Why Volunteer at Launch Housing

We have an ambitious and singular mission to end homelessness. We aim to get people housed, keep them housed, and be an influential voice on ending homelessness. We are a secular, independent provider of choice for clients and strive to be the go to organisation on homelessness for government, media, philanthropy, private donors and the community. We believe housing is a basic human right and our values of empowerment, fresh thinking, agility, leadership and courage underpin everything we do.

If you want an opportunity where you can make a real difference, and you are passionate about our mission to end homelessness, then consider volunteering with Launch Housing!

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 to volunteer. Sustaining the Health & Well-being of our people including volunteers is our priority. We provide adequate training & supervision, Wellbeing Days, and access to Employee Assistance Program.

There are many benefits for volunteering:

Flexible - you can organise your own timetable

Life changing experience - you'll contribute to ending homelessness in Melbourne and will give you a sense of fulfilment and purpose

Fun and Positive environment - you'll meet warm and friendly team members who are here to help

Good for your well-being and mental health - research says that volunteering can help fight stress, loneliness and depression and can help improve your confidence

Share your talents - you can utilise your talent and experience as well as learn new skills in a supportive culture

Education First Youth Foyer – Glen Waverley

Education First Youth Foyers (EFY Foyers) provide young people between the ages of 16-25 who are unable to live at home, access to mainstream education, training and employment opportunities, while living in student-style accommodation, located on TAFE campuses. During their stay, students are provided with:

• practical learning tools and skills
• access to education, training and employment opportunities
• safe and affordable accommodation for up to two years
• coaching and 24-hour on-site support from trained staff
• opportunities to develop independent living skills.

Foyers have a core focus on education and provide secure housing as a means of enabling young people to focus on their studies. The model also provides young people with opportunities to develop career aspirations, to gain an experience of work, to build their networks and to build a pathway to sustainable employment. This is done through the provision of activities and opportunities, known as service ‘offers’ in the six key areas of Education, Employment, Health and Wellbeing, Social Connections, Civic Participation and Housing.

EFY Foyers adopt an Advantaged Thinking approach. This approach works on the premise that all young people have talents and abilities, but that they do not all receive the same level of investment and support to develop these talents.

As a volunteer, you can provide valued support to launch Housing and make a difference to the lives of people experiencing homelessness. Volunteers will perform various tasks depending on the individual’s skillset, under direct supervision of Launch staff members within clearly defined guidelines, established routines, methods, and procedures.

How will you make a difference

• Interacting with clients, offering them a friendly and supporting environment.
• Assisting with organising and running events organised for clients.
• Facilitating or assisting in workshops such as art or cooking classes to empower clients with new skills.
• Actively engaging with all safety and security systems on accommodation/office sites.
• Role modelling positive behaviour and attitudes while ensuring the safety of young people at all times.
• Engaging in any other duties as discussed and agreed between the volunteer and the volunteer supervisor.

Specifically in this volunteer role:

• Establish a productive vegetable garden
• Maintain a vegetable garden
• Provide and share information with Students both formally and informally about gardening practices
• Encourage student participation
• Liaise with staff to achieve good outcomes for students
• Develop a planting/maintenance guide/protocol
• Where required consult on budget and where appropriate, liaise with suppliers
• Identify any hazards or risks
• Share the harvest

Key Selection Criteria

• Reliable and committed to the project
• Available for minimum 9 months
• Willing to undergo Foyer and organisational training,
• Experienced gardener.
• Able to incorporate an Advantage thinking approach
• Self-directed, with good communication and teamwork skills
• Interested in developing young people’s potential
• Understanding of Homelessness issues
• Demonstrated commitment to the values of Launch Housing and our mission to end homelessness.

Applications are on a rolling basis, do not delay in submitting, for any information about the role, please contact Miranda Massoud, on [email protected] using the subject line: Gardener (Voluntary) enquiry via EthicalJobs.

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.

Safety Screening Requirements

Launch Housing has mandatory requirements to undertake thorough safety screening of all staff, including volunteers. Checks are conducted in strict confidence and in accordance with the Launch Housing Privacy Policy and Safety Screening Procedure. Prior to commencing any role, a candidate must:

Provide two appropriate referees for staff to complete satisfactory reference checks.

• Hold a current Volunteer Working with Children Check – this can be obtained during recruitment at Launch Housing’s cost.
• Have a satisfactory Volunteer Police History Check obtained during recruitment at Launch Housing’s cost*.
• Provide certified evidence of qualifications related to the role (if applicable).

*An applicant is not automatically precluded from appointment on the basis of having a disclosable outcome. In the event a disclosable outcome appears on a volunteer police check, a member of the People Experience Team will discuss this with the applicant.

A position description is attached.