• Reports to: Community Relationships Minister
• Hours: 21 hours per week (including every Friday night during school term plus 12 hours per term on weekends). At Social and Community Service Award 4-5 based on experience.

This role is a community development role that will run active youth and children's programs in the West Belconnen area, including providing opportunities for families to play and adventure together. 

The Organisation and the Role

Kippax is a community service agency (UnitingCare Kippax) which run a variety of programs, funded from a number of sources, to assist the people of the ACT who struggle with issues of low income, housing stress, relationship problems, and social disadvantage.

The Kippax Youth and Children’s Worker’s key role is to coordinate and deliver the Kippax Active Children and Youth program. The aims of the program are:

• to connect the children and young people of West Belconnen, including the new development of Ginninderry, to a wide range of opportunities for sport and active recreation in the region in a supportive community environment; and
• to provide low cost opportunities each week for physical recreation in a supportive environment that nurtures experimentation with new activities, builds relationships for children, young people and their families and is responsive to individual needs and interests.

Kippax Uniting Church (KUC) is a fellowship of reconciliation, living God’s love and acting for the common good to build a just and compassionate community. It is both a modern, vibrant Uniting Church and one of the significant community service agencies in the ACT.

As a church we are an open, inclusive community of diverse people who believe that God’s love and grace extends to all people regardless of race, gender, marital status, nation of origin, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, economic status, religion or any other label placed upon people. No matter where you are on your spiritual journey you are welcome in the life and ministry of Kippax. Our overall mission is to create a loving, nurturing community.

Functions

The Kippax Active Children and Youth Worker works under general direction of the Community Relationships Minster to coordinate and deliver activities under the Active Children and Youth program.

Specifically, the Kippax Youth Worker is responsible for coordinating and delivering program activities such as:

• A weekly Friday afternoon Active Children’s program at Kippax Uniting Church;
• A weekly Friday evening Active Youth program at Kippax Uniting Church;
• An offsite family fun activity day each term (eg tennis, canoeing) in conjunction with our partner organisation/s;
• Work with the Kippax Uniting Ministers to recruit and train volunteer leaders for the program;
• Coordinate two Get Active Expos (one at the start of the summer sport season and one at the winter sport season) allowing community members to learn about sport and activity groups in the area;
• Coordinate two Healthy Eating workshops for families in the region.

Service Delivery

To work effectively, the Kippax Active Children and Youth Worker will engage in positive and professional relationships:

• Under the guidance of the Community Relationships Minister, implement activities set out in the Grant Agreement between the ACT Health Directorate and Kippax Uniting Church;
• Work collaboratively with partner organisations and within the Kippax Uniting Church including looking for opportunities to build connections between the project and existing activities;
• Work collaboratively, and seek advice from, the Youth Advisory Panel;
• Engage with younger members of the community in a way which values their individual humanity, enhances their connection within the community, and is consistent with the ethos of the Uniting Church in Australia;
• Read and understand the Basis of Union and have a preparedness to work within the polity and ethos of the Uniting Church in Australia as described in the Basis of Union;
• Other duties as directed.

Administration

The Kippax Active Children and Youth Worker will also perform administration duties to:

• Administer grant funding within the established practice of Kippax Uniting Church;
• Prepare progress reports and other documentation required for management of the Grant Agreement;
• Support evaluation of the project, including organising the collection of relevant data;
• Maintain digital communications (social networks and websites);
• Ensure all activities undertaken comply with relevant Acts, legal demands and ethical standards including, but not limited to, compliance with, Child Safe, Safe Church and Occupational Health and Safety requirements.

Teamwork

As part of the Kippax Uniting Church (KUC) team, the Kippax Active Children and Youth Worker will:

• Ensure that volunteers operate under the values, policies, and procedures of the organisation;

• Develop sound relationships and effective communication with internal (eg. KUC Ministers, Church Council, and congregation members & volunteers) and external colleagues (eg. ACT Government Health Directorate, Menslink, Girl Guides, Junction Van, and Ginninderry.)

Selection Criteria

Capacities

The key capacities that will be required for the role are:

• A demonstrated ability to work effectively with children, young people and their families;
• A demonstrated ability to lead and coordinate activities and events involving community members and partner organisations;
• A demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with partner organisations and have an understanding of ethical boundaries;
• An aptitude for communicating and engaging with younger members of the community in a manner which builds relationships and respects their dignity and individuality, engages, trains and empowers them;
• A demonstrated ability to administer projects including management of funds within established processes, preparation of reports and collation of data;
• Maturity: resilient and positive outlook, with a clear set of values that include justice, honesty and integrity;
• A demonstrated ability to work within a team;
• Basic computer literacy and social networking skills;
• A demonstrated ability to progress and prioritise tasks with limited supervision.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential Criteria

• Sufficient work experience to deliver the duties outlined above and be classified at level 4 - 5 Youth and Community Worker Award;
• Ability to work on Friday evenings during school term time, and at least two Saturdays each school term;
• Understanding of and a commitment to work within the ethos of the Uniting Church in Australia.
• Hold, or be able to obtain, a working with vulnerable people clearance from the ACT Government, and a National Police Check.

Desirable Criteria

• Current drivers licence;
• Formal qualifications, or substantial study toward them, in a relevant field such as, youth work, outdoor recreation, health and PE, social or community work;
• Certificate IV Training and Assessment.

To submit your application, click Apply Now.

A position description is attached.