• Hours: 37.5 hours per week - negotiable
• Reports to: CEO
• Salary: $65,000-$70,000 p/a
• Date: July 2021

About the Mirabel Foundation

We are an Australian Children's Charity that was established in Victoria in 1998 and extended into New South Wales in 2003. Mirabel is the vision of Jane Rowe, who identified a vulnerable group of children and took action to make a positive difference in their lives. In her work as a drug and alcohol counsellor, Jane witnessed the devastating effects that drug use has on the children of drug users and the cycle of abuse that repeats itself through generations if action is not taken.

Mirabel believes that every child deserves a childhood and our mission is to break the destructive cycle of addiction. We achieve this through the delivery of proven programs for children who have been orphaned or abandoned due to their parents’ illicit drug use. We also provide crisis support and parenting assistance for the kinship carers faced with the responsibility of raising the children. Mirabel’s vision is that every child has a childhood filled with love, hope and belonging.

About Mirabel’s Youth & Children’s Programs

Mirabel is often the one constant in a child’s life. We provide a wide range of programs that span across childhood and adolescence that include recreational activities, camps, therapeutic groups, youth support, educational assistance and advocacy.

It is common at our Big Days Out and Mega Camps to hear children say that they’ve never had so much fun in their lives. These events are all about creating happy childhood memories while letting children discover that they are not alone in their experiences. Important friendships are formed between the Mirabel children and many of these continue into adulthood.

Our groups are often the first time that children are able to talk openly about their difficult past without feeling judged or excluded. There is great comfort that comes with knowing you are not alone and are not to blame for your parents’ decisions. There is also great confidence that comes with knowing you have the ability to succeed at school and that you have options for a happy and productive future.

Our Youth & Children’s Programs provide a pathway out of the cycle of disadvantage typically experienced by these young people.

Where you come in

We’re looking for someone who can make a child or young person feel like they are the most important person in a room. You will need to be able to plan meticulously while being flexible enough to adapt quickly to changing situations. We need someone who can help lead a small team while also being energised by groups of excited and sometimes challenging children. You will need to be comfortable working in collaboration with the Family Support Team to support the kinship carers with any specific concerns regarding their child.

We’re looking for someone who can confidently deliver the following key objectives:

• Oversee Mirabel’s Children’s Programs
• Provide child and youth support, recreational activities, referral and follow-up for vulnerable children and youth.
• Lead and support staff and volunteers.

Here’s some of the things that your role will involve:

• Plan, organise, facilitate and evaluate our therapeutic girls group program: you’ll be co-facilitating six separate therapeutic girls groups each month. The groups take place in various locations throughout Melbourne from 4:30-6:30pm on a weeknight (1-2 nights per week). You will also follow up any issues raising during the groups and debrief with team members and volunteers.
• Plan, organise, facilitate and evaluate recreational activities: we love providing fun events and camps for children and young people. You’ll work alongside our child and youth team to deliver exciting and attractive opportunities for the Mirabel children and youth. You will also follow up any issues raised during events and debrief with team members and volunteers. There will be some weekend work and overnight stays (approximately one weekend per month).
• Provide one-to-one youth support: we work closely with young people who are experiencing crisis or are unable to join our group programs. You’ll have a small case load of young people who you will see regularly. The focus of this support will be to maintain the young person’s place within the family, link them in with local services and, where appropriate, prepare them for integration into Mirabel’s group programs.
• Plan, organise, facilitate and evaluate a yearly camp for young people starting year 7: we like to help young people to make a smooth transition from primary to secondary school. We help young people to prepare for the challenges ahead with a fun camp that focusses on their unique needs. After the camp, you will follow up on any issues raised and debrief with team members and volunteers.
• Provide regular supervision and support for team members working in Mirabel’s Children’s Programs: you’ll work alongside team members to help them manage work load, plan for events, evaluate their programs, provide opportunities to debrief and assist with orientation for new staff.
• Complete administrative tasks and other duties as needed: you’ll keep comprehensive notes in our Outcomes Management Database (CSNet), complete impact measurement and evaluation tasks, provide reports to the Mirabel board and ensure all policies and procedures are adhered to. There may be times where you are asked to help out our Family Programs by attending a Family Fun Day or a Kinship Carer Support Meeting.
• Act in accordance with Mirabel's Code of Conduct: we are committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all Mirabel children and families at all times.

The skills we’re after

• Service provision to children and families: we’re looking for someone with at least 3 years experience working with children and families including the provision of group work and individual support.
• Coordination and leading team members: you’ll need experience providing support to team members and working collaboratively. We have a culture of mutual trust and respect. We ask our coordinators to communicate honestly with each other while focusing on strengths and working together to address difficulties.
• Autonomy and initiative: you’ll need to be great at managing your own time and coming up with a list of tasks to complete. We’ll help point you in the right direction, but it is up to you to steer the ship.
• Knowledge and understanding of child protection processes and how drug issues affect families : we need someone who has a solid understanding of the issues being faced by the children and families that we support and the ability to share this knowledge with others.
• Experienced juggler: there are lots of different components to this program, so we need someone who is competent and excited by having a number of balls in the air.
• Victorian Drivers Licence and Microsoft Office Skills: you’ll need to be able to drive yourself and sometimes transport children to events. You’ll also need to be confident communicating on the computer and social media.

Required for the role

• Tertiary Qualification Qualifications in Health, Social Sciences, Education or other relevant fields

• Working with Children Check and Police Check required before commencement.

In addition, the position requires meeting the behaviour standards outlined in Mirabel’s Practice and Behaviour Policy and Procedure and to:

• Promote the safety and wellbeing of children and young people to whom we provide services.
• Report any suspicions, concerns, allegations or disclosures of alleged abuse to management.
• Maintain valid ‘working with children’ documentation.
• Undergo periodic criminal history record checks.
• Report to management any criminal charges or convictions you receive during the course of your employment that may indicate a possible risk to children and young people.

Authority

• This position is accountable to the CEO of The Mirabel Foundation and the Manager Policy, Services and Partnerships.
• This position will be expected to work collaboratively in consultation with the Mirabel leadership team, Mirabel coordinators and the CEO.
• Pre-approval from the CEO or Finance Manager is required for all expenses.

Further information about Mirabel can be found at www.mirabelfoundation.org.au.

We are committed to safeguarding children. All successful candidates will need to complete a Police Check and Working with Children Check.