Switchboard Victoria is based on the lands of the Yaluk-ut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrung peoples. 

We acknowledge that our work takes place on lands that are under colonial occupation and that sovereignty has never been ceded. We hope to pay our deepest respects to Boon Wurrung elders, past and present, and wish to extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People across this Country we know as Australia.

About Switchboard Victoria (Inc.) 

Switchboard Victoria is a community-based, not for profit organisation that provides peer-based, volunteer driven support services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and gender diverse, Intersex, Queer, Asexual and more (LGBTIQA+) people and their friends, families and allies.

Our current activities include:

• Phone and web counselling and referral – Switchboard is the Victorian partner in the national QLife service. QLife provides anonymous and free LGBTIQA+ peer support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings, or relationships. 
• Community connections for older LGBTI+ people – Switchboard’s Pride in Ageing program works to tackle ageism and strengthen social inclusion and community connection for older LGBTI+* Victorians. The Out and About peer visiting program builds friendship and connection between LGBTI+ seniors living anywhere in Victoria through regular volunteer visits.  
• Rainbow Door - is a free specialist LGBTIQA+ helpline providing information, support, and referral to all LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and family. Rainbow Door supports people of all ages and identities with issues that may include suicidal thoughts, family, and intimate partner violence (including elder abuse), alcohol and other drugs, relationship issues, sexual assault, social isolation, mental health and wellbeing. 
• Suicide prevention - research and development of suicide prevention resources and programs for LGBTIQA+ communities. 
• QTIBPoC Programs - The QTIBPoC program aims to build connection and greater equity for Queer, Trans, Intersex and Bla(c)k, Indigenous and/or People of Colour and People of Faith. The program runs free events and workshops throughout the year led by and for QTIBPoC communities.
• Training Program – Switchboard delivers a range of training to the community and service sector organisations. Trainings offerings include LGBTIQA+ Inclusive Practice, How to Recognise and Respond to F/IPV, How to Talk About Suicide Safely, Everyday Racism in the Workplace and Peer Support Training. Staff are accredited to deliver LivingWorks programs ASIST and safeTALK.
• Rainbow Families - Connecting and supporting LGBTIQA+ parents, carers, and their families. Supporting services to develop and deliver rainbow family-inclusive better practice across Victoria.

Position details

Title: Suicide Prevention Campaign Support Officer

Organisation: Switchboard Victoria (Inc)

Employment type: 0.4 FTE, 15.2 hours/week, casual 3-month contract

Classification & remuneration: Social and Community Services Employee, Level 5 Pay Point 1 as per the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award 2010.

Tax benefit available from salary sacrifice, package of up to $15,899.

Location: St Kilda (Victorian Pride Centre)

Reports to: Suicide Prevention Project Manager

Direct reports: Nil

About Switchboard’s Suicide Prevention Program

At Switchboard, we’ve made it our core work to respond to the challenges of suicide among our LGBTIQA+ communities.

Switchboard is passionately involved in providing dedicated LGBTIQA+ peer-led suicide prevention programs, services, and initiatives across Australia.

We are a leading LGBTIQA+ organisation working nationally to provide suicide prevention, intervention and postvention programs to LGBTIQA+ people with a strong emphasis on building community resilience through peer-led and lived experience activities.

In addition to direct program delivery, Switchboard’s suicide prevention program runs Changing the Landscape, a national campaign fighting for a future where LGBTIQA+SB (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and gender diverse, Intersex, Queer, Asexual, Sistergirl, Brotherboy +) suicide prevention is a national priority.

Position overview

The Suicide Prevention Campaign Support Officer will sit within the Suicide Prevention program and report to the Suicide Prevention Project Manager. The role will work closely with the Suicide Prevention Project Manager and Campaign Engagement Officer to deliver the priorities outlined in the Changing the Landscape campaign strategy through the development and maintenance of administrative and project management systems.

Key responsibilities

Key responsibilities include:

• Engaging and supporting the expansion of Changing the Landscape’s national stakeholder network to build the Changing the Landscape Statement signatory base.
• Building and maintaining campaign databases, including synthesising stakeholder and signatory data in line with relevant privacy guidelines.
• Maintaining the Changing the Landscape website, including using analytics to help build website visibility and impact.
• Coordinating incoming inquiries from the Changing the Landscape website and Changing the Landscape email inbox.
• Working with the Campaign Engagement Officer and Suicide Prevention Project Manager to coordinate events and other opportunities for community engagement.
• Supporting working relationships with LGBTIQA+ communities and people who identify as queer, trans, intersex and bla(c)k and/or people of colour to foster greater collaboration.
• Supporting additional administrative activities relevant to the campaign as required.

Key Selection criteria

Essential:

Applicant must:

• Identify as part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender diverse, Intersex, asexual (LGBTIQA+) community [Switchboard Victoria has an exemption under the Equal Employment].
• Have a sound understanding of the issues that may impact LGBTIQA+SB people, their families and communities, and an awareness of the key barriers these communities may face in accessing health services.
• Possess the ability to work within intersectional feminist, anti-racist and anti-oppressive frameworks and a strong understanding of what it means to take an intersectional approach to your work.
• Have strong written and verbal skills, particularly the ability to professionally and proficiently communicate with external stakeholders, including LGBTIQA+SB community members and organisations.
• Have a demonstrated ability to set up and maintain informational databases (eg. stakeholder databases, program participant databases) in line with privacy guidelines and effectively analyse demographic data and synthesise community insights.
• Have a demonstrated ability to work within a team, including participating in team meetings, collaboratively producing work, and contributing to strategic and creative planning conversations.
• Have excellent organisational skills, administrative skills and attention to detail.

Desirable

• Experience in community organising and campaigning
• Experience coordinating online or in-person events
• Experiencing working in LGBTIQA+ communities, First Nations Community Control Organisations or grass roots organisations
• Experience working in Aboriginal communities, particularly social and emotional well-being, Aboriginal health workers, and Aboriginal community development

To find out more and apply

Please carefully review the selection criteria for this position, which you should systematically address in your application (this does not have to be a in a separate document), which should also include your resume listing all relevant employment and volunteer experience and qualifications.

Please use this form to apply with a resume, cover letter and document addressing the essential selection criteria above.

For more information please contact Maya Ellazam, Suicide Prevention Project Manager.

Email: [email protected] using the subject line: Suicide Prevention Campaign Support Officer enquiry via EthicalJobs. 

Switchboard Victoria is committed to supporting diversity and inclusion in our workforce and will consider all qualified applicants, regardless of sex, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability or national origin.  Switchboard especially welcomes and encourages applications from people who are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander; trans, gender diverse or intersex; disabled; carers; live with HIV, are culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), People of Colour and/or People of Faith; identify with having lived experiences of suicide and mental ill-health.

Find out more about working at Switchboard at http://www.switchboard.org.au/