• Sydney or Melbourne location
• Part time position 3 days per week – flexible days, working from home possible
• Join a creative, for purpose organisation in an artistic and administrative role supporting the development of artists and their practice as providers of therapeutic programs for vulnerable older people.
• Would suit candidates from the arts sector.
• Salary packaging available.
• Additional leave given between Christmas and New Year

About Us

The Humour Foundation is an arts based organisation. We bring laughter to places where it can be unexpected, but still truly needed. We do this through performance based on insightful connection, creative play and joyful humour. We work closely with paediatric hospitals and aged care facilities to improve the healthcare experience for sick kids and vulnerable adults through our main programs, Clown Doctors and Elder Clowns.

The Elder Clown program brings joy, laughter and validation to people in residential aged care facilities who are experiencing social isolation or living with dementia.

Engaging 70+ performers, the Foundation delivers programs in to hospitals and aged care facilities nationally. The Foundation reaches over 245,000 sick children and vulnerable adults each year. Our work is based on research that shows the physiological and psychological benefits of laughter to health and well-being.

Our values are at the heart of everything we do, and we strive to be respectful, compassionate, optimistic and creative.

The Humour Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, expecting all staff and performers to share this commitment. Selected applicants must undergo a Working with Children Check and Police Check.

About You

Reporting to the Artistic Director, this position is responsible for assisting in developing, expanding and enriching the artistic elements of the Humour Foundation Elder Clown program. It has key responsibilities in supporting the ongoing professional development of the performers working in the program and supporting the recruitment of new performers. It has additional responsibilities in assisting with the development of performer training programs and materials; staff workshops and training programs for facilities.

This role is involved in providing support and feedback to performers, and working in partnership with the Artistic Director and the Clown Doctors Artistic Associate to uphold artistic standards and continually evolve our understanding and practice of the work we do in this area.

This role also works closely with a network of Program Managers nationally.

Main responsibilities will include:

• Assist the Artistic Director in development of the Elder Clown professional development program, strategy and structure.
• Assist the Artistic Director in recruitment of new performers, including reviewing current recruitment processes.
• Motivate and support performers to maintain high artistic standards.
• Coordinate implementation of the professional development program and recruitment processes.
• Coordinate performer reviews in collaboration with AD and Program Managers.
• Coordinate the creation of an Elder Clown training handbook and other training collateral.
• Collaborate with Program Managers to ensure smooth program operation.
• Liaise with Program Managers, performers and AD in implementing staff or family workshops.
• Assist in developing collateral for all staff or family workshops.
• Liaise with Program Managers to ensure smooth and timely establishment of programs in new facilities, as required.
• Assist Artistic Director and the Clown Doctor Artistic Associate in providing content for the annual conference by seeking new training modalities in the theatre and healthcare sector.
• Conduct training workshops as required.
• Conduct performer reviews as required.
• Coordinate evaluation of professional development program and public workshops.

Skills and Attributes

Essential Selection Criteria:

• Strong artistic sensibility.
• Extensive performance experience.
• Experience in performing in Aged Care.
• Performance workshop facilitation experience.
• Strong understanding of Clown as a performance mode.
• Experience in working as part of a performance ensemble.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Highly organised.
• Strong administrative ability.

• Strong problem solving skills and positive approach to solutions.

• Ability to operate autonomously with initiative.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Ability to handle confidential information sensitively and professionally.
• Ability to work effectively in a cross-disciplinary team.
• A National Police Check Certificate (issued in the last 6 months)
• Working with Children Check (can be obtained after application)
• Availability for interstate travel.
• Be eligible to work in Australia.

Desirable Selection Criteria:

• Experience in the Humour Foundation Elder Clown and Laughter Boss programs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience in auditioning artists for performance roles.
• Experience in giving performance feedback to performers.
• Microsoft Office skills and computer literacy

To be appointed to this position you would need to be flexible in your working arrangements. While you will be able to select your core working days and hours, there may be necessity to make yourself available for meetings or events which may not fall on your selected working days. You will need to travel to meet with facility personnel, attend auditions, workshops and reviews. Interstate travel is likely to be required for some recruitment and professional development activities, and will be required for national meetings and our annual conference.

To find out more about The Humour Foundation visit our website: www.humourfoundation.org.au