About the role

The Rainbow Mental Health Policy and Projects Officer will have a specific focus on:

• (60%) Delivering the project Queer of Mind: LGBTIQA+ young people, policy and the mental health reform process. This will include conducting analysis of emerging research, identifying current issues, engaging with stakeholders, facilitating consultations, contributing to advocacy strategies and developing high quality policy written content.
• (40%) Administering and coordinating the Healthy Equal Youth Initiative. This includes coordinating the HEY grants selection process, planning and delivery of the annual HEY Day, and supporting the regular gatherings of the HEY Community of Practice.

This role also supports the Policy, Evidence and Advocacy team more broadly in its day-to-day activities.

You’ll work in a fast-paced environment and work across a number of diverse tasks at the same time.

About the Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic)

Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic) is the peak body and leading policy advocate on young people's issues in Victoria. Our vision is that the rights of young people in Victoria are respected, and they are active, visible and valued in their communities. For over 60 years, YACVic has advocated for the best interests of young people (aged 12-25 years) and the sector that works with them.

YACVic provides additional targeted advocacy and services through our key services, YACVic Rural and the Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS).

About the HEY Initiative

The Healthy Equal Youth (HEY) initiative delivers placed support, services and opportunities to LGBTIQA+ young people and their families, with a particular focus on mental health. As part of the HEY initiative, YACVic coordinates and administers an annual grant round, known as the HEY grants, and coordinates a Community of Practice of 16 organisations, ‘HEY Partners’, who deliver place-based services to LGBTIQA+ young people across Victoria.

About the Queer of Mind Project

Over a 12-month period the ‘Queer of Mind’ project aims to ensure the unique mental health needs and perspectives of LGBTIQA+ young people are directly fed into the Victorian Government’s mental health reform process.

This will include provision of policy advice to the government, guided by current and emerging evidence, and through capturing and communicating the intersecting needs and identities of LGBTIQA+ young people. This includes but is not limited to LGBTIQA+ young people and their families from rural communities, LGBTIQA+ young people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQA+ young people, LGBTIQA+ young people from multicultural backgrounds, and LGBTIQA+ young people experiencing homelessness.

Benefits of working at YACVic

• Generous terms and benefits
• Flexible, disability friendly, family friendly, rainbow friendly
• Fun work culture, with a social purpose, in a new and accessible Melbourne CBD office
• Diversity, working with a dynamic group of youth organisations that includes regional and rural young people, the Youth Disability Advocacy Service, multicultural, Koorie and rainbow young people.
• High degree of collegial support & sector-leading professional development

YACVic is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Young people, people with disability, people from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.

Employment conditions

YACVic promotes the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all children and young people, including those with a disability, those who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or those from refugee or migrant backgrounds. We take child protection very seriously.

All employees are subject to screening and assessment against child safety standards, including rigorous background, identity and reference checks. The successful applicant will require a current Working with Children Check and Police Check (costs reimbursed) and must agree to adhere to our child safe policy and code of conduct.

YACVic is a mandated workplace and requires all staff to be up to date with their Covid-19 vaccinations unless they have a valid exemption.

To be eligible to apply for this position you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or hold a valid work permit or visa.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact Lucy, YACVic Policy and Advocacy Manager, via email: [email protected] using the subject line: Rainbow Mental Health Policy and Projects Officer enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Please refer to the full position description attached.