This position contributes to the Government’s enhanced Jobs Victoria employment support system helping Victorians facing barriers to employment into jobs. Jobs Victoria Advocates will work on the ground to help people navigate employment and training services by proactively connecting with people, where they are, in their local communities. Advocates will connect with Victorians who may need assistance to prepare for or secure suitable employment, ensuring they are aware of the supports available.

The successful applicant will have well-developed interpersonal and communication skills, experience managing and maintaining effective relationships, sound problem solving skill and the ability to work effectively in a team. An understanding of community engagement principles and practice would be well-regarded. The role provides the opportunity to contribute to the social and economic recovery and inclusion of Victorians impacted by the pandemic.

About Jobs Victoria

Jobs Victoria Employment Services are a state government initiative established in 2016 aimed at supporting Victorian jobseekers to find suitable employment and education pathways. In recognition of the challenges brought by the coronavirus pandemic, the Victorian Government has invested a record $619.4 million into the new iteration of Jobs Victoria services through an integrated suite of employment supports:

• Jobs Advocates to actively connect jobseekers in their local community to suitable skills and jobs supports
• Jobs Victoria Mentors to provide personalised and tailored support to long-term unemployed jobseekers or jobseekers at-risk of being long-term unemployed via the network of Jobs Victoria services across the state
• Jobs Victoria Career Counsellors offering career guidance and exploration to Victorians who lack access to professional career counselling but require support to understand, develop, and self-manage their career options
• Online platform and help-line navigation hub to provide advice and connect jobseekers to local services that can support them to become work ready and into employment
• Job Creation Program to generate and facilitate job opportunities in partnership with employers with particular focus on women and mid-career jobseekers to support a more inclusive recovery.
• Flexible pathways fund and small grants to address additional individual and local barriers to employment
• Local Jobs Networks across Victoria to ensure the provision of proactive and targeted employment support that meets the needs of local jobseekers and businesses
• Investing in Social Procurement to maximise jobs flowing from government spending

This investment recognises the need for local, place- based solutions to address complex issues and support an inclusive recovery for Victoria. The Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR) is responsible for the implementation of Jobs Victoria programs across the state. Further information and background on the Victorian Government’s initiatives can be found at www.jobs.vic.gov.au

About Indigenous Employment Partners

Indigenous Employment Partners is an Indigenous operated charity and social enterprise with a social purpose to contribute to ending the cycle of poverty and disadvantage experienced by Indigenous Australia by building capacity and fostering self-sufficiency through employment. We provide culturally appropriate employment, recruitment and training services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the organisations who employ them.

About Jobs Victoria Advocates

The Victorian Government has allocated $41.4 million in the 2020-21 Budget to establish a network of locally embedded Jobs Advocates. The Jobs Victoria Advocates program aims to:

• Assist Victorians prepare for and secure employment through the provision of information, referral and connection supports
• Mobilise an agile and proactive workforce to identify Victorians in need of support across the state
• Contribute to a more coordinated and streamlined service experience for jobseekers.

Jobs Advocates will work in local communities to ensure Victorian jobseekers know where they can go to find the information, advice and support they need to move into sustainable work. Advocates will proactively connect with people, where they are, in their regular community settings such as: libraries, community centres/hubs; public housing foyers; shopping centres; other community and specialist services; doorknocking and letterbox dropping in some locations. Advocates play an important face-to-face navigation role in their local communities.

Jobs Victoria Advocates Key Accountabilities

Jobs Advocates will:

1. Utilise community networks and connections to identify and locate people who need employment-related support
2. Improve access to services by creating links and partnerships with community service providers, agencies and local leaders
3. Engage with local jobseekers and others in the community to understand their needs and support options
4. Connect people with relevant services that can help them prepare for and secure work, including support to manage non-vocational barriers to employment
5. Advocate on behalf of clients to service providers and employers, if required
6. Identify gaps and report on opportunities for collaboration and mutually beneficial partnerships to other local service providers and the Department
7. Regular collection and management of information and data from participants who have engaged with the Advocate service
8. Follow up connections and referrals made to other services, where required
9. Represent Advocates and the wider Jobs Victoria services to various agencies, professional networks and the local community

Advocates will also be required to:

• Attend initial and ongoing training provided by the department
• Follow operational guidelines (including services standards and procedures for safe delivery of services)
• Participate in ongoing networking and professional development with Advocates across the State via Communities of Practice and other opportunities.

Key Selection Criteria

1. Relevant experience: Previous community engagement experience and/or knowledge of best practice community engagement principles and practice
2. High level of interpersonal skills: Demonstrated ability to understand and identify a range of client needs using a client-centred approach; capacity to deal sensitively and intelligently with difficult issues
3. Strong communication skills: Demonstrated experience engaging and communicating with groups of people, tailoring communication to suit specific cohorts
4. Negotiation and influence skills: Ability to influence and gain cooperation of internal and external stakeholders to create and maintain mutually beneficial relationships
5. Adaptation and problem-solving skills: Demonstrated resilience adapting to changing environments; proposes innovative solutions to identified problems
6. Organisational skills and teamwork: Ability to effectively plan and manage multiple tasks independently and as part of a team; ability to work collaboratively to achieve outcomes

Desired Experience/Qualifications

• Sound knowledge and understanding of the employment, education and/or community services system would be well-regarded
• Drivers licence
• Strong Computer skills
• Strong community experience

We offer our staff attractive salary packaging and employment conditions, staff development programs, Health & Well Being initiatives including the Employee Assistance Program.

If this role sounds like the one for you, click the "Apply Now" button.

To obtain any additional information regarding this position and if you need any support or reasonable adjustments at any stage during the recruitment process, please contact Indigenous Employment Partners via [email protected] or call 03 9017 3371.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.