The Community Engagement Officer is part of the headspace centre team. Their purpose is to promote the services of the headspace centre and help young people to get early access to health and other services. This includes young people who have or may be at risk of developing a mental health and/or substance use disorder or have economic and social recovery needs.

They will do this by ensuring that accessible information is provided to young people, their families and the local community to increase the capacity of young people and their community to connect with appropriate health and wellbeing supports at the time they are needed. They will also help to increase community awareness of mental health issues among young people, facilitate youth and where relevant family participation, organise and deliver health promotion activities and community events to engage identified target populations.

The Community Engagement Officer will work as part of a multidisciplinary team and will be an experienced professional with considerable knowledge and experience in community engagement and youth advocacy. They will work collaboratively with all staff located at the headspace centre to help ensure the centre delivers youth-focussed services to young people.

About the Role

Community engagement 

• Assist with the development, implementation and evaluation of a Community Awareness Strategy for the local centre in conjunction with the centre management team.  
• Design and coordinate events for target groups to increase the profile of headspace and deliver key messages (e.g. mental health literacy, reduced stigma, anti-discrimination, early help seeking).  
• Work closely with centre staff to ensure that the impact of any campaign/event is addressed at the planning stages so that clinical staff are available to manage increased referrals. 
• Assist in maintaining websites and utilising social media to develop opportunities for youth engagement and service promotion. 
• Produce documents and promotional material of a professional standards that comply with branding policy, suitable for external communication to a variety of target audiences.
• Build relationships with external service providers and report on opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships that progress headspace and the centre toward its objectives.  
• Represent headspace to various agencies and professional networks, the local community and young people. 

Health promotion 

• Assist in the planning, development and delivery of community-based help seeking and mental health literacy educations sessions, particularly in schools. 
• Work with headspace clinicians to ensure that health promotion messages and activities relating to youth mental health are consistent and evidence based.  
• In partnership with the centre manager and other relevant staff develop an annual community engagement and health promotion calendar and community awareness plan and communicate this to the team. 
• Assist in the organisation and delivery of relevant community events and activities such as headspace training activities, community events, promotional days/weeks (e.g. Youth Week, Mental Health Week). 

Youth and family participation 

• Recruit, train, supervise and support young people to be involved in the headspace centre Youth Reference Group and develop other mechanisms to engage young people with the work of headspace. 
• Work closely with the headspace centre team to ensure that the views of young people and families are integrated into service planning and service delivery. 

General

• Keep up to date with relevant youth sector trends, gaps and information. 
• Participate in relevant training and development activities as an effective team member. 
• Other duties consistent with the position where required and/or requested by management from time to time.

Job Requirements - Essential:

• Certified qualifications or relevant experience in Health Promotion, Public Health, Community Development, Social/Behavioral Science, Social Work/Planning or a related discipline. 
• Demonstrated experience working with young people with mental health, alcohol and other drug, other social issues. 
• Demonstrated experience coordinating and facilitating youth programs, events and activities within a community setting.
• Demonstrated experience with social media as a communication tool. 
• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement and evaluate community awareness programs. 
• Demonstrated understanding of the challenges and experiences of young people from diverse backgrounds including young people who are culturally and linguistically diverse, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex or
  questioning).  
• Experience in stakeholder engagement to young people in the local government, health, education, employment and youth sectors. 
• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills. 
• Demonstrated computer skills including word processing, spreadsheets and database applications. 
• Excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to priorities and manage multiple and competing work tasks and deliver to agreed deadlines. 
• Maintain a current WA check for working with young people. 
• Undergo a current and satisfactory Police Check. 
• Maintain a current driver’s license. 
• Have some flexibility to travel, and to work after hours (including weekends and evenings). 

Pre-employment requirements

Satisfactory Criminal History Check (not older than 6 months)
Current Working with children clearance
Current Australian unrestricted ‘C’ class Driver’s license

For further details or job-related questions please contact Shainaye Cahill –
[email protected] using the subject line: Community Engagement Officer - headspace Kununurra enquiry via EthicalJobs or 0409 293 639.

Please apply via the 'Apply Now' button including in your application a cover letter addressing the job requirements, a current resume and at least two referees (ideally including most recent supervisor).
 
NOTE: All final applicants for this position will be asked to consent to a criminal record check and/or a working with children check. Please note that people with criminal records are not automatically barred from applying for this position. Each application will be considered on its merits.