Imagine what happens when a residential aged care home transforms from a place of care into a hub where relationships and inter-generational learning thrive. Being connected, having a positive identity and continuing to contribute to the fabric of society are all essential to positive healthy ageing and overall life satisfaction.

The goal of the 10K project is to develop active, connected and engaged aged care environments that place relationships and social networks front and centre.

We are looking for an experienced Community Development worker to help bring this vision to life.

Over the past 6 months The GroundSwell Project, Southern Cross Care and Western Sydney University have been working together with residents from an aged care facility to develop a community engagement plan. This plan is now ready to be actioned! 

As such this community development role is best suited to a community development worker who is comfortable hitting the ground running in an established project.

• You are a do-er.
• You are a people person.
• You like working with other like minded community development workers.
• Your ultimate role is to change culture and to help other people take action.

You will work in Greystanes, also in Western Sydney University Kingswood Campus and from home. Before the end of the year you will also be working in another centre and implementing community engagement in a new location in Western Sydney

You will have primary responsibility in the co-ordinating and implementing of a range of community/social initiatives that intersect with the residential aged care facility, residents and their families and staff and the surrounding community.

The GroundSwell Project is a small social enterprise with a big mission! We are seeking someone with a high level of ingenuity, responsibility and self-drive who loves independent work within a supportive and collegial team. We’re a team of 4 other change makers in Sydney. We are very supportive but we do not provide a daily team office environment.

Core responsibilities

The focus of your responsibilities will be to implement the community engagement plan. This will mean actively engaging groups and individuals in the Greystaynes area such as pre-schools, primary and high schools, community centres, churches and faith-based organisations, neighbourhood centres, TAFE, Universities, arts centres, business owners and businesses, U3A’s, garden centres and voluntary organisations to build engagement with the residential care facility.

Further responsibilities include:

• Identifying and mapping community skills, assets, issues and needs
• Setting goals for improvement and responding to problems and needs through empowerment and active participation.
• Building relationships with residents, staff, and external groups and agencies
• General administrative duties.
• Developing a working relationship with the 3 project partners

Essential criteria

• Demonstrated experience in a grassroots community development role
• Demonstrated commitment to helping create a stronger and more connected community
• Demonstrated experience in project planning and implementation
• An ability to work inter-agency and intergenerationally
• Cultural sensitivity and an understanding of the social issues associated with ageing
• An understanding of key issues facing elderly Australians and aged care
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• Knowledge and understanding of community and social issues
• Good digital literacy, including an ability to use online applications such as Google Calendar, and Google drive.

• Own vehicle and unrestricted licence 

Personal attributes

• Broad life experience, high level of adaptability
• High level of personal drive, pro-activeness
• Social and emotional intelligence with a love of learning
• Excellent writing skills and/or arts based work

• Compassion and the ability to empathise with people's life experiences

Preferred but not vital

• Experienced in social enterprise or small company or small charity
• Experienced with arts based interventions

Research Element

As the 10K initiative is a pilot initiative, this role requires input into the research and reporting element of the project and attendance at Research Project Meetings. More information on this aspect of the role can be provided.

Who are we?

The GroundSwell Project is a social enterprise with a big mission to create cultural and social change around death, dying and grief so that we are all are better equipped.

Our purpose is to create a more death literate society, one where people and communities have the practical know-how needed to plan well for end of life. This means transforming end of life conversations into deep community engagement and social action so that when someone is dying, caring or grieving, we all know what to do. 

We are a unique organisation that is designed to be highly agile and collaborative. We work with health services, aged care, not for profits, innovators and the broader community.

We value creativity, collaboration and community development.

A full position description is available below.