Jesuit Refugee Service Australia is seeking a Community Engagement Officer to join our Policy Advocacy and Communications team. This part-time position will commence in mid-January until 31st December 2025 with the possibility of extension pending additional funding.

A passion for and a commitment to ensuring the rights of forcibly displaced people is essential and people with lived experience of displacement are strongly encouraged to apply.

ABOUT THE ORGANISATION

Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international Catholic organisation with a mission to accompany, serve and advocate for the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people. JRS works in situations of greatest need, where people are most vulnerable, where there are gaps in services and where partnerships can be formed to better serve people seeking safety.

In Australia, JRS works to uphold the rights of people who are in the process of seeking asylum and aims to support people to empower themselves, to live meaningful and dignified lives while feeling welcomed and connected to a more fair and just community.

As an independent, not-for-profit, non-government organisation JRS Australia undertakes several activities and programs to support the complex and diverse needs and ambitions of people seeking asylum. JRS Australia operates from Head Office, as well as from the dedicated JRS Women’s Space both located in Parramatta.

Our organisation is committed to protecting children and young people from harm. We require all applicants to undergo an extensive screening process prior to appointment.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This Community Engagement Officer role is focused on bringing the community into JRS Australia’s goal to seek systemic change through evidence-based advocacy, lobbying, community organising, and campaigning. The Community Engagement Officer is responsible for:

• Raising awareness and educating the community
• Building solidarity, compassion and welcome in the community and
• Mobilising the community toward direct actions that have a positive impact on the people we serve. These actions include advocacy and campaigning activities that seek to bring about positive change as well as actions that generate practical and financial support for refugees and people seeking asylum.

The Community Engagement Officer will report to the Head of Policy, Advocacy and Communications and will work closely with the PAC team, and other staff members and volunteers to ensure effective external community engagement.

Please see the attached Position Description for a detailed list of key tasks and responsibilities.   

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential Requirements:

• Demonstrated experience in community organising, advocacy, campaigning, or community engagement within a civil society, youth, or faith-based community setting.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, train, support, and work in partnership with community leaders to achieve defined social justice goals.
• Outstanding networking and relationship building skills and ability to engage positively with different stakeholders from various backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, train, and supervise volunteers.
• Demonstrated ability to produce clear written campaigning and advocacy documentation and analysis (e.g. training documentation, calls to action).
• Experience coordinating and organising events, including a demonstrated understanding of what elements are essential for a successful event.
• Outstanding communications skills and ability to motivate others, including strong public speaking skills
• Ability to work well as part of a team
• Well-developed time management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing deadlines and priorities
• Understanding of the mission and values of JRS and the Australian Jesuit Province.
• Commitment to human rights, gender equality, non-discrimination and social change
• Understanding of, and a passion for the rights of people seeking asylum and refugees.
• Commitment to working within current Equal Employment opportunities (EEO), Work Health and Safety (WH&S), and child protection legislation.
• A current NSW Police record check and NSW working with children check or willingness to undertake one.

Desirable:

• A good understanding of issues concerning people seeking asylum and refugees.
• Strong networks with Catholic communities, organisations, and leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate within Catholic parish, school, or community settings.
• Experienced design skills with use of Adobe suite, Illustrator, Photoshop and/or Canva.
• Experience with email marketing software such as MailChimp. 

Award:

• SCHADS Level 4
• This is a part-time 0.4 FTE position to December 31st 2025 with possibility of extension dependant on funding.

Application Process:

If you would like further information about the Community Engagement Officer position, please contact: Amelia Savage, Acting Head of Policy, Advocacy and Communications at [email protected] using the subject line: Community Engagement Officer enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Interviews will be in the week commencing Monday 9th December 2024. This role will commence in mid-January 2025, negotiable.

We encourage applications from people with lived refugee experience, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, mature age workers and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people. 

Thank you for your interest in working with Jesuit Refugee Service Australia.