Community Engagement

**Date Posted**:

- January 15, 2025
**Make a REAL difference** and become part of a vital new collaboration called **Mental Health & Wellbeing Locals**. The Locals is community-led in the Yarra Ranges and integrated through a partnership with ourselves at **Inspiro, Wellways, Eastern Health**, and **Oonah**.

The Locals focus is on **care and support** for people aged 26 years and over who are experiencing mental health concerns - including people with co-occurring alcohol and drug treatment and care needs and their family, carers, and supporters.

We are seeking an experienced, skilled and passionate Community Engagement & Inclusion Worker, to join the Building Community Capacity team who are dedicated to placing the community at the forefront of the Yarra Ranges Mental Health and Wellbeing Local.

You will ideally have a background in **Community Health** (or similar) and enjoy building **connection** and **relationships** with a wide range of individuals and community stakeholders.

The role is **part time (0.8 FTE four days per week) ongoing** and based mainly at our Lilydale site plus other sites as required (Yarra Junction and Belgrave).

Come and join our values-based, community organisation - being **Friendly, Client** **Centred and Local** are who we are and what we’re about.

**About the role**:
As the Community Engagement & Inclusion Worker you will utilise your specialised expertise and strong communication and relationship building skills, to engage with diverse stakeholders and support co-design initiatives to ensure a local focus for the Mental Health and Wellbeing Local in the Yarra Ranges region.

The role will focus on collaborating with and empowering communities to enhance their ability to recognise and address psychological distress, while fostering social and emotional wellbeing.

You will also establish seamless referral pathways that connect individuals with a diverse array of health, social, and community services, ensuring they have the necessary support for their recovery journey.

**Position Responsibilities**:
**In the role you will**:

- Develop and implement outreach strategies to engage diverse community groups and individuals, with a particular focus on vulnerable/hard to reach groups
- Build relationships with external service providers and report on opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships that progress the Yarra Ranges Local toward its objectives
- Conduct informational sessions and workshops to educate the community about mental health, available services, and destigmatise mental health challenges
- Collaborate with local organisations, and community centres to organise events promoting mental health awareness
- Develop and coordinate community programs that focus on building resilience, coping skills, and fostering a sense of belonging
- Lead the development, implementation, evaluation of community engagement and co-design activities
- Facilitate engaging and inclusive community forums, workshops, consultations catering to diverse needs and abilities
- Advocate for systemic change in mental health services based on lived experience and community needs
- Assist in the planning, development and delivery of community-based activities including but not limited to mental health literacy sessions and health promotion and community development engagements.

**About You**:

- Deep understanding of mental health challenges and diverse lived experiences, leveraging lived-experience insights to inform engagement strategies
- Strong organisational and development skills
- Strong commitment to promoting recovery oriented and trauma informed approaches in community engagement
- Passionate and experienced in building trusting relationships with individuals, families, community members and stakeholders
- Understanding and alignment with the recommendations of Victoria’s Royal Commission into Mental Health
- Demonstrated high level of self-awareness and an ability to operate within clearly defined boundaries of responsibility
- Strong ability to convey warmth and openness in your communication
- Capacity to work autonomously and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, efficiently managing multiple tasks in a dynamic environment
- Ability to work respectfully and creatively with a CALD client population, Indigenous Peoples and the LGBTIQA+ community
- Skilled in active listening, building rapport and facilitating productive dialogue in group settings
- Demonstrates commitment to reconciliation
- Work towards creating culturally aware and safe services for First Nations Community Members.

**You will also have**:

- **Minimum Diploma Qualification** in health-related field, health promotion or community development
- **Minimum 2 years working in a community health** or health promotion setting
- **Previous experience in a community engagement**, peer work, or similar role
- **Lived or living experience** as a consumer, family member or carer of someone experiencing men