Are you looking for an opportunity to expand your knowledge of the NDIS and advocacy skills? Are you excited about improving the accessibility of the NDIS to people with a psychosocial disability experiencing homelessness?

This could be your next opportunity to:

• Grow your skills, experience, and career development
• Empower individuals experiencing homelessness through access to NDIS funding and services
• Join a fun & collaborative team building capacity of our sector

ABOUT US

Independent Community Living Australia (ICLA) is a not-for-profit community organisation delivering mental health recovery services and personalised support to individuals with psychosocial, intellectual and other disabilities as well as those seeking support at difficult times in their life. ICLA offers a wide range of services across the greater Sydney region, from supported residential services to supported mental health services, empowering individuals with independence and inclusion in the community.

ICLA’s mission to deliver personalised support, enabling individual choice to improve people’s lives is achieved by living our values:

Respect for all; Integrity in what we do; Accountable for all we do; and Results for those we serve.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Embark supports people with a mental illness who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness to access the NDIS. The NDIS navigator provides support at an individual and sector level, through delivering the two streams of the Embark programs:

• Embark Access – Directly supporting individuals in the Metropolitan Sydney Region who are experiencing homelessness and a mental illness to access the NDIS.
• Embark Upskill – Delivering sector development workshops to service providers across NSW who are looking to improve their confidence and success when supporting people to access the NDIS

This is a full time opportunity is for 5 days per week until 30 June 2023, with the possibility of extension pending funding, remunerated from $39.26 per hour (SCHADS Level 4), plus super and salary packaging.

Responsibilities include:

Supporting Individual Access Requests

• Engaging with consumers and their support network to support preparation and submission of NDIS Access Request Forms
• Carefully assessing the needs of consumers using a person-centred approach, then making relevant referrals and assisting them with access to mainstream/non-NDIS funded supports when required
• Preparing consumers to engage in their NDIS first plan meeting and providing advocacy when engaging with the NDIA
• Engaging the consumer’s support network to be involved throughout the NDIS planning and application process

Sector Capacity Building

• Coaching, mentoring and supporting the development of service providers to complete and submit NDIS Access Requests for consumers they support
• Facilitating sector development activities, such as workshops (face to face and online), including setup, pack down and engagement of stakeholders during the event
• Collaborating with the Team Leader to develop new capacity building content, including online and print resources.
• Maintaining relationships with key stakeholders to promote program referrals and workshop registrations.

ABOUT YOU

Essential Criteria:

1. Experience working with homelessness and/or people who live with a psychosocial disability
2. Experience with and a thorough understanding of the NDIS
3. Ability to facilitate workshops and group activities
4. Understanding of trauma informed and consumer led practices
5. NDIS Check (or willingness to obtain)
6. Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills
7. Demonstrated attention to detail and time management skills
8. Current NSW Driver's License

Desirable:

• Certificate IV in Mental Health or working towards a tertiary qualification in Mental Health or Disability
• Workshop facilitation experience
• First Aid Certificate and/or Mental Health First Aid certificate
• Ability to travel across Sydney and within NSW if required

BENEFITS

ICLA offers:

• Inclusive and committed culture where everyone’s contribution is valued
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities
• Charity salary packaging for permanent staff to pay benefits and living expenses from pre-tax salary
• Flexible working practices
• Paid Parental Leave

HOW TO APPLY

If this sounds like a great opportunity for you, please select "Apply now" to submit your application in our applicant portal, including a cover letter addressing essential criteria 1-4, and any applicable desirable criteria. Applications will be reviewed as received. Enquiries can be directed to jack.orton@icla.org.au using the subject line: NDIS Navigator enquiry via EthicalJobs.

At ICLA we believe that a diversity of people and experiences is critical to our work and our success. We strive for a team culture that is welcoming, inclusive, supportive, and committed. ICLA is an Equal Opportunity employer. We encourage applications and expressions of interest from all backgrounds, abilities, and identities. We also acknowledge the lived expertise of those who have provided care and support for others in a non-paid role. ICLA acknowledges and pays respect to the Traditional Custodians of the country in which we work and thrive, empowering people to have agency and autonomy.