• Make a Difference to Older Victorians
• Full Time, Monday – Friday, 8.30am – 4.30pm
• Remote role – must be based in the Gippsland Region, travel within Gippsland regional areas of Victoria will be required.

Who are we?

Elder Rights Advocacy (ERA) supports older people, their families and representatives in Victoria address issues related to Commonwealth funded aged care services. Our service is free, independent, and confidential.

We promote the rights of older people and ensure that that their voice is heard.

Our job is to provide information that empowers older people to make informed decisions about the care and services they receive and to stand beside them when they raise issues or concerns with aged care providers.

We are a founding member of the national Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN), delivering the National Aged Care Advocacy Program (NACAP) and the Aged Care Volunteer Visitor Scheme (ACVVS).

All staff at ERA work remotely from home and come together for one-day meetings in Melbourne CBD approximately every six-eight weeks. Staff are set up with equipment in their homes that is OH&S compliant. We take very seriously the health and wellbeing of our staff who told us they wished to work remotely post COVID restrictions. We can now service our clients more effectively as we draw our workforce from across Victoria.

Our Values

We reflect the following values in all our work with older people: Respect; Partnership; Empowerment; Integrity; Inclusiveness; Responsiveness; and Accountability. Our workforce is expected to adhere to these values in all that we say and do.

The Opportunity

We are currently seeking an outstanding individual to take on the role of Advocate to Advocate for older Victorians. You will be joining a team of fast-growing Advocates who protect and advance the rights of older Victorians. This involves helping older people exercise their rights through an advocacy process which includes the provision of information, education, advice, and support.

A typical day will involve:

• Providing individual advocacy and information, support for older people experiencing or at risk of experiencing abuse and referrals to older people or their representatives.
• Advocating on client’s behalf or supporting clients to advocate for themselves.
• Connecting clients with relevant services that can assist in the advocacy process.
• Providing information and educational sessions to residents of aged care homes, retirement villages, carers, health care professionals and other community organisations.
• Provide support with incoming referrals for education sessions.
• Participating in special seniors’ events, information days, displays and exhibitions in your local area.
• Providing information on aged care rights and client's entitlements.
• Networking and promoting ERA's services.
• Building relationships and outreach to increase awareness and secure information and education sessions.

We provide a dedicated onboarding training program for Aged Care Advocates to help you settle into your role.

ABOUT YOU

What we are looking for:

You will be a passionate, organised, and a driven person that wants to be part of an organisation that exists to give a voice to older people. It goes without saying you will have exceptional communication skills, have had previous experience in the aged care or community sectors or similar role and be a kind, caring and compassionate person. Having experience delivering education and working with external stakeholders is essential.

Ideally you will have the following:

• Demonstrated commitment to human rights and social justice.
• Experience and skills relevant to advocating for people from disadvantaged or vulnerable groups.
• Well-grounded knowledge of the aged care system, including residential and home care services.
• Experience in providing individual support to older people or their representatives involved in challenging and complex circumstances, with an understanding of how aged care information and advocacy can assist.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, deliver and evaluate community education and information that promote the rights of older people in our community.
• High level of confidence with excellent public speaking skills and the ability to engage diverse groups.
• Highly developed communication, organisational and administrative skills.
• Knowledge of the operations of My Aged Care, Commonwealth Home Support Program, Home Care packages and residential aged care (desired).
• Demonstrated ability to work unsupervised as well as an effective team with a positive can-do attitude.
• You must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or hold a valid medical exemption certificate. Evidence of vaccination status will be required prior to commencement of role.
• Hold a current Police check or willing to undergo a national police check.
• Hold a current Drivers License.

Remuneration and Benefits

• $49.28 per hour + 11.5% superannuation
• As a not-for-profit organisation the option to salary package $15,900 p.a. + $2,650 meals and entertainment salary package
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program for you and your family members
• Options for additional purchased leave.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Being part of a values driven organisation that is committed to its people and older Victorian’s.

We acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which we work and recognise that it always has been, and always will be, Aboriginal Land and pay our respects to leaders and Elders past, present and future. We express our gratitude in the sharing of this land and our hope that we may walk forward together in harmony and in the spirt of healing and commit to building a brighter future together.

We encourage you to visit the ERA website and OPAN’s website to get to know us.

A position description is attached.