• Join a supportive team which values connection and cultural knowledge
• Build strong partnerships to benefit the First Nations community
• Winner of the XREF Engage 2023 Best Workplace Awards for 2 consecutive years

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

Are you passionate about working within the community & want to work in a diverse organisation with inclusivity at the forefront of what we do? We now have an opportunity for a First Nations Community Development Worker to work with mobs on Bundjalung country.

Use your networking and relationship building skills to develop partnerships and network with key elders and community members. Work collaboratively to ensure First Nations people can easily access and feel comfortable with our services. Support staff to acknowledge country and deepen their understanding of the true history and social impacts faced by for First Nations People.

This role will also have a focus on an exciting new project on Bundjalung country and surrounding locations to deliver a women's weaving circles program to remote and rural First Nations communities to connect, engage and bring communities together to attend the weaving circle workshops. The program will run during school terms and will require a commitment of two days per week to organise, travel (No overnights stays) and run the workshops in the various communities. This particular project will require a confident individual who has experience organising events, excellent networking skills and is an engaging group facilitator. The position will focus on promoting the Goori Dubay program, organising and running the groups.

Working within a dynamic First Nations team across the region, this role will work collaboratively to build culturally informed programs that support and empower First Nations Families through life transitions.

We provide cultural supervision to all our First Nations Staff with supervisors who are culturally aware.

The office is based in Lismore, however the successful candidate will be required to travel to surrounding communities in the Northern Rivers region, such as; Ballina, Casino, Coraki / Evans Head, Tabulam, Lismore and Kyogle /Muli Muli two days per week, with some administration work that can be performed from home.

Due to the travel required for this role, when a pool car is not available, it will require the use of your own personal vehicle. Kilometres will be reimbursed as per the Enterprise Agreement when using your own personal vehicle.

This a fixed term contract until 30 June 2026, working 33 hours per week.

The hourly rate for this position is $53.24 per hour, plus 11.5% superannuation.

KEY DUTIES WILL INCLUDE:

• In consultation with your Line Manager, develop and implement the Goori Dubay Gathering project
• Facilitate the Goori Dubay Gathering Program groups
• Create and execute project work plans and communication documents, ensuring all project documents are complete, current and stored appropriately
• Manage the day-to-day operational aspects of the Goori Dubay Gathering project. This will include event organisation and coordination of resources and engaging with external services providers
• Ensuring compliance with the project budget and records of expenditure
• Provide information, updates and timely progress reports to the Practice Lead and Regional Manager
• Identify community needs through engagement with First Nations communities
• Evaluation of programs and providing recommendations that will benefit local First Nations communities in line with Interrelates strategic priorities

• Assist First Nations people to access Interrelate services through creating good working relationships, establishing referral pathways, developing innovative strategies, networking and promotion and enhancement of Interrelate Services
• Identify community needs for building stronger family relationships and linking families into services to support them
• Organisation of group seminars, community events, forums, expo's and workshops to support First Nations families through the challenges of their relationships
• Providing Case Management Support

ABOUT US

Interrelate is a not-for-profit provider of relationship and family support services. Our vision is to empower people to thrive in the most vital part of their lives - their relationships. We are committed to responding to the vulnerabilities of families and children in their communities and empowering them to build strong and respectful relationships.

We deliver services spread across 30+ physical locations (plus online) to more than 160,000 clients and we are backed by qualified staff and 99 years of trusted expertise in sensitive relationship matters.

We are thrilled to be recognised as a winner of XREF Engage 2023 Best Workplace Awards for two surveys in a row. This prestigious award recognises the best workplaces that have excellent management practices and a highly engaged workforce. At Interrelate, we care about each other, focus on strengths, recognise achievements, celebrate significant events, encourage continuous learning and most importantly, enjoy our work despite the seriousness of what we do.

We have an employee reference group called Kutanya, which aims to support delivery of services to First Nations communities and support First Nations staff. Kutanya is made up of First Nations employees and other employees, including the CEO.

KEY ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• Aboriginality or Torres Strait Islander background (Interrelate considers that being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is a genuine occupational qualification under section 14 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977, NSW)
• Experience in community work / family mediation; particularly with First Nations Families and children and/or qualifications
• Certificate IV in Community Development is highly desirable
• Experience in facilitating group sessions, project management and organising community events
• Experience in developing community programs or willingness to develop skills in creating and evaluating programs and services
• Experience in Case Management or willingness to develop these skills
• Understanding of social issues affecting First Nations communities within the local region
• Experience in consulting with the First Nations community and relevant stakeholders
• Understanding of the impact of family separation and breakdown on children with particular emphasis within First Nations families

WHAT WE OFFER

We offer the following competitive employment conditions:

• Salary Sacrificing and Packaging Options (superannuation, loans, credit cards, school fees)
• Additional days of paid leave on top of standard leave entitlements
• Access to Scholarship Programs & Study Assistance Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Awards & Appreciation Programs
• Training, Mentoring, Supervision and access to Resources

HOW TO APPLY

If you are interested in applying for this role, please click on the "Apply Now" button to submit your application. Please ensure you upload a covering letter addressing the Selection Criteria as outlined in the Job Description.

If would like to connect with a First Nations employee, please do not hesitate to contact:

Rharnnie Groat, Practice Specialist - First Nations Services on 0485 904 991 or [email protected] using the subject line: First Nations Community Development Worker (Identified) - Lismore enquiry via EthicalJobs.

If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Trish Mckay on [email protected] or email [email protected]

Interrelate aspires to continue to be a leader in our community, an organisation known for working respectfully with clients from all different and diverse backgrounds.

Interrelate ordinarily encourages diversity in its applications, however, this particular role is an identified First Nations role.

If you will have special requirements or would like to talk to us before submitting an application, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected] and we will organise for you to chat with an appropriate staff member to explain how we can help you.

All Interrelate positions require the satisfactory completion of relevant Police and Working with Children Checks. Interrelate services are funded by the Australian Government.