Pride in Ageing Support Officer

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.

About Switchboard Victoria (Inc.) 

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. 

Our current activities include: 

• Phone and web counselling and referral – Switchboard provides anonymous and free LGBTIQA+ peer support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings, or relationships. 

• Community connections for older LGBTI+ people – Switchboard’s Pride in Ageing program works to tackle ageism and strengthen social inclusion and community connection for older LGBTI+* Victorians. The Out and About peer visiting program builds friendship and connection between LGBTI+ seniors living anywhere in Victoria and through regular volunteer visits.     

• Rainbow Door – is a free specialist LGBTIQA+ helpline providing information, support, and referral to all LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and family.

• Suicide prevention – research and development of suicide prevention resources and programs for LGBTIQA+ communities. 

• QTIBPoC Programs – The QTIBPoC programs aim to build greater equity for Queer, Trans, Intersex and Bla(c)k, Indigenous and/or People of Colour and People of Faith.

• Training Program – Switchboard delivers a range of training to the community and service sector organisations.
• Rainbow Families – Connecting and supporting LGBTIQA+ parents, carers, and their families. 

For more information about each of Switchboard’s current activities visit: www.switchboard.org.au

About Pride in Ageing

Pride in Ageing is a new Victorian Government funded initiative led by Switchboard Victoria. Pride in Ageing aims to reduce social isolation, tackle ageism, and work with local communities to build long-term improvement and change for older lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans/gender diverse and intersex (LGBTI+)* Victorians. The project has a specific focus on centring the experience and needs of older LGBTI+ people to pilot solutions that are peer-designed, culturally safe and locally relevant.

Working with partners and community members, this project will centre older LGBTI+ people to co-design their own solutions at every step. This project sits within the broader Pride in Ageing Program at Switchboard, alongside policy and advocacy work, the Out and About Aged Care Volunteer Visiting Scheme and Victorian Government funded visiting program.

At Switchboard, when working with older people, we use the acronym LGBTI+ in response to feedback we have had from older LGBTIQA+ people that for some the term “queer” is offensive due to the historical use of this word being used in an abusive and insulting manner. Our use of this acronym encompasses all LGBTIQA+ identities, and no-one is out of scope.

Position Details

Title: Pride in Ageing Project Support Officer

Organisation: Switchboard Victoria (Inc)

Employment Type: 0.6 FTE (22.8 hours per week), 12-month fixed term contract

Classification/Remuneration: Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry (SCHADS) Award 2010 Community Services Employee Level 4.1 ($43.08 per hour)

Plus, Superannuation 11.5%

Plus, tax benefit from salary sacrifice package of up to $15,899

Location: Victorian Pride Centre, 79-81 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda VIC 3182

Other offices of Switchboard Victoria in Melbourne’s inner north.

Switchboard has a hybrid work policy; some remote work is permitted.

Applicants must:

• reside in Melbourne

• reside in greater Victoria and be willing to commute to Melbourne on workdays, or

• be willing to relocate to Melbourne on successful appointment.

Reports to: Pride in Ageing Program Lead

Position Overview

The Pride in Ageing Project Support Officer is responsible for supporting the delivery of this exciting new project reporting to the Pride in Ageing Program Lead. The role will support four (4) Regional Coordinators and the Pride in Ageing Program Lead to meet project objectives and milestones.

We are looking for a person with a passion for working with older people, a generosity of spirit, kindness, and commitment to working with a diverse community. The primary responsibility of the Pride in Ageing Project Support Officer is to support and organise co-design activities in collaboration with the Regional Coordinators. This includes documenting co-design deliverables such as hearing stories from older people and collating findings for reports and communications.

As Project Support Officer you will work closely with the project team to support the effective governance and secretariat support including preparation of agenda, papers, minutes and logistics. This role would suit someone who can generate creative solutions to support day-to-day activities and support management of administrative systems.

There will be occasional work outside of regular office hours and travel across Victoria to attend meetings and events as appropriate to the role.

This role is hybrid and will work from the Switchboard offices in St Kilda and Melbourne’s inner north.

Responsibilities and Duties

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Assisting in the planning, implementation, tracking, communication, and reporting project activities and outcomes to ensure high quality project delivery.
• Organising meeting logistics as needed, including scheduling, venue bookings, catering, audiovisual equipment and meeting setup.
• Supporting bookkeeping procedures, including input of expense receipts and forwarding invoices for payment.
• Supporting the running of events by engaging with attendees and contributing to creating a safe environment.
• Creating and updating contact lists using CRM data and other sources.
• Managing online and in-person event planning, delivery and evaluation.
• Working collaboratively with the Pride in Ageing Program Lead, evaluators and Pride in Ageing staff on data collection tasks for reports and other relevant documentation.
• Contributing to the creation of Pride in Ageing social media, development of resources and collateral, newsletter creation and report writing.
• Acting as Secretariat for an Expert Advisory Committee and several internal committees, including taking minutes and following up action items.
• Management of relevant inboxes resolving enquiries or forwarding to appropriate organisational contacts.
• There will be occasional work outside of regular office hours and travel across Victoria to assist with meetings and attend events.

Key Selection Criteria

Essential

1. Applicant must identify as part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender diverse, Intersex, asexual (LGBTIQA+) [Switchboard Victoria has an exemption under the Equal Employment].
2. Demonstrated experience working in an administrative/project support or customer service role.
3. Previous administration and organisational experience with a demonstrated ability to effectively plan, prioritise tasks, exercising judgement and initiative.
4. Computer literacy and able to effectively use a wide range of programs including Microsoft 365 applications.
5. An understanding of what it means to take an antiracist and intersectional approach to every aspect of your work.
6. Strong interpersonal skills and verbal and written communication skills with demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with people from a wide range of ages, professional and cultural backgrounds.
7. An ability to adapt to challenges as they arise and develop flexible workable solutions to those challenges when implementing change.
8. A current Australian drivers’ license (or equivalent).
9. Current Victoria Police Check (or willingness to undergo this prior to commencement).

Highly Desirable

1. Previous experience working with LGBTIQA+ people who identify as queer, trans, intersex and bla(c)k and/or people of colour.
2. An understanding of volunteering or working to support older people with disability and/or care needs.
3. Previous experience assisting with communication or marketing support, resources, events and promotional materials.

To find out more and apply

Please carefully review the selection criteria for this position, which you should systematically address in your application (this does not have to be in a separate document), which should also include your resume listing all relevant employment and volunteer experience and qualifications and a cover letter.

Contact

For more information, please contact Rowena Doo, Pride in Ageing Lead.

Email: [email protected] using the subject line: Pride in Ageing Support Officer enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Applications close: 10am on the closing date.

*Rolling interviews will be held, so we encourage applicants to apply before closing date.

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.  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 and/or People of Faith; identify with having lived experiences of suicide and mental ill-health.

Find out more about working at Switchboard at http://www.switchboard.org.au/