Exciting opportunity to ensure the voices of older people are actively included to inform policy and practice, making a difference to older people accessing aged care.

• Apply your experience in consumer engagement to support older people to share their experiences and expertise and ensure their voices are heard at both a policy and practice level.
• Hybrid work environment, working 3 days in the office and 2 from home, office based a 5-minute walk from Central Station
• Collaborative and positive work environment

Impact of the organisation

Older Persons Advocacy Networks (OPAN) is a national network of independent member organisations that give a voice to older people who are eligible or receiving aged care services.

The network provides free, confidential, aged care advocacy, information and education to older Australians, their families or representatives. OPAN works with the government to influence aged care policy through systemic advocacy.

Their collective vision is of a society where older people are heard, informed and respected, and where they can enjoy and exercise their rights to live fulfilling lives.

Impact you will have in this role

The Senior Consumer Engagement Officer - Aged Care plays a key role is in ensuring the voices of older people are actively included in OPAN work, heard by external stakeholders, including the government and that older people have opportunities to engage in wider aged care reform processes.

The role supports and coordinates OPAN’s National Older Persons Reference Group who share crucial information that is vital to inform aged care reform and OPAN’s consumer engagement practices and initiatives.

This is an important opportunity to lift the voices of older people across our community and ensure they are heard by external stakeholders, including the government and that older people have opportunities to engage in wider aged care reform processes.

The Senior Consumer Engagement Officer will support older people to share their experiences and expertise and will ensure their voices are heard at both a policy and practice level.

Responsibilities:

• Build OPAN’s consumer engagement capacity, developing engagement networks and implementing and evaluating OPAN’s consumer engagement framework
• Communicate the implications of policy and advocacy while engaging and supporting older people in these processes
• Monitor and respond to enquiries from the National Older Persons Reference Group, providing high levels of customer service and relevant detail to all members involved with an empathetic and helpful manner
• Supporting involvement by Reference Group members in conferences, webinars, advisory groups and other OPAN activities
• Build collaborative relationships and consultative networks with older people across all areas of aged care service delivery, especially in residential aged care
• Coordinate all meetings and consultations as needed, which may include preparation of agendas and meeting papers
• Maintain up to date and accurate records, provide reports and record all relevant information into Salesforce securely and ensure information is current and appropriately documented
• Implement and evaluate the OPAN Consumer Engagement Framework across OPAN and their members
• Promote and support a commitment to lifting the voices of older people across our community and ensure they are heard

Skills and Experience

• Proven success in a similar position focused on consumer engagement, and experience in group facilitation with success gathering vital information and preparing reports to ensure all information and data is captured, understood and shared accordingly
• Demonstrated experience in the Community Development Sector, or in consumer engagement preferably in ageing or disability services sectors
• An understanding of the supports needed by older people to fully participate and feel included to share their experiences
• Exceptional customer service skills, with the ability to share important information to help others and an empathetic and helpful approach
• Experience in delivering inclusive and culturally competent services
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to understand how to communicate clearly and effectively with diverse peoples
• Ability to translate complex information into plain English
• Intermediate to advanced MS Office skills (Excel, Word and PowerPoint)
• Strong relationship management, and project coordination skills and a collaborative manner when working with internal and external stakeholders and teams
• A proactive manner, with high levels of attention to detail and care
• Excellent conflict resolution skills, advanced problem solving skills and the ability to manage expectations
• An empathetic nature, with strong listening skills and a genuine passion for making an impact in the lives of older people across Australia
• Ability to travel as needed

OPAN acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first people of Australia and the sovereign Custodians of the country, and in supporting the human rights of older people recognises and respects the human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

OPAN is an EEO employer and we value diversity within our organisation.

Applications

Please apply by uploading your resume.

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected] or [email protected] using the subject line: Senior Consumer Engagement Officer - Aged Care - Older Persons Advocacy Networks enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Impact Advising is committed to creating diverse and inclusive work environments that reflect the rich tapestry of our communities. We believe that diversity enriches organisations and fosters innovation. We are dedicated to building workforces that are a representative of the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of our society. We embrace diversity in all its forms, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, disability, and cultural background. We actively seek to foster inclusive workplaces where all employees can bring their whole selves to work, feel respected and valued, and have equal opportunities for growth and advancement. We are committed to providing a fair and unbiased recruitment process, and we strive to eliminate any barriers that may impede the inclusion and participation of underrepresented groups in workforces.