• Multiple positions available (across North and North-West Tasmania, but capacity to travel to Devonport on occasion)
• If you are a young person between the ages of 13 and 18 who lives in the North or North-West Tasmania and want to make a difference for other children and young people and help stop sexual violence, we would love to hear from you.

ABOUT LAUREL HOUSE

Laurel House provides a range of trauma-informed, evidence based, therapeutic services to the victim-survivors of sexual assault, their families and supporters.

We deliver a broad range of programs to adults, young people and children including the provision of therapeutic face-to-face counselling at our centres located at Launceston, Devonport, and Burnie and through outreach locations across North and North-West Tasmania. Laurel House is partnering with the Tasmanian Government in the delivery of the North and North-West Arch centres (multidisciplinary centres) for victim-survivors of sexual harm. We also offer a 24-hour telephone support service, provide support and advocacy through the medical, forensic, and legal processes, and have an expanding range of education, preventative, and early intervention programs.

ABOUT THE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL (LEAPY)

Laurel House is seeking children and young people with lived experience of child sexual abuse/sexual violence to provide feedback and establish ideas about how Laurel House, and the broader community can help stop sexual violence. LEAPY was formed in 2023, with the goal of making children and young people’s voices heard. Laurel House recognises the importance of child and youth voice, and is committed to upholding best-practice safeguarding, trauma and engagement practices to enable LEAPY members to engage in a safe, accessible and sustainable manner.

YOUR ROLE WOULD INCLUDE:

• To provide feedback, share ideas and work with members to understand children and young people’s experiences and priorities.
• Speak with government bodies at opportunities co-ordinated by the Youth Engagement Lead, Keelie, to make changes to Tasmanian policies and increase community understanding around child sexual abuse and violence.
• Attend LEAPY meetings (mostly online but some in person). Opportunities to join meetings are once a month at minimum. These meetings will be held on a Monday afternoon from 4pm until 6pm.
• If there is a need for extra meetings, you will be given notice beforehand.

To help make your involvement in LEAPY safe our meetings have the following guidelines:

• To treat all members, support people and Laurel House people with respect and dignity, including their privacy.
• To agree that all meetings are safe spaces and not to share other members stories. Even if you have friends in common, it’s important you don’t share their story.
• Recognise that everyone has a different experience, and that each person may be triggered or impacted by different things. To ensure everyone feels safe, you agree not to share explicit details of abuse.
• To input as you feel comfortable, and to raise concerns and/or ask for help as needed.

The Council will be coordinated by a Youth Engagement Lead, Keelie, who is also a young victim survivor. She has experience working with survivors in different settings is passionate about change in our community. As a member of LEAPY, you will also have access to:

• Counselling support from Laurel House Staff. A counsellor will be available during, and at the end of each meeting.
• Check-in and follow up calls before and after each meeting to talk through how you feel.
• A nominated support person to attend meetings and provide you with support as needed.
• Debriefing for family members.
• Professional development and training opportunities including:
  • Understanding Trauma
  • Telling your own story, in your own words and advocating for change
  • Problem solving
  • Public speaking
  • Art based workshops
  • Other fun and team building activities

Council members will be paid an honorarium of $30 per hour.

The first meeting will be held in June/July 2024.

Laurel House is inclusive and welcomes people from all identities, backgrounds and experiences to apply. We are inclusive of people with disability, neurodivergent people, people who are culturally and linguistically diverse, LGBTIQA+ people, people from low socio-economic backgrounds, First Nations people and other forms of diversity. We welcome you to tell us what you need to be part of the Council.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW LAUREL HOUSE IS A CHILD AND YOUTH SAFE ORGANISATION

Please refer to our website www.laurelhouse.org.au to view the Stakeholder and Client Engagement strategy and more information about how Laurel House is a Child and Youth Safe Organisation.

FURTHER ENQUIRIES

Contact Keelie McMahon, Youth Engagement Lead by email [email protected] or 0490 213 158; or

CEO, Kathryn Fordyce, at Laurel House on 0427 739 397 or by email [email protected] using the subject line: Youth Advisory Council Members - Launceston enquiry via EthicalJobs.

SUPPORT

If you require support, please seek support from any of the following organisations:

• Tasmanian Sexual Assault Support Line – Call 1800 697 877
• Kids Helpline – Call 1800 551 800 or contact WebChat https://kidshelpline.com.au/get-help/webchat-counselling/
• Strong Families, Safe Kids Advice and Referral – Call 1800 000 123
• Family Violence Counselling and Support Services – Call 1800 608 122
• Australian Childhood Foundation – Call 1300 381 581

Applications 

A copy of the Terms of Reference are attached, please read them before you apply. We can also email a copy to you if required.

Once you have read the Terms of Reference click 'Apply Now' to submit your application.

Contact Keelie email [email protected] or 0490 213 158 and we can send you an application form or help you to complete it.

In your application process you will be welcome to upload any range of media resources that enables you to best showcase your interest and experience. This may include a video, drawing, music, photograph, or any other format if you don’t want to use text.