ABOUT Us

As an organisation we:

• Believe that the physical and mental well-being of our community is vital to our on-going development, and empowerment within the wider community.
• Listen to, engage, support and connect with those within our community which includes everyone who has the potential to experience oppression because of their sexuality, gender or identity, including allies.
• Respect and value an individual’s diverse experiences and expressions of sexuality, gender, and other diverse identities.
• Strive to remain transparent in our dealings whilst working to maintain the privacy of our members and the community who engage with us.
• Strategically network and collaborate with individuals, groups, organisations and services in order to assist in meeting our and their values and mission.
• Train and support those within our organisation to undertake their roles and responsibilities with the appropriate skills and knowledge.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a paid casual peer supporter within this project, you will be the first point of contact for phone and web chat services to people seeking brief and anonymous frontline support and referral. You will also provide support to the volunteer peer supporters who staff the phone lines around Australia in the provision of this peer-based service, and may provide mentoring, debriefing and support to volunteers on shift when needed.

QLife services are available 7 days a week, 365 days a year between the hours of 3:00pm to 12:00am Australia wide. Phone and web chat services are provided by volunteers engaged in their home-state centres, with national support provided by a team of paid staff members. Mental Health and Referral information will be available via the website 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. See https://QLife.org.au/ for more information.

Client Services

• Provide anonymous peer support, intervention strategies and mediation services to clients of QLife via telephone, web, and email.
• Provide general support, education, information, and referral options though a variety of resources.
• Participate in team discussions.
• Conduct research directly related to client issues and needs and feed into support and/or education mechanisms for volunteer peer supporters and general educational materials.
• Support volunteer peer supporters through part of their buddy shift process in conjunction with a team leader.

ABOUT YOU

Positions at this level require the application of knowledge which is gained through qualifications and/or previous experience.

Essential

• Tertiary qualifications in counselling, Psychology or related peer support work.
• Minimum of 12 months relevant experience.
• Completed or soon to complete Applied Suicide Prevention Training within the last 2 years (ASIST) and maintain every 2 years.
• Experience working in a counselling relationship with people, families, groups from marginalised backgrounds and with complex needs; includes experience in telephone counselling/or peer support on a helpline.
• Ability to engage clients in non-judgmental problem solving.
• The ability to analyse situations, make appropriate decisions regarding the client’s needs and provide appropriate therapeutic service.
• Demonstrated ability and familiarity with external referrals and networks.
• Knowledge of/ability to provide peer support and referral using the web chat or telephone.
• Flexibility to work within shift schedule system.
• Demonstrated skills and ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with LGBTIQA+ identifying people and others of diverse backgrounds.
• Understanding of and commitment to health and human rights for LGBTIQA+ people and communities.
• Willingness to undertake or link current working with children check (Blue Card) & Police check framework

• Experience in telephone counselling/peer support and crisis intervention techniques and principles.
• Knowledge of/experience with ethical and practical differences between web-based, telephone and face-to-face counselling.
• Effective skills in a range of Microsoft Office applications including Word, PowerPoint, Excel and SharePoint.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

Professional supervision will be provided by an external Clinical Supervisor, and you will have direct onsite support from a Team Leader.

A position description is attached.