• Reports to: General Manager/CEO
• Location: Outer East of Melbourne - Main areas include the Maroondah and Yarra Ranges councils
• Hours: Casual role (7–15 hours with weekday and weekend availability and room to grow, after school, evening, and weekend availability important)

THE ORGANISATION

The MISFIT Project is an organisation that focuses on using performing arts, written word and other creative means to help young people express themselves, build their confidence and provide them with a place to belong within their community.

THE POSITION

Are you passionate about creating positive social change? Do you want to work with diverse groups of young people? This is your opportunity to build a career connecting with young people, promoting inclusion, building social leadership, improving wellbeing and helping to break down barriers.

We are searching for genuine, passionate and motivated people to provide mentoring and support to those within our community who require additional support, including but not limited to, helping to remove or minimise barriers which affect an individual’s ability to be and feel included or to contribute in the way they desire, and connecting with their family, friends and their community. We are also looking for applicants who are comfortable supporting the running of group programs, including theatre, creative writing, outdoor adventures, social programs and more.

If you’re committed to lifting up young people, are passionate about youth issues, and have experience in community work, performance, public speaking and/or facilitation, then you may be the right fit for The MISFIT Project.

We believe in an approach that allows our participants to build their self-confidence and work towards personal goals out in the community with their peers and people of all different abilities and backgrounds.

The environment our programs provide is focused on helping to improve mental, as well as physical, well being; and encouraging young people to break down barriers that stand in their way, as nothing is unachievable - it can just take some creative thinking to get there.

As a Program Support person, you will be trained in our content and we will support you to develop your facilitation skills. No two sessions are ever the same - so adaptability is important. Each day brings plenty of variety, as you’ll be working with different groups, and different individuals supporting them to meet their goals. As part of the role, you will have the opportunity to help grow the range of programs and be involved in the assessing and improving of programs.

As a Mentor, you will be trained in our goal driven mentoring program and matched with people with similar interests and passions and given an opportunity to assist them to work towards their goals and feel confident to contribute to their communities.

The nature of our work means that we often work with incredibly vulnerable people. We are often supporting people in challenging circumstances, and often will be a point of disclosure for our participants. It is important that you feel confident to support people in these situations and that you understand our processes and policies around these types of situations, particularly regarding confidentiality.

CORE Expectations

• Display positive role modelling and social leadership behaviours to young people
• Contribute creatively to program content by workshopping new activity ideas, strategies and messaging to maximise impact
• Participate in training and self-education
• Be passionate about The MISFIT Project’s vision to empower young people and give them a voice in their community.
• Have good people skills and good conflict management skills.
• Be inclusive and accepting
• Be able to work independently
• Be adaptable and flexible

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

• Strong passion and commitment to youth issues and working with young people in a creative, youthful and strengths-based way
• Experience in public speaking, facilitation or performing.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive both independently and as part of a team
• Connection to, lived experience of, or experience working with diverse communities, including but not limited to, people of colour, LGBTQIA+ people, disability, and people from regional and rural areas
• Demonstrated passion for community contribution through role modelling, listening, learning and/or taking action on social issues
• An ideal candidate has good afternoon and evening ability and is willing to work occasional weekends with current Australian drivers’ licence and permanent access to a car every day (essential, please be aware this role includes a significant amount of driving throughout the Eastern suburbs and Yarra Valley).
• Be relatable to the young people we are supporting, (We support young people between the ages of 8-26yrs)
• A minimum of 12 months commitment to the role, with a 3 month trial period.

We welcome applications that demonstrate these skills and criteria, whether that be in a professional or volunteer capacity, or through lived experience.

If you have questions about any of the above, please get in touch via 0400 889 316 or [email protected] using the subject line: Youth Mentor and Program Facilitator enquiry via EthicalJobs.

To learn more: www.themisfitproject.org.au