Switchboard Victoria is a community-based, not for profit organisation that provides peer-based, volunteer driven support services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and gender diverse, Intersex, Queer, Asexual and more (LGBTIQA+) people and their friends, families and allies.

Position Details

Employment Type: 0.8 EFT (30.4 hours per week), 12-month contract

Location: Flexible location: Working from home or office in St Kilda, Melbourne

Position Reports To: Suicide Prevention Manager

Direct Reports: None

Renumeration: Level 6, pay point 1, Social and Community Services Employee, as per Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award.

This includes an additional 10.5% superannuation and the option of salary packaging

About the Role

The Lived Experience Coordinator will be responsible for overseeing the development and coordination of Switchboard’s national LGBTIQA+ lived experience network. The national LGBTIQA+ lived experience network is a program that seeks to enable LGBTIQA+ people to become actively involved in suicide prevention activities by creating a connected, supported and peer-led network of LGBTIQA+ people who identify with having lived and living experiences of suicide. Through our program, participants may engage in capacity building workshops on advocacy, storytelling and group events that promote psychosocial peer-based connections.  

This role will require the successful candidate to:

• Coordinate and provide support to LGBTIQA+ people who have lived and living experiences around suicidal distress, bereavement and as carers to be involved in our lived experience program.
• Facilitate the process of network recruitment, design and deliver group program sessions and provide participants with short-term emotional support such as debriefing and check-ins where required.
• Outreach and promotion of network with focus on strengthening access and inclusion of LGBTIQA+ people who identify as queer, trans, intersex and bla(c)k and/or people of colour
• Review and develop policies, procedures and tools related to safety and daily running of the network.
• Work closely with the Suicide Prevention Manager and Policy Officer to produce best practice guidelines on engagement and co-design with LGBTIQA+ people who have lived experiences of suicide.
• Build strong relationships with sector partners in suicide prevention, LGBTIQA+ communities and government.
• Work with government to facilitate co-design sessions and increase involvement of LGBTIQA+ people with lived experience in the role out of mental health reform.
• Actively participate in the Switchboard Suicide Prevention team, including team meetings, attend clinical supervision and collaborate with colleagues continue building excellence in LGBTIQA+ suicide prevention.

The position will mainly work weekdays; however, occasional weekend work will be required. For the right candidate, applicants living in states and territories outside Victoria will be considered.

Switchboard Victoria is committed to supporting diversity and inclusion in our workforce and will consider all qualified applicants, regardless of sex, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability or national origin. Lived experience of suicide and community work, including volunteer work, will be highly valued in selection, along with professional skills, knowledge and training.

Switchboard especially welcomes and encourages applications from people who are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander; trans, gender diverse or intersex; disabled; carers; live with HIV, are culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), People of Colour or People of Faith and identify with having lived experience of suicide.

All Switchboard employees must be committed to Switchboard’s purpose, vision, values and principles, and to working collaboratively and respectfully.

Selection Criteria

1. Identify as LGBTIQA+ and a lived experience of suicide with an understanding of the impact it has on LGBTIQA+ people, communities and wellbeing.
2. Significant experience in coordinating volunteers, people with lived experience or working in a mental health role such as casework or counselling.
3. A strong understanding of what it means to take an intersectional approach to every aspect of your work and ability to apply an intersectional lens.
4. Experience supporting individuals experiencing heightened distress; experience with LGBTIQA+ communities will be highly favourable.
5. Demonstrated capacity to maintain confidentiality and professional standards of behaviour in difficult and sensitive circumstances.
6. Excellent communication including comfortable delivering public presentations, sophisticated writing style and strong interpersonal skills.

How to Apply

Please complete our online Wufoo form via the apply now button below to apply with a resume, cover letter and document addressing the selection criteria above.

Contact

For further information, please contact Anna Bernasochi (Suicide Prevention Manager). Email: [email protected], using the subject line: Lived Experience Coordinator enquiry via EthicalJobs, responses may take up to 48 hours.

Switchboard Victoria is based on the lands of the Yaluk-ut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrung peoples.

We acknowledge that our work takes place on lands that are under colonial occupation and that sovereignty has never been ceded. We hope to pay our deepest respects to Boon Wurrung elders, past and present, and wish to extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People across this country we know as Australia.