Edendale Volunteer Support

PURPOSE

Edendale is an environmental education centre for people of all ages which focuses on people Connecting to nature, community, place, culture; Lifelong environmental Learning; and Leading by example.

This Role description outlines the responsibilities of a Support Worker who attends with their client to support them to take on an Edendale Volunteer role.

 

Edendale is a working farm and has health and safety requirements for staff and volunteers. Volunteers need to able to work safely and at times unsupervised (after initial training).

 

Volunteers who require support to meet these requirements must be accompanied by a Support Worker who will also receive a full induction and hands-on training in the tasks the client will perform.

 

LOCATION Edendale, 30 Gaston’s Rd, Eltham 

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

General

  • To support their client to perform their tasks as an Edendale Volunteer.
  • The tasks will be assigned according to the interests, goals and identified capacity of the volunteer.
  • Personalised Roles will be regularly reviewed to allow for change and growth in the volunteer's responsibilities and tasks.

Support workers will provide the following support to their client:

 

  • Physical, emotional and mental support
  • Work with the Edendale Volunteer Officer to set goals and develop skills for their client
  • Encouragement and support for the development of skills associated with the assigned tasks
  • Ensure all safety and other compliance requirements of being an Edendale Volunteer are met. This includes not going into animal pens or paddocks they should not be in and not doing any heavy or difficult manual handling tasks.
  • Model and encourage appropriate workplace behaviour, including Code of Conduct and Child Safe Standards
  • Inform Edendale if the volunteer cannot attend
  • Ensure that any replacement Support Workers are already inducted and trained into the Edendale Volunteer Program

REPORTS TO: Edendale Staff

 

TIME COMMITMENT: To be determined but once a week for 2 - 3 hours with each client. A support worker may come with multiple clients during the week.

 

REQUIRED SKILLS

 

  • A desire to become part of the Edendale Volunteer Team, and to perform the types of tasks we have on offer. This can involve working with animals and in the gardens, so you may get your hands dirty and work physically alongside your client.
  • Able to work in a public space,
  • Able to work as part of a team,
  • Able to safely supervise their client in farm related tasks
  • Able to perform light physical tasks,
  • Able to follow instructions.

 

SUPPORT

 

Training and orientation for this position will be provided by the Volunteer Coordinator and other relevant Edendale staff. Ongoing support will be provided throughout the Support Workers involvement in the program(s)

 

SECURITY CHECKS

 

  • Two reference checks
  • Working with Children Check