Settlement Volunteer
ROLE DESCRIPTION
The Settlement volunteer will work across a number of Spectrum programs, with a particular focus on the
Humanitarian Settlement Program.
The Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP) provides support to newly arrived refugees as they settle into the
Australian community. The support provided varies depending on each person’s needs, and can include:
- Welcoming people when they first arrive in Australia;
- Helping people to find accommodation;
- Assisting people to register with Medicare, Centrelink, health services, schools, banks, etc.;
- Assisting in enrolling children in school, and adults in English language classes;
- Linking people to community and recreational programs;
- Assisting people to secure employment;
- Supporting people to increase their conversational English skills;
- Orientating people to their new neighbourhood, including showing people how to use public transport.
We are looking for a pool of volunteers to assist with the following:
- Assisting people to write a resume, and to build job interviewing skills;
- Assisting people to register for an online MyGov account;
- Assisting people to have their skills, qualifications and experience recognised in Australia;
- Assisting people to enrol their children in school;
- Assisting people to become ‘job ready’ through educating them about the Australian workplace;
- Assisting people to become orientated to their local community by accompanying them to appointments and showing them how to use public transport.
ROLES KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
Orientation
- Accompanying clients to their appointments;
- Orientating clients who are newly arrived to Australia to their local public transport network.
Group Work
- Delivering group information sessions about the Australian workplace, job interviewing skills, resume writing, registering for an online MyGov account, etc;
- Contacting clients via telephone and SMS to invite them to group sessions.
Case Support Work
- Providing one-on-one support to people to prepare a resume, prepare for a job interview, etc.;
- Providing one-on-one support to people to register for an online MyGov account;
- Providing one-on-one support to people using online forms to have their skills or qualifications recognised or to have their documents translated;
- Assisting with school enrolments for children of newly arrived families;
- Contacting clients via telephone and SMS to invite them to appointments and programs.
Organisational Responsibilities
- Complete all administrative requirements associated with the position in a timely manner to the required standard, including completing case notes (where advised by the supervisor; not required for all tasks);
- Ensure all incidents are reporting to the supervisor (you will be trained in what constitutes an incident);
- Ensure client information is maintained and kept securely, and that client privacy and confidentiality is maintained at all times;
- Ensure that the Spectrum Code of Conduct is adhered to at all times;
- Adhere to the Child Safe Standards at all times;
- Display a commitment to the purpose and values of Spectrum;
- Ensure that Spectrum complies with Occupational Health and Safety Act requirements and strive for best practice in the provision of a safe work place for all;
- Report all incidents, near misses, equipment repair requirements and illnesses to immediate supervisor and the OH&S Representative;
- Demonstrate a commitment to Quality and Continuous Improvement procedures and policies;
- Demonstrate an understanding of emergency response procedures.
Other Duties
This position description contains the key tasks for this position. The list of key tasks is not intended to be complete. Other tasks will be assigned from time to time to meet the needs of the organisation.
ROLE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
This role requires the following preemployment check(s):
Australian work rights;
- A satisfactory police check, which will also be completed every 3 years;
- A Working with Children Check;
- Disclosure of any pre-existing injuries or conditions that might be reasonably expected to affect your ability to perform the normal duties of this role. Such a disclosure will enable Spectrum to make reasonable adjustments to the work environment to ensure our staff work safely and productively.
KEY SELECTION CRITERIA
Experience/Education
- Understanding of the needs of newly arrived migrants and refugees;
- Understanding of the specific challenges faced by people of refugee backgrounds;
- Well development and demonstrable problem solving and judgement skills;
- Well-developed planning and organisational skills, able to set priorities & own work objectives;
- Good knowledge of statutory requirements relevant to the role;
- Excellent oral and written communication skills;
- Current Working With Children’s Check;
- Ability to communicate in a relevant community language (particularly Arabic) would be well regarded.
Key Competencies Required
- Genuine interest and commitment to social justice and inclusion and valuing difference and diversity;
- Ability to work from a client-focused and strengths-based approach;
- Ability to be adaptable to changing circumstances and ability to prioritise work;
- Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to work and communicate effectively with clients, their families, community agencies and other professionals;
- Ability to work in a very busy environment and to work both independently and as part of a team;
- Ability to perform all physical aspects of the role without causing injury to themselves or others;
- Demonstrate a good level of organisation, planning and time management skills.
