• 12 Month Fixed Term Contract (Full-Time)
• $94,000 - $98,000 (dependent on experience) + super + salary packaging
• Preston location
• Hybrid working model

YOUR NEW ROLE

The First Nations Carer Advisor is the first point of contact for carers from across Victoria who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders who are needing support through the Carer Gateway. Carers can be parents, partners, spouses, young people and children, other family members, friends or neighbours. A carer provides support to someone who needs help managing at home or in the community because they are ageing, living with disability, a mental illness or a chronic medical condition.

Through undertaking a range of activities, the First Nations Carer Advisor is ensuring the carer experience and journey through the Carer Support Planning process is culturally sensitive and culturally appropriate.

YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR

Reporting to the Procurement, Quality & Risk Coordinator, for this role:

• The First Nations Carer Advisor will facilitate the process for each individual Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander carer, through the following stages:
  • Intake & Registration – identifying the carer/s; determine eligibility to access carer support services by confirming their role as carer; capturing the carer/s identifying information and basic information about the person they care for.
  • Understand Needs – undertaken to understand a carer’s responsibilities, care load, living circumstances, support network and general relationship with the person they care for.
  • Support Planning – In line with the carers needs, identify the types of supports / services that will best benefit the carer; develop an individual action plan to document the carers goals to ensure individual, physical, emotional and spiritual needs are met.
  • Coordination – Activities to put services in place for the carer via referral to relevant providers, direct brokerage of services.
  • Monitoring and Support – Connecting with the carer to ensure sustainable supports are in place and check wellbeing and measure outcomes against their baseline initial understanding needs and circumstances conversation.
• Ensures conversations occur in the most culturally appropriate manner. Whilst most conversations can occur on the phone, face to face is appropriate or may be preferred for some Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander carers in discussions to understand needs and in support planning.
• Provides carers with assistance to navigate and access other supports including those funded through other programs (e.g. Aged Care Support for First Nations people; Koori Community Aged Care Program; accessing NDIS).
• Uses best practice frameworks that assists carers in building self-development and self-care strategies with the aim to maintain wellbeing and resilience, i.e. providing counselling; coaching etc
• Lead In Person Peer Support sessions with Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander carers to encourage connection to community.
• Support partnerships with First Nations groups and organisations across the state to engage carers, improve service delivery and ensure culturally appropriate service delivery.
• Work in consultation with the First Nations Carer Engagement Advisor on strategies to engage community and facilitate smooth entry point into Carer Gateway Services.
• Collaborates with team members and provide secondary consultation and information to facilitate best outcomes for carers.
• Participates in formal/informal service networks with community service providers, First Nations advisory groups to ensure responsive and effective service provision for carers.
• Maintains comprehensive and up-to-date records and case notes in the client management system ensuring case notes and other client information is recorded according to service standards and practices.
• Contributes to policy and process development to ensure best practice approaches are implemented to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers.

• Participates in relevant Carer Gateway Program and Merri Health meetings.
• Fosters collaborative working relationships, demonstrates commitment to organisational values and code of conduct.

TO SUCCEED IN THE ROLE YOU WILL HAVE

• Genuine interest, passion and experience working with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander community as reflected in your previous studies and work history. References from community members is required.
• Tertiary qualifications in social work, community services, nursing, disability support, health promotion, allied health or equivalent discipline or experience.
• Solid understanding of and experience in holistic needs assessments, person-centred goal planning, referrals and service coordination.
• Knowledge of the community care sector, including the challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torress Strait Islander people and carers of people with disability, chronic illness, mental health condition and older people.
• Knowledge of issues impacting carers from Indigenous, CALD and LGBTIQA+ backgrounds.
• Knowledge of services and supports available to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• Proven ability to foster and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders and to relate to and work effectively with a diverse range of individuals and communities.
• Organisational and interpersonal skills, e.g. negotiation, problem solving.
• Proficiency in the use of Information and Communication technologies.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO NOW

Please start by reviewing the attached Position Description and take a few minutes to learn more about us on our website. When you're ready to apply, click on Apply Now.

WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW:

At Merri, diversity and inclusion is critical to everything that we do, we want everyone to be themselves regardless of their background, religion, sexual orientation, age or gender so we can truly reflect the communities that we work in. No matter how you identify, we encourage people from all backgrounds, abilities and identities to apply for our roles.