V - Coach Family Mentor

Start your mission volunteer experience with The Salvation Army today

We are looking for compassionate people who share our mission and values, if you have the passion and drive to commit yourself to a challenging and rewarding role; we invite you to review our current vacancies.

ABOUT US

The Salvation Army is one of Australia’s largest and most-loved charities, helping thousands of Australians every year find hope in the midst of all kinds of personal hardship. The Salvation Army offers the opportunity to use your skills and expertise to make a real difference in the lives of people who need help most.

COACH (‘Creating Opportunities and Casting Hope’) is a mentoring program aimed at supporting people doing it tough in our community. Through goal-focussed mentoring we create space for people to recognise the place of historical and intergenerational trauma and to explore individual strengths, try new activities and step towards a brighter future.

The role of a mentor is to be ‘a friend with a purpose’. The purpose being to provide person-centred support through one-on-one community based mentoring.

Youth and Family mentors acknowledge that relationship is the vehicle for encouraging and empowering participants to achieve their nominated goals and/or make significant positive change.

Qualifications and Experience Requirements for the Role
- Experience in mentoring, coaching, counselling or equivalent
- Working With Children Check (volunteer version)
- National Criminal History Check
- Own car
- Current C Class Drivers Licence and comprehensive insurance
- Over 18
- Opportunity to undertake online and/or face to face Cultural Competency Workshop
- Undertake TSA Safeguarding and other Mandatory Training

Requirements for the role
- Well-developed interpersonal and intercultural communication skills (the ability to handle a
- challenging conversation)
- Ability to act in a culturally sensitive manner, particularly in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Capacity and commitment to adhere to boundaries of role
- Capacity and commitment to engage people from diverse backgrounds (e.g. sexual orientation,
- ethnicity, faith) in a non-judgemental and respectful manner
- Capacity and commitment to promote children’s safety and wellbeing at all times
- Undertakes activities in a safe manner and ensures the safety and well-being of self and participants and adheres to the Work Health and Safety policies and procedures of The Salvation Army
- Ability to maintain professional boundaries and high standards of ethics at all times
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport with diverse groups of people
- Ability to communicate and interact with people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- Demonstrated commitment to own spiritual and personal development
- A high level of maturity with the capacity to demonstrate empathy
- A sincere commitment to confidence and capacity building
- Ability to operate in and placate complex and stressful situations
- Able to work with professional discretion and confidentiality
- A deep understanding and respect for The Salvation Army’s unique doctrine and principles
- Actively supports and works within the mission, vision, values and culture of TSA
- Ability to work within a Christian and ecumenical ethos, without bias or judgement
- Is open to feedback on personal effectiveness and works to address personal skill and knowledge gaps
- Ability to provide support to people who are stressed and the ability to problem solve
- Ability and confidence to respond appropriately to participant needs
- Demonstrates resilience and dedication
- An ability to reflect on your own issues and the way that these may impact on coaching relationship

Time Commitment

Flexible, as agreed with Manager/Team Leader

Mentoring and Support
- Meet with COACH participant for 1-2 hours per week as agreed with participant
- Ensure meeting environment is appropriate
- Refer participants to other appropriate specialised support services and programs when required
- Stay up to date on support services and programs available within TSA and externally (local and national)
- Collaborate with other TSA services when required to support individuals, whilst always maintaining appropriate confidentiality (as per TSA privacy policy)
- Regularly check and update referral directory

Reporting and Supervision
- Complete feedback form each week
- Seek support from COACH Coordinator when required
- Engage in regular supervision with COACH Coordinator each month
- Attend bi-monthly team meetings

Commitment to The Salvation Army Mission
- Promote and advance the ethos of TSA by demonstrating an understanding and commitment to TSA Vision, Mission and Values, within the context of the COACH Program
- Adhere to the code of conduct and any other requirements to support you and others, and to protect the positive reputat