• EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Volunteer 3.5 hour weekly shift
• DURATION: 12 Month commitment preferable
• REPORTS TO: Hub Manager
• LIAISES WITH: LIAISES WITH: EDV staff, volunteers and service users.

ABOUT US

Eating disorders are complex and debilitating mental illnesses that affect up to 1 in 20 people. Like any mental illness, they are not the fault of the individual and can affect anyone no matter their age, gender or background. While serious, eating disorders are treatable. With the right support, full recovery is possible for everyone.

Eating Disorders Victoria is the trusted guide for Victorians affected by eating disorders. We help people get the support they need to inspire hope and ensure the earliest possible recovery. Eating Disorders Victoria is an incorporated association and registered charity with the Australian Tax Office and the Australian Charities and Not for Profit Commission (ACNC).

How we work

We are a committed, engaged and progressive community health service who value innovation. We are known for developing and delivering eating disorder services that can’t be found anywhere else in Australia, or even the world. We are a strong voice for people affected by eating disorders and actively advocate for our eating disorder affected community at state and national level.

We pride ourselves on being a vibrant place to work, where creativity, collaboration and lived experience are highly valued and supported. Our work is guided by our values of Courage, Lived Experience, Authenticity, and Optimism.

Where we are going

We are moving through an exciting time of reform in Victoria’s Mental Health System, and have every intention of ensuring eating disorders are fully supported in this new system. We want eating disorders to be considered core business when it comes to mental health, so that more Victorians are identified, diagnosed and put on the path to recovery, sooner.

We are focused on delivering high quality, data-driven community services that demonstrate the impact of our work, while underscoring the growing community demand for specialised eating disorder services. Underpinning this is an evolving culture of strong clinical governance, which supports the wellbeing of staff, volunteers and our service users. We consider the lived experience workforce to be

pivotal to the future of eating disorder treatment and are positioned to be leaders in this emerging field.

What we are looking for

We are looking for motivated and compassionate individuals who are passionate about supporting our community that are impacted by eating disorders. You are communication savvy and have the ability to adapt your style and confidently create a safe and trusted space for those seeking support. Whilst not expected to have all the answers, you will be trusted to problem solve and seek out answers independently, as well as being encouraged to seek out support from your volunteer peers and Hub Manager. You may have experience or a passion for not-for-profit, health or mental health settings or perhaps studying and seeking more hands-on experience in this space.

The following shifts are currently available in our Hub roster, however other shifts may become available early 2025:

Tuesday morning 9.30am - 1.00pm

Thursday morning 9.30am - 1.00pm

Thursday afternoon: 1.00pm – 4.30pm

Friday afternoon: 1.00pm – 4.30pm

What we can offer you

• A genuinely amazing place to volunteer – we know that our people are our best asset  
• Support and encouragement to grow your professional skill set 
• Flexibility to volunteer onsite at EDV office or remotely
• Training and development opportunities  

ROLE STATEMENT

Hub Volunteers participate in the direct provision of information, support and service referral at EDV. Importantly, the EDV Hub is not a crisis service, a counselling service or one that provides professional/medical/nutritional advice. Service users include individuals with an eating disorder, families, partners and friends, community members and health professionals.

EDV has a commitment to supporting the Lived Experience Workforce through the EDV Lived Experience Framework. Candidates who have lived experience of an eating disorder or who have lived experience of caring for a person with an eating disorder must align with the definitions as detailed in the attached Position Description.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Provide support, information and details of additional professional services to consumers accessing the EDV Hub via phone, email or web
• Statistical data entry associated with Hub enquiries
• Assist EDV with other administrative tasks as required

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential:

• An understanding of eating disorders and related mental health issues.
• A general understanding of the nature and purpose of support services in Victoria.
• Well developed written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to modify own style to meet the consumer’s needs.
• Ability to relate to people in distress.
• High level of personal accountability.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a broader team of up to 20 Hub volunteers.
• Ability to establish meaningful contact (empower & build rapport) with service users from diverse backgrounds.
• Desire to take responsibility for own learning.
• Ability to take direction and use feedback to develop own professional capabilities.

Desirable:

• Lived experience of an eating disorder and or other mental illness or as a carer of a loved one with an eating disorder and or other mental illness.
• Counselling experience/knowledge.
• Experience working in a professional environment.
• Experience working in a voluntary capacity.
• Proficient with Internet, Outlook, Microsoft Office and Salesforce

Employment conditions

Location: As outlined above, your volunteer shift can be on site at the EDV offices or remotely if that is your preference, provided you have a safe, confidential space to do so.

Voluntary role, 12 month commitment preferable. Volunteers will be rostered on the same shift each week (minimum 3.5 hours per week)
Background checks & reference checks apply. Completion of the internal training program is compulsory

In recognition of contribution to the organisation, EDV can provide volunteers with a written reference after volunteering. EDV is also able to be a verbal referee for tertiary program applications and paid employment.

Ethical requirements

All EDV staff are required to adhere to the EDV Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct, Core Values and guiding principles and relevant organisational policies, practices and guidelines. 

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please navigate to the 'Apply Now' section. Please include a resume and a cover letter that address the key selection criteria (found on the position description), your availability for the next 12 months (including preferred days and times). We would also love to hear why you will be a great addition to the EDV Hub Volunteer Team. If you identify with having lived experience of an eating disorder, we ask you to also please respond to the framework definitions. Please combine these as a single document. Direct applications to EDV via email will not be monitored.

We strongly encourage applications from applicants with diverse experience and backgrounds. We welcome people with lived experience of an eating disorder and the experience of people who have been carers, families, or supporters.

For more information about the role and working at EDV contact Melanie McTaggart, Hub Manager at [email protected] using the subject line: Hub Volunteer enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.