Want to genuinely have impact?

The Hive, Mt Druitt leads collective work to ensure all children in Mt Druitt start school well. We have 6000 children under 5 years old and 33% of those are considered ‘developmentally vulnerable’ when they start school. With a focus on early childhood development and learning, The Hive operates at suburb, post-code and system level to enable community capability and school readiness.

The Hive’s small and passionate team works closely with and brings together the community, services, government and businesses to address locally identified priorities.

If this is something that resonates with you, come and consider joining us.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

We are seeking someone experienced in working with First Nations community to lead collaborative engagement and build community capacity across key suburbs in Mt Druitt. They will be responsible for understanding the needs of the local community. They will engage extensively to identify community aspirations, needs and gaps and develop solutions in the work across the collective.

This role requires high levels of initiative, strong community engagement skills and the ability to build trusted relationships with the community. Intentional listening to community and partners is crucial to develop innovative responses and solutions to locally identified needs.

The Community Capacity and Engagement Officer builds community capacity and leadership and supports local advocacy initiatives, to ultimately contribute to long-term change.

The role is till June 2025 with a chance for extension, pending funding. 

In this role, you will:

• Lead innovative thinking on strategies to engage community through collaborative community engagement events and programs
• Mobilise community and provide local capacity building programs and initiatives that extend and build community leadership and community-led advocacy; helping to address identified community needs, current gaps and reaching community aspirations
• Apply a culturally inclusive approach to working with First Nations people
• Draw on strong interpersonal skills in building authentic relationships with community, particularly children and families to understand and respond to the barriers they face in reaching their potential
• Use a trauma-informed lens in both working with and understanding the needs of the communities with who you work
• Provide warm referrals and connect community to local services and supports
• Work within a small team that promotes a dynamic, flexible and innovative working environment

ABOUT YOU:

We are looking for someone who will fit in well with our culture and aligns with our collective work principles:

• We are Place-Based
• We are Collaborative
• We are Holistic
• We are Relationship-Based
• We are Community-led
• We are Strengths-based (Community are the experts)
• We use an Ecological Framework

These principles outline how we work with community, colleagues, partners and government. We are present with community where they live and are building relationships and trust with community and partners. We focus on working alongside the “whole person” including their strengths and aspirations. Our work is based on community voice and aims to build community capacity and community leadership. We seek and take opportunities to work together at suburb, postcode and systems level to create change.

Our Collective Principles form the basis of our work and are embedded in all our work by our collective team every day.

As the Community Capacity and Engagement Officer you will have relevant qualification or experience working with community and building community capacity and leadership. You will have knowledge and skills to work flexibly with community, including First Nations people, using a trauma-informed approach and utilise skills in innovative, strengths-based approaches to support communities and build their capacity and community leadership.

You are creative, collaborative, can work independently, take initiative and are a strong communicator with children, families, community and local service providers.

We are a child safe organisation and ensure our new hires are appropriately checked, including a Working With Children Check.

ABOUT US:

We have been helping Australians in communities of disadvantage to reach their full potential for more than 60 years. Our model of change is to empower children and young people through flagship early childhood literacy development and youth employment initiatives. We also work to develop new approaches which challenge the status quo in tackling complex social issues, including our innovative business park model and collective impact work.

United Way Australia has a supportive and friendly work culture that wants to see each of us succeed. It offers salary sacrificing benefits associated with working with a Public Benevolent Institution (PBI).

How to Apply

There is currently no end date for this role. Please apply as soon as possible.

Please contact Marika on 0416 432 683 or at [email protected], using the subject line: Community Capacity and Engagement Officer enquiry via EthicalJobs, for further information or to apply.

A position description is attached.

United Way Australia is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to engaging a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background, people with disability, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and mature aged applicants to apply.