Why join Launch Housing

Launch Housing is an independent Melbourne based community organisation passionately committed to ending homelessness. From providing high quality housing and an innovative range of support, education and employment services, we bring solutions to homelessness under one roof for thousands at risk of, or experiencing the crisis and trauma of homelessness. With over 400 staff working across 16 locations in metropolitan Melbourne, we combine direct action with advocacy, research and innovation to drive widespread change.

Our people are the backbone of our organisation and supporting their wellbeing and professional development is critical to our ability to help our clients and the community. We value lived experience and diversity in our staff, and provide high-quality training & supervision, wellbeing days, access to an Employee Assistance Program and much much more to ensure your career with us is fulfilling.

Don’t just walk past homelessness. Join the solution.

Our permanent and fixed-term employee benefits include:

• Contributing to useful and rewarding work and giving something back to the community
• Wellbeing days, ceremonial leave, carers leave and study leave
• Flexible working arrangements
• Purchased leave
• 17.5% leave loading
• 8 weeks’ gender neutral paid parental leave after 12 months of service for both the primary and secondary carer
• Training and career growth opportunities across Launch Housing
• A portion of your income can be tax-free by salary packaging your personal expenses
• Additional tax-free salary packaging on dining and accommodation expenses
• Positive, supportive and progressive work environment

About the opportunity

This position is part of a project to assist people sleeping rough in the City of Melbourne, City of Port Phillip, City of Yarra and City of Stonnington. The position will work in close collaboration with a number of key service providers. The Rough Sleeper Initiative is comprised of Assertive Outreach Workers and Community Health Nurses from Bolton Clarke’s Homeless Persons Program (HPP).

The Rough Sleeper Initiative approach incorporate a set of specific principles, practices and tools developed internationally which are being adapted in the Australian context. These include, but are not limited to:

• Location and identification of rough sleepers using assertive outreach.
• Use of specific strategies and tools to identify and prioritise the most vulnerable and unwell for intensive support.
• Street level service delivery, interim housing support and links to other support services.
• Referrals to various housing and accommodation options.

The Rough Sleeper Initiative position provides assertive, persistent outreach to identify, engage and work with clients to achieve sustainable outcomes.

At Launch Housing, we believe that leadership is not defined by position or title – but by the mindset you bring and the actions you take. We also believe that leadership is learnable – that there is a body of knowledge, skills and dispositions associated with leadership that can be learned.

The Launch Housing Leadership Framework outlines the key expectations and behaviours required for effective leadership at every level. This role is aligned to the Leading Self proficiency level within the framework, reflecting the responsibility to demonstrate professionalism, personal accountability, self-awareness, and continuous development.

This position is classified under ‘special measures' of section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. While all applicants are invited to apply, applicants who indicate that they identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander will be prioritised in the selection process.

This is a permanent full-time based in St Kilda, but working across City of Melbourne, City of Port Phillip, City of Yarra, City of Stonnington, City of Frankston, and City of Dandenong.

What you'll be doing

• Finding, identifying & engaging with people who are sleeping rough.
• Assertive and persistent outreach to provide purposeful assistance to clients with complex needs and challenging behaviours.
• Utilising assessment tools to identify people in the most need of program resources.
• Short term support to a nominated case load of clients to assist in seeking suitable housing options.
• Offering appropriate and timely support, including referral, assessment, and advocacy.
• Working with Functional Zero projects and completing referrals to the City of Melbourne, City of Port Phillip, City of Yarra and City of Stonnington Service Coordination projects.
• Sensitively surveying people who are sleeping rough, providing program intelligence for effective resource allocation.

What we're looking for (key selection criteria)

• Direct experience in the delivery of services to clients with complex needs relating to homelessness.
• Demonstrated understanding of housing and homelessness policy, context and systems.
• Demonstrated understanding of cohorts who have a history of homelessness, rough sleeping and multiple and complex needs.
• Demonstrated understanding of assertive outreach approaches and providing support to clients who have complex needs in non-office-based settings.
• A relevant tertiary qualification in human services, social work or other relevant discipline (desired).
• A current Victorian driver’s license.
• Demonstrated commitment to the values of Launch Housing and our mission to end homelessness.

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact Jessica Stanko-Cooper on [email protected] using the subject line: Assertive Outreach Worker enquiry via EthicalJobs.

How to Apply

To apply for this opportunity, please click on "Apply Now" button. Please submit a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria and your CV.

Launch Housing offers a wide range of career opportunities and employs a diverse range of talent. We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons to apply! We acknowledge, respect and celebrate Aboriginal cultures, languages, connections to Country and heritage, customs and practices. We're committed to support Aboriginal peoples to obtain genuine and fulfilling career with us!

Launch Housing is a dog-friendly organisation, which allows dog owners to bring them in some of our sites, please contact the relevant Hiring Manager if you have any questions or concerns prior to your interview.

If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know at [email protected].

Launch Housing is committed to being a child safe organisation and has zero tolerance to child abuse. Our hiring process involves rigorous screening of applicants. All of our people including students, contractors and volunteers must hold a valid Working with Children Check and satisfactory criminal history record check.

Launch Housing is an Equal Opportunity employer and supports accessible working arrangements for all. This includes people with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, culturally, religiously and linguistically diverse people, young people, older people, women, and people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender diverse, intersex or queer. We acknowledge Lived Experience as a unique expertise and encourage people with a Lived Experience of Homelessness to apply. All applicants must have the right to work in Australia.

Launch Housing is working to become more trauma informed and as a leading employer in the homelessness sector, it is important to let you know that you will hear stories of distress, hardship, trauma, or violence when working with us. We encourage you to reflect on how this may impact you when considering applying for the role.

A position description is attached.