• Hours: 0.4 FTE, 15.2 hours per week.
• Remuneration: $74,455.00 p.a. prorated, classified under the SCHADS Award at Employment Level 4.4.
• Status: This is a fixed term 9 month contract.
• Location: Eastern Victoria work from home.

Do the words 'working with animals' make your ears prick up?

Does helping young people learn how to advocate for issues they care about in their local communities make your tail wag?

Does making a difference in rural Victorian communities affected by recent bushfires make you yelp in excitement?

Then this job may get you jumping…

About the Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic)

Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic) is the peak body and leading policy advocate on young people’s issues in Victoria. YACVic’s vision is that the rights of young people in Victoria are respected, and they are active, visible and valued in their communities. YACVic is an independent, for-purpose, member-driven organisation that represents young people (aged 12–25 years) and the sector that works with them.

YACVic provides additional targeted advocacy and services through our key services, YACVic Rural and the Youth Disability Advocacy Service, and our auspice partners, the Koorie Youth Council and the Victorian Student Representative Council.

About YACVic Rural

Funded by the Victorian Government since 2015, YACVic Rural increases YACVic’s presence across the Great South Coast and Southern Mallee regions and expands our state-wide advocacy and support for young people and the youth sector in rural communities. The YACVic Rural team brings together our rural work, our Marram Nganyin Aboriginal Youth Mentoring Project and the Healthy Equal Youth (HEY) partnerships and annual grants. YACVic Rural operates from offices in Melbourne, Warrnambool and Swan Hill.

YACVic Rural recognises that young people and sector professionals in rural and regional areas have different opportunities and challenges from their metropolitan counterparts. YACVic Rural has developed successful partnerships and innovative programs across rural Victoria, working closely and collaboratively with young people and the sector to establish trust and engagement, as evidenced by a recent external evaluation.

About the role

In 2020, the YACVic Rural Young Activators Program will focus on young people from bushfire-affected areas in Eastern Victoria. With generous sponsorship from RSPCA Victoria, the Activators Program will provide dedicated development and support for ten (10) young community leaders (aged 16-25) who have an innovative idea focused on animal welfare and future resilience in bushfire affected/prone areas. The program will develop and support them, for a six-month period, through the process of mobilising their community to make that idea a reality. The program will recruit, train, mentor and support these young people in the development of their projects.

Your primary responsibility will be coordination and delivery of the 2020 YACVic Young Rural Activators Program. You will design, coordinate and facilitate a series of online training webinars and interactive sessions which enable young people to feel more confident in their advocacy work, drawing on your own skills and experience, input from YACVic and RSPCA staff and other stakeholders, and the content and learnings of YACVic’s previous advocacy work. You will support the Young Activators to develop their projects, including being responsible for the recruitment, training, matching and oversight of a team of mentors who will work alongside young people to help them realise their individual project goals.

About the candidate

We are looking for someone who is flexible, motivated and willing to play an active part in a collaborative and close-knit team.

To be eligible to apply for this position you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or hold a valid work permit or visa.

You will enjoy:

• A flexible, disability friendly, family friendly and fun work culture
• A high degree of autonomy and collegial support
• Sector-leading professional development

YACVic is an Equal Opportunity Employer. People with disability, people from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds and Aboriginal people are encouraged to apply for this position.

Employment conditions

We promote the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all children and young people, including those with a disability, those who are Aboriginal or those from refugee or migrant backgrounds or who identify as LGBTIQ+. We take child protection very seriously. All employees are subject to screening and assessment against the Victorian child safe standards, including rigorous background, identity and reference checks. The successful applicant must provide a current Working With Children Check and Police Check (costs reimbursed) before commencing in the role and must agree to adhere to our child safe policy and code of conduct.

RSPCA

Since 1980, the RSPCA has been working with the Australian Government and industries to establish standards for animal care. Not only do they operate animal care and adoption facilities, but they also work hard to raise awareness of animal welfare issues. YACVic is thrilled to be partnering with RSPCA Victroia on this project.

A full position description is attached.