ABOUT Us

Children First Foundation (CFF) is a Victorian-based charity that believes every child is entitled to excellent medical treatment and holistic care irrespective of where they were born.

• Values: We are compassionate, respectful, ethical, equitable and courageous
• Vision: We picture a world where every child can access excellent medical care wherever they live.
• Mission: Children First Foundation facilitates life-changing surgery for disadvantaged children from developing countries.

Through our Miracle sMiles program, we facilitate life-changing and, at times, life-saving surgery in Australia for children from developing countries. We collaborate with exceptional surgeons, hospitals and health professionals who provide this first-class treatment and care.

We partner with individuals and non-profit organisations such as Interplast Australia and New Zealand, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, ROMAC, and No Roads Foundation, who refer children to us.

The Foundation’s administration is based in Melbourne city. Children and their guardians, pre and postsurgery are currently cared for through child-safe locations, like Ronald McDonald House. Although surgery is predominantly undertaken in Melbourne, Craniofacial surgery primarily takes place in Adelaide.

It is an exciting and opportunistic time to join Children First Foundation. The Board, CEO and team have entered into a new strategic planning process to treat more children in Australia and overseas. The Program Coordinator will work very closely with the Miracle sMiles Manager, and volunteers to support guardians caring for children (who are from cross-cultural backgrounds and have complex medical needs), organising any support services needed and facilitating the care of children receiving surgical care in Adelaide

The Position

You may at times, when volunteers are not available, be required to do airport pick-ups/drop-offs, hospital admissions/discharge appointments and other travel to support the organisation or children’s needs in Adelaide.

You will have a wonderful team of established Miracle sMiles volunteers for hands-on help and enjoy mutual collegial and collaborative support from all staff. In particular, the Miracle sMiles Program Manager, CEO, Communications and Media Manager, and Program Operations and Development Manager.

You will be working from home but you may need to attend appointments with the children in Adelaide and, on occasion, visit the support office in North Melbourne.

For this diverse, hands-on role, we seek a passionate and proven carer who has a positive can-do attitude with good IT skills—ideally experienced in working with children with complex needs and/or people from non-English cross-cultural backgrounds.

As a Program Coordinator, you truly will have the opportunity to “make a difference” in disadvantaged children’s lives by being responsible for and championing their holistic care and welfare. This includes supporting volunteers to ensure support for each child physically, emotionally, psychologically, culturally, developmentally and practically throughout their stay in Australia. This support is fundamental to their health and well-being pre and post-surgery and in preparing the children for their return home to their family, friends, and community. You will no doubt have great pleasure in this role, spending time with and hearing the remarkable stories of these courageous children.

KEY ACCOUNTAIBILITIES

• Children: In Adelaide
  • Demonstrate and champion the Foundation’s philosophy of holistically caring for the children and guardians pre- and post-surgery
  • Before the children and guardians’ arrival and in consultation with the Miracle sMiles Program Manager, become familiar with each child’s medical, physical, cultural and emotional needs
• Children: Hospital and Medical
  • As required, organise volunteers to accompany children and guardians to appointments, hospital admissions and discharges
  • As required, organise volunteers to provide care for the children and guardians whilst they are in hospital, appropriate to the child’s needs and that of the hospital
  • Maintain and enhance relationships with medical, hospital and allied health staff
• Children: Child Safeguarding
  • Model and foster appropriate work practices that support a safe environment for children
  • At all times safeguard children and abide by relevant policies, procedures and the Code of Conduct
  • Report any concerns for a child’s well-being or child safe improvements to the Child Safe Officer
• Children: Cultural and Community
  • Encourage the children and guardians to maintain and foster their cultural heritage and practices and, at all times, engender cultural respect and sensitivity
  • Nurture relationships with relevant community groups aligned with the different cultures of the children at the Retreat
• Administration
  • Ensure CFF’s policies and procedures are adhered to and support the Miracle sMiles Program Manager by updating policies and procedures as required internally and by external legislation and compliance requirements
  • Support the Miracle sMiles Program Manager to ensure legislative requirements are met
  • Liaise with third party suppliers as required
• Volunteers
• • Together with the Miracle sMiles Program Manager, contribute to a robust volunteer program, including orientation, training and recognition of volunteers
  • Foster positive relationships and ongoing communication with volunteers
• Events/Media/PR
  • Refer all media enquiries directly to the Marketing and Communications Manager
  • Liaise with Marketing and Communications Manager and Miracle sMiles Program Manager regarding media and PR opportunities.
• Other tasks to support the care of children in Adelaide as directed by the Miracle sMiles Program Manager and/or CEO.

ABOUT YOU

Knowledge & Skills:

• Demonstrated experience working with children and Families.
• Demonstrated communication skills, specifically in client rapport building and systematic advocacy. Excellent organisation skills and time management skills and the capacity to manage multiple, competing tasks independently
• Good written and verbal communication and competent IT skills
• A full driving licence and the willingness to drive children/guardians as required by the role (appointments, hospital, airport visits, etc.)
• Current First Aid Certificate or willingness to obtain.
• Willingness to abide by Children Safeguarding Standards, including obtaining a National Police Check and Working with Children Check (WWCC).

Desirable:

• Qualification in Disability, Community Services, or equivalent (Highly desirable)
• Experience working with children and multicultural communities will be favourably considered
• Experience in working with volunteers.

Personal Qualities:

• Strong commitment to uphold and contribute to CFF’s values, vision and mission
• A steadfast commitment to children’s wellbeing
• A ‘can-do’, positive, and proactive attitude
• Are flexible and adaptive
• Honesty, integrity, and respect
• A conscientious, professional work ethic and ability to take initiative and speak up to make ongoing improvements
• Relates well to children, young people, health professionals, colleagues, culturally diverse communities, and diverse stakeholders
• Works positively and collaboratively as part of a small team, with a willingness to be flexible and an openness to feedback
• An empathetic spirit and an ability to motivate others • Courage to think outside the box, take the initiative and be bold
• Excellent time management skills • Ability to manage multiple tasks at once
• Ability to work under pressure

Additional Information

This position is primarily work from home in Adelaide.

Travel to Ronald McDonald House will be required, as will travel to hospitals and medical appointments and Adelaide airport.

The Children First Foundation works to be a child safe organisation. CFF’s recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to the safety and protection of children in all our activities. As part of the selection process, candidates must undergo a Working with Children’s Check and Police Check and sign the Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct. You will also be required, in work time, to complete child safeguarding training.

The Children First Foundation is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for staff, ensuring the workplace is free from harassment, bullying and discrimination, and supporting the diverse skills, backgrounds, and values of others.

You will need to disclose any pre-existing illness or injury that you know about which could be reasonably foreseen to be affected by the described work duties. If you fail to disclose such a condition, you will not be paid compensation for that condition in accordance with s.82 (7) of the Accident Compensation Act.

Accordingly, staff should be aware that this job ad might not necessarily represent the full role that the staff member will perform in the long term. This job ad is intended to provide an overview of the Miracle sMiles Program Coordinator Adelaide role as of the date of job posting.

If you have any enquiries about the role, please contact Jack on 0436 125 089.

A position description is attached.