POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position Title:
Youth Health Sector Support Project Officer
RESPONSIBLE TO:
Education Manager
POSITION STATUS:
Part Time: 0.8 FTE (28 hours / week) Some flexibility required
CLASSIFICATION:
Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry
Award 2010, Level 4
This is a 14-month position dependent on ongoing funding
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The Youth Health Sector Support Officer will work with the Education Manager, Health and
Wellness team and policy officers to support and build the capacity of the youth, health and
welfare sectors to improve the health young people in New South Wales, including those who
are disadvantaged, at risk or experiencing homelessness.
WORKING ENVIRIONMENT
The position is located at the head office of Yfoundations (Inc) in Redfern. Some travel is
necessary. Yfoundations is a not for profit organisation whose purpose is:
To End Youth Homelessness in NSW and Australia
DIMENSIONS
This position supports organisations and activities that build the youth, health and welfare
sectors to respond to the health needs of young people. It is responsible for organisational
support for the NSW Youth Health Council, the Youth Health Forum, as well as capacity building
through training and development of and advocacy for improved policy around youth health. The
position also supports other health and youth related projects run by Yfoundations as required.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
This position will report to the Yfoundations Education Manager on day-to-day matters. It also
reports to the Yfoundations CEO as required.
The Youth Health Sector Support Project Officer may also assist to supervise the day-to-day
work of a student or volunteer placed within the Health projects team as required.
MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES
Key Responsibilities
Tasks
1.
Coordinate and
support youth
health networks
across NSW Ø Provide secretarial and administrative support to the NSW Youth
Health Council; including facilitating working group meetings,
minute taking, and monthly newsletter.
Ø Work with NSW Youth Health Council, NSW Kids and Families
and NSW LHDs to provide opportunities health providers to
engage with and participate in NSW Youth Health Council, Youth
Health Forums and youth health conferences
2.
Build youth, health,
and welfare service
capacity to respond
to the health needs
of young people. Ø Work with the Education Manager to provide youth health training
to youth, health, and welfare workers
Ø Promote and support the Youth Health Resource Kit to youth,
health, and welfare workers and organisations
Ø Contribute to the scoping and delivery of the NSW Kids and
Families workforce development initiative
Ø Contribute to the organisation, promotion and presentation of the
NSW Youth Health Forum and state and national health youth
health conferences
3.
Consult with and
advocate for
marginalised young
people in relation to
their health needs,
access to health
services and policy
recommendations Ø Develop mechanisms to engage with and support young people
to give advice about, advocate for and take action to enhance the
wellbeing of young people in NSW
Ø Work with Yfoundations policy officers to advocate for the health
needs of marginalised young people through media releases,
social media and targeted campaigns
Ø Work with Yfoundations policy officers to develop policy positions,
papers, submissions and conference presentations
4.
External liaison
Ø Develop and maintain productive and professional relationships
with external agencies, including the health, welfare and youth
sectors and government
Ø Contribute to Yfoundations communications strategies in order to
raise awareness of relevant youth health issues and events
Ø Support the development of Yfoundations links with young
people, involving them in consultation and participation in order to
raise awareness of youth health issues amongst community,
Government and non-government stakeholders
Ø Contribute to the Yfoundations communications strategy - update
social media and website information, recording activities and
providing written content for promotional and media activities.
5.
Project
accountability and
reporting
Ø Maintain an administrative workload relevant to Yfoundations
Health, including processing orders of health resources and
general record keeping
Ø Adhere to the contract management policies and procedures of
Yfoundations, working within budget and within the limitations of
contractual obligations
Ø Provide timely and relevant reports to the Education Manager
regarding projects
Ø Respond with professionalism to a wide range of difficult
situations such as those involving political sensitivities,
complaints or challenges from Yfoundations members or clients,
or from external groups or individuals.
6.
Client and
organisational confidentiality Ø Maintains client confidentiality and stores client information
securely
Ø Maintains organisational confidentiality in relation to intellectual
property, program & membership information, board discussions
or deliberations, etc
Ø Maintains confidentiality if privy to personal information about
staff or staffing matters
7.
Professional
communication
Ø Develops effective, professional working relationships with other
staff, Yfoundations members, young people experiencing
homelessness and other relevant organisations and community
stakeholders
8.
Team work
Ø Engages in team building activities
Ø Works towards organisational and team goals and objectives
efficiently and effectively through communication, sharing of
knowledge, information and ideas
Ø Participates in project development and supervision
9.
Continuous
improvement
Ø Actively looks for ways to improve outcomes for own work and
Yfoundations processes as a whole
Ø Understands and supports the mission and strategic goals of
Yfoundations
Ø Participates in professional development activities
10. Work Health and
Safety
Ø Adhere to company WHS policy, procedures and rules, and
follow safe work practices.
Ø Participate in WHS consultation meetings to discuss workplace
safety as required from time to time.
CHALLENGES
The main challenges faced in this position include:
• Establishing and maintaining mechanisms for engaging with groups of young people in
order to provide opportunities for contributing to policy making and service provision.
• Establishing and maintaining relationships with a large group of youth, health and welfare
organisations across NSW.
• Keeping abreast of a wide variety of health policy issues affecting young people
• Communicating with a diverse range of people and maintaining and developing
professional relationships with a variety of diverse stakeholders
AUTHORITY TO ACT
The Senior Project Officer has the authority to:
• Provide recommendations and input into the improvement and development of
Yfoundations training, health related policy and resources
• Work collaboratively with the Health Team Leader to provide input and strategic advice for
all health projects
• Contribute to the review and development of Yfoundations internal policies, processes
and systems.
CONTACTS AND CRITICAL RELATIONSHIPS
•
Internal
Internally the Youth Health Sector Support Project Officer reports primarily to the Education
Manager on day-to-day issues, but also to the CEO on organisational management issues and
Yfoundations Policy Team on broader policy issues.
•
External
Externally the Health Training and Project Officer liaises with a wide variety of stakeholders,
including relevant community stakeholders, other NGOs, and networks, the Private Sector,
Local, State and Federal government officers and others.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
•
•
Tertiary qualifications and/or demonstrated experience in working in a health context with
young people who are disadvantaged, at risk or experiencing homelessness.
Experience with research, policy development and advocacy, especially where related to
youth health.
SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES
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Demonstrates knowledge of issues facing young people who are experiencing or at risk of
homelessness and of a broad range of youth and health services available to them
Ability to communicate and interact effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders,
including community, sector, government and corporate
A commitment to social justice principles
A certificate IV in Training and Assessment or similar qualifications would be an
advantage
Class C Driver’s License would be an advantage
High level of computer and IT skills, including the use of social media
Experience working with MailChimp would be an advantage
High level of organisation, attention to detail, and the ability to complete and manage
multiple tasks in a timely manner
Ability to work with a high degree of autonomy and a willingness to take initiative where
appropriate
Ability to work productively as part of a high functioning team
Ability and willingness to work in accordance with Yfoundations’s philosophy and aims.