Wayside Chapel has provided unconditional love, care and support for people on and around the streets of Kings Cross since 1964.

Under the banner of Love Over Hate, Wayside's programs and services are designed to ensure that the most marginalised members of our community have access to essential health, welfare, social and recreational services.

Each year, thousands of people visit Wayside's two centres in Kings Cross and Bondi for assistance in gaining equitable access to essential health, welfare and related services.

Our mission is creating community with no ‘us and them,’ breaking down the barriers of judgement and providing a safe place where people from all walks of life are welcome.

Website: www.waysidechapel.org.au.

The Cultural Support Worker operates within our Aboriginal Cultural Centre and is responsible for maintaining a culturally safe environment for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visitors & staff

About the role:

Working with Visitors

• Greet visitors, built rapport, basic assessment of need and direct visitor flow through service.
• Contributing to the development and delivery of various cultural activities.
• Provide visitors with information on the Aboriginal Cultural Centre services and other services by local providers.
• Attend external and internal appointments with visitors to ensure they feel culturally safe and supported.
• Assist visitors with navigating services including but not limited to government and health.
• Provide crisis support and respond to immediate issues
• Maintain a safe environment through monitor visitor behaviour and managing incidents as the arise, including dealing with aggression and AOD/overdose.
• Promote independence, self-determination, and self-worth in visitors through one to one and community engagement.

Service Delivery

• Collaborate inform other programs within Wayside on cultural safety and practice for the advancement of visitor care
• Operate within a trauma-informed, healing-centred framework
• Explore opportunities to expand relationships with other local services
• Collaborate and work effectively with volunteers and with other programs within Wayside for the advancement of visitor care objectives
• Participate in interagency meetings when required and ensure Wayside offers a consistent and professional presence. Explore opportunities to expand relationships and collaborative work with local service providers
• Utilise a trauma informed care approach to all interactions with visitors
• Operate within a harm minimisation framework when working with visitors engaged in high- risk behaviours
• Ensure that all records are accurately kept in our database and system
• Follow all policies and procedures, including those relating to Work Health and Safety and care coordination models

You will have:

• TAFE level qualifications in Community Services Work, Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs or other relevant area, and/or extensive experience in the areas of addressing the needs of disadvantaged populations
• Cultural knowledge, understanding and awareness of issues facing the aboriginal community
• Experience working with at-risk populations and understanding of related issues, both practical and systematic (including but not limited to Juvenile Justice, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, CALD, trauma, homelessness, mental health, alcohol, and other drugs)
• Knowledge of and ability to operate regarding trauma informed principles
• Initiative, flexibility, and the ability to work in a demanding environment
• Ability to work as part of a team with a commitment to sharing knowledge and expertise and supporting Wayside culture
• Understanding of community-based model of care and commitment to the mission, vision and values of Wayside.

Special Conditions:

Note that this is an ‘identified position’ and it is a genuine requirement that the person in this position must be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural background.

Application and Recruitment Process

Applicants should provide their resume and a cover letter outlining how your skills and experience meet the selection criteria, via the link in the job ad.

Applications will be reviewed as submitted, so please apply right away.

Please note that we are firm in our belief that we must embrace all efforts within our remit to manage and mitigate the spread of COVID-19. So, we have made it mandatory for all staff and volunteers to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Offer of employment to the successful applicant is dependent upon completing a Police Check and Working with Children Check prior to commencing employment.