Position Title: Family Support Worker

Purpose of Position: To provide support to families to improve the wellbeing of children and young people, enhancing family and community functioning, as well as increasing the participation of vulnerable people in community life.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: above all, take direction from the Family & Community Support Co-ordinator and work with the other Family Support Workers on activities and services of the Family Support Program with Caloundra Community Centre Inc. Some of this work may include the following responsibilities and duties:

Engage, collaborate and coordinate supports to identify community needs, develop strong referral pathways and coordinate holistic supports to drive improved outcomes for families and children

Provide case management, including visits to the person's home or their preferred location

Advocate alongside families and provide systems navigation to improve their situations when appropriate

Develop and build on existing networks and collaborative relationships with local services to promote effective referral pathways and coordination of supports for families

Deliver parenting education, supported playgroups and other early intervention strategies with individuals or in a group setting as required

Explore opportunities to develop other community supports and connections with families

Listen to people's stories and look for opportunities to link them with others experiencing similar situations for the purpose of peer support, community connection or to act together to bring about change

Undertake evaluation processes that report on outcomes

Maintain effective administrative systems and data collection and fulfill reporting requirements

Maintain up-to-date knowledge of local resources

Knowledge and Skills Required:

Tertiary qualification in Social Sciences, Social Work or equivalent and experience of working in the community sector

Minimum of 1-2 years of experience working in the community sector is required

Ability to articulate your framework of practice which draws from specific values, principles and social theories

Knowledge and/ or experience in working with families with a case management approach

Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to relate to a diverse range of people

Excellent organisational skills

Ability to work autonomously as well as actively participate as a team member

Demonstrated knowledge of and ability to use computer software packages, internet, email and networked systems

Current driver's license

Blue Card for Child Related Employment.

Location: Based at Caloundra Community Centre and/or Baringa Community Centre, working with families in and around Caloundra, and Glasshouse Country.

Salary: Social, Community, Homecare & Disability Services Award Level 4 (Salary Sacrifice available)

Conditions & Hours: Permanent 28 hours per week

If you are interested in applying for this role, please submit a cover letter, résumé and respond in writing to the following selection criteria:

Key Selection Criteria

Tertiary qualification in Social Sciences, Social Work or equivalent and experience of working in the community sector

A commitment to the principles of social justice and walking alongside families to challenge structural barriers

An understanding of building community, and the work community/neighbourhood centres do

Knowledge and/ or experience in working with children and families in a case management capacity

Good communication skills with a focus on building rapport with vulnerable people, parents, children, young people and older people (grandparents & kin)

Ability to work co-operatively as part of a team (Family & Community Support programs) and the larger staff group (the organisation). This includes the ability to work flexibly to respond to the demands on the organisation

Excellent written, interpersonal and oral communication skills, including technology skills and experience in group facilitation.

About Caloundra Community Centre

Our mission: To walk alongside people and communities towards social and structural change.

Caloundra Community Centre Inc. has a commitment to inclusiveness and seeks to respond to and address the needs and aspirations of the most socially, culturally and economically disadvantaged and discriminated groups in the community. Through a participatory community development approach, we offer a range of community support services and programs from the Caloundra Community Centre, Baringa Community Centre, and a range of community development opportunities in the Caloundra region and the southern part of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland / Glasshouse country communities.

As a community organisation, Caloundra Community Centre Inc. promotes collaborative working relationships with local and regional organisations and networks to maximize the most effective use of resources in meeting local community need.

Caloundra Community Centre is governed by a management committee of 7 volunteer delegates elected by the membership of the organisation.

Current Programs, services and activities offered by Caloundra Community Centre Inc include:

Community information and referrals

Family Support programs

A variety of family focused groups and activities such as playgroups, parenting education and peer support

Community Development programs that operate in the Caloundra and Hinterland areas of the Sunshine Coast

A multicultural program that engages with migrants from the greater Caloundra area

The Pets for Life Program

A hub for visiting outreach services

Financial Resilience including Emergency Relief,

Affordable venues for hire by Community groups (Caloundra and Baringa)

How work is done at Caloundra Community Centre

All our services, activities and programs are delivered within a community development framework that aims to:

Create relationships for personal/family support and community connectedness

Create community connections and belonging through facilitation and participation

Connect people with social and economic participation and opportunities to improve their resilience and prospects

Support people to feel a sense of control in decisions that affect their lives

Increase participation around people's concerns and interests

Hosting for real participation and community building

Hosting people requires giving time and creating inviting spaces that make people feel valued. Holding space is about valuing people's stories, allowing time for connections to be made. Approaching service delivery and community participation from this perspective creates new connections, support, opportunities and even new personal beliefs about self and others. It creates community.

We welcome all people – people come first!

We are good hosts – we invite and listen; we don’t turn people away

We sit with people – connect naturally, believe in their strengths and offer support

People are treated as valued community members – when it’s about relationships, you don’t listen for problems; people are not just clients

We provide spaces and opportunities for social participation – this is particularly important for those who do not feel welcome elsewhere.

We are community builders – not just service providers: we facilitate belonging

Community based and participant driven

Family/client/ citizen driven

We integrate our services, programs and activities to respond to immediate problems and facilitate opportunities to improve people’s prospects

We secure resources (government, philanthropic and community) to respond to community needs and aspirations – we don't chase funding for funding's sake

Culture of leadership

We are all leaders here: we share language and culture across the organisation

We are responsive: flexible, non-hierarchical, acting in a timely way

Applications for this job close on Monday the 27th of October AT 8AM