About RNLC

The River Nile Learning Centre (RNLC) provides education programs, services and self-development opportunities to refugee, asylum seeker, newly arrived and migrant women whose age, visa, or personal circumstances prohibit them from enrolling in formal education or employment programs.

In addition to these core programs, we provide a range of critical services, including food relief, driving lessons, public transport cards and social support. All of our services are provided completely free of charge. Consequently, RNLC has the freedom to identify and pursue new opportunities in response to the changing needs of the women we support, plus the flexibility to offer lessons over four days per week, so our students can attend classes on the days that work best for them.

RNLC adopts a holistic model for aiding the unique educational and support needs of each student; therefore developing strong student-staff relationships is essential. As many of our students come from backgrounds where they may have experienced significant trauma, we adopt a trauma-informed approach to our practice.

About the role

The Community Services and Social Support Worker will play a critical role in supporting our students to remove barriers to engagement/re-engagement with their education. Central to this role will be supporting students to resolve practical personal challenges and, when challenges are complex, referring students to appropriately skilled agencies.

This role will require the ability to work effectively in a dynamic, professional team environment and in accordance with RNLC values while striving for the long-term RNLC learning vision, to ensure practice is aligned with goals.

Responsibilities

• Provide trauma-informed, student-centred intake, outreach and engagement to RNLC students as required. This includes practical support such as navigating Centrelink, Medicare, housing and decision making, and managing formal paperwork.
• Support students on an appointment-based system.
• Monitor student attendance and follow up with those students who disengage.
• Coordinate the referral of students to external specialist agencies for complex support (e.g. CoHealth, Safe Steps, Headspace, Housing Services etc) in consultation with RNLC staff.
• Facilitate student access to external support services and agencies.
• Facilitate guest speakers and programs that foster positive life skills, social skills, financial literacy, resilience, recreational and work readiness skills.
• Ensure accurate records are kept of supports and interventions provided for identified students (these should be documented as chronicle entries in Compass).
• Provide organisation support, resourcing and other duties as requested that are within the level of the position and scope of incumbent’s competencies and training.

About You

• You have relevant tertiary qualifications in the areas of Social Support, Social Work, Community Services or similar.
• You bring 2+ years relevant experience, including working with CALD students or communities with complex needs.
• You have a commitment to diversity and social justice principles.
• You are self-motivated, organised, flexible, creative and a strategic thinker.
• You are mature, with strong relationship management skills and a passion and care for student safety, wellbeing and life outcomes.
• We are a child safe organisation, so all new hires will require a current Working With Children Check.

Desirable

• Candidates of CALD backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

Employment Conditions

• Flexible working conditions, either 3 days (0.6 FTE) or 4 days (0.8 FTE).
• Salary up to $70,000 FTE (plus super).
• Tax-beneficial salary packaging available.
• Employee assistance program available.
• Contract duration: February 2024 – December 2024 with possibility of extension (3-month probation period applies).
• The position reports on the River Nile Learning Executive Officer.

If you’ve questions about the role, please contact: [email protected] using the subject line: Community Services and Social Support Worker enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.