• Part time - 22.8 hours per week - 3 days Tuesday and Wednesday mandatory on site at our Abbotsford Office, other study day negotiable (a weekday only).
• Fixed term contract November 2024 - July 2025.
• Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (SCHADS) Level 2.2.
  Generous salary packaging available.
• Reports to: Manager of Ambassadors and Peer Cadet program
• Liaises with: EDV managers and staff, individuals experiencing an eating disorder and their families/support people, relevant external stakeholders

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.

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.
All of our work is guided by our values of Lived Experience, Courage, Optimism and Authenticity.

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 can offer you:

• A genuinely nice place to work – we know that our people are our best asset
• Support and encouragement to grow your skill set in a hands-on environment
• Ability to take ownership of your role
• Opportunities to engage in a fun social calendar of events
• Ability to take scheduled mental health days to focus on your personal wellness
• Regular supervision provided for all staff
• Salary packaging arrangements (increasing your take-home pay)

ROLE STATEMENT

Eating Disorders Victoria’s Lived Experience Peer Cadet Program is providing an employment opportunity for people with a carer lived experience of eating disorders. The peer cadet carer will undertake the Cert IV in Mental Health Peer Work while completing a paid cadetship.

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

• Develop work readiness skills in relation to peer-led support across EDV.
• Engage proactively with other Peer Cadet team members, and Peer Cadet Project Lead.
• Engage and participate with the EDV Carer Coaching program.
• Participate in induction and training program and other professional development activates as required.
• Attend and engage in active reflective practice, and supervision.
• Regularly attend and contribute to weekly Telehealth Team Case Collaboration meetings.
• Engage and participate with EDV Peer Mentoring program.
• Assist with administrative tasks and special projects as required.
• Contribute to other EDV activities that support carers, including carer newsletters.
• Develop skills around the co-facilitation of groups and events at EDV.
• Attend EDV Staff Meetings and other groups as relevant to the role – Lived Experience Peer Supervision Group; Education and Psycho-social Team sessions and keep up to date with EDV related news and sector developments.
• Other duties consistent with position as directed.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential:

• Evidence of enrolment or intention to enrol in the Cert IV in Mental Health Peer Work.
• Lived Experience as someone who has cared for a person with an eating disorder, and alignment with the definitions as specified in the position description – non-active carer.
• Ability and willingness to discuss own experiences of the caring role in the context of supporting someone with an eating disorder.
• Ability to demonstrate functional coping mechanisms that allow you to effectively maintain good health and wellbeing, and that enable you to engage fully with the roles and responsibilities of the role.
• Strong commitment to peer-led support and understanding of the value of peer work in mental health recovery.
• Ability to work as part of a team in a busy and dynamic office environment.
• Well-developed communication skills (both written and verbal) and the ability to build rapport and adapt approach according to the audience (clients, services, staff).
• Understanding of the role of professional treatment in recovery from an eating disorder.
• Ability to take responsibility for own learning, and to use direction and feedback to develop capabilities.
• An understanding of the importance of self-care and demonstrated ability to enact own self-care routines during times of stress.
• A moderate understanding of eating disorders.
• Experience in online communication systems.

Employment conditions:

• Location: This position will be based on-site at the EDV office on Level 2 of the Magpies Community Centre (corner Lulie and Abbot Streets, Abbotsford). 
• Normal working hours will be during Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm.  There may at times be some out of hours work and this will be negotiated with your manager.
• Other conditions as mandated by the Fair Work Act. 
• Subject to satisfactory Working with Children Check, National Police Check and completion of Conflict-of-Interest Declaration. 
  Probationary period will apply (6-months). 

Wellness Plan:

EDV acknowledge that the work in this sector can be challenging and stressful, which can impact on all employees, volunteers and students' personal wellbeing and mental health. Therefore, it is mandatory for all staff to complete a ‘Wellness Plan. This important document acknowledges that in times of stress, a commitment to positive mental health practices and supports can improve resilience and wellbeing.

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 and include a resume and a cover letter including a specific response to each of the Key Selection Criteria (found on the position description). 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 Ruth Green, Manager of Ambassadors and Peer Cadet program at [email protected] using the subject line: Peer Cadet - Carer enquiry via EthicalJobs, using the subject line: EDV Peer Cadet.