Coordinator, Community Visitors Program

About us
The Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) is an independent statutory agency that aims to protect the rights and enhance the position of people with disabilities in Victoria. OPA is a human rights organisation that promotes the diversity and inclusion of all people. OPA's vision is of a just and inclusive society that values and respects people from all walks of life and ages. OPA promotes a workplace culture where disability, and diversity of gender identities, sexualities, faiths, ethnicities, and abilities are respected. OPA values a range of experience in its employees, including professional, volunteer and lived experience.
The Community Visitor Program (CVP) focuses on protecting the human rights of people in care via regular visits by volunteers covering three streams - disability, mental health, and residential services. The Program comprises VPS staff and more than 450 volunteers. Volunteers have powers to inspect inpatient psychiatric facilities, supported residential services and residential facilities for people with a disability throughout metropolitan, regional and rural Victoria.
About the role
This position will be responsible for supporting the Community Visitors in their allocated division to understand their role and act in accordance with the program's policies and procedures as well as supporting the relevant Community Visitors Board.

**In this role, you will also**:

- support the preparation of the Community Visitors annual report to Parliament including assistance to volunteers and writing sections of the report
- advocate on behalf of CVP clients as required
- provide executive support for meetings, advice and where appropriate, advocacy on relevant issues and from time to time, support to adhoc project working groups.

This is a fixed-term role for two years.
About you

Technical Expertise
- Sector and content knowledge: Demonstrated ability and experience working in the Disability, Health or Human services sectors. Understands issues relating to people with a disability and/or mental illness.
- Volunteer management: Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in volunteer management practices and a thorough understanding of National Volunteering Standards.
- Advanced computer skills: Understands and applies advanced computer skills to complex word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, or database functions.

You will also have excellent problem solving skills, with the ability to adapt systems and processes quickly to changed priorities and situations.

How to apply

**FOR INTERNAL VPS EMPLOYEES**:
**IMPORTANT INFORMATION**:
The department is committed to providing and maintaining a working environment which is safe and without risk to the health of its employees consistent with the department's obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic). Therefore, there is a requirement that all DJCS employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to undertake duties outside of their homes.
At interview stage and prior to commencement of employment with the department, you will need to provide evidence that you are vaccinated against COVID-19 with three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Upon commencement of employment with the department you will be required to provide evidence that you have an up-to-date vaccination status within the timelines specified by the department into the DJCS Service Portal. This includes evidence of three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine required by the department (from time to time).

**Acceptable evidence includes**:

- COVID-19 digital certificate or ATAGI exemption certificate (available via your myGov account)
- Your immunisation history statement (available via your myGov account)

Other documentation outside the above will not be accepted as evidence of having received your COVID-19 vaccine doses.