, and respect and by offering hospitality and a listening ear. Olive Way works with other groups and organisations to help provide additional opportunities to engage people’s interests and passions in ways that may enable participants to discover something about themselves.

The Olive Way is inclusive of all people and religious beliefs:

We are not about traditional evangelism. We do not seek to change visitors’ beliefs about religion; or to impress our own beliefs on to others. We see the love, conversation and food offered as a direct way of responding to Jesus’ command to love our neighbour. (The Olive Way Volunteer Handbook, 2008).

The hospitality component of the program includes tea and coffee, light refreshments, toasted sandwiches, and a cooked lunch. These are provided by a team of volunteers and the Olive Way pastor.

Olive Way Partner organisations and groups

The Olive Way partners with groups and organisations with similar and complimentary goals. This includes other organisations operating in the local Brunswick area, as well as smaller groups that operate alongside Olive Way, offering programs and activities that help further enrich the lives of our participants. In recent years these have included art, theatre, writing, dance/movement, and gardening groups.

About the role

The Operations Coordinator is a part time position (13hrs, with some flexibility). The position commences in mid-January 2022 and runs until 31 December 2024, unless extended by agreement of both parties.

The purpose of the Olive Way Operations Coordinator position is to:

• Coordinate the Olive Way program on a day-to-day basis
• Ensure safety by maintaining a safe, inclusive, accepting and respectful environment
• The provision and supply of food and beverages
• Train, support, and recruit volunteers
• Work collaboratively with the Pastor Olive Way to help develop the Olive Way
• Identify new avenues of support for participants
• Communicate with and share the work of Olive Way with the Brunswick UC congregation and the community through storytelling and information sharing.

Please also see the attached Position Description for an expanded list of typical tasks in each of these areas of responsibility.

What we are looking for

Further detail can be found on the full position description. Some key requirements for the role are as follows:

• Experience managing volunteers is essential
• Experience working with people across the socio-economic spectrum, including marginalised and vulnerable people, is essential
• Excellent interpersonal skills are essential
• Willingness and ability to work within the ethos of the Uniting Church is essential
• A degree in community development, social work, or other relevant area – or significant experience in a similar role – is desirable

Link to the Website: Olive Way Operations Coordinator role on the Brunswick Uniting Church website.

To apply click Apply Now and follow the instructions.