Position Description

AMIDA/Self Advocacy Resource Unit

New Wave Self Advocacy Group Project Worker

Disability Advocacy Innovation

and

NDIS Transition Support Projects

Casual Fixed Term Position

Introduction

AMIDA is an advocacy organisation dedicated to improving the lives of people with a disability. We focus our advocacy in the housing rights area and are engaged in systemic advocacy, self-advocacy support and individual and family advocacy.

Background

AMIDA is funded by the Commonwealth government via the National Disability Advocacy Program administered by Families, Community, Housing and Indigenous Affairs. AMIDA is also funded as the lead agency for the SARB consortium, to operate a number of projects including the Self Advocacy Resource Unit (SARU), by the State Government via the Department of Health and Human Services through the Office for Disability.

Governance

AMIDA is governed by a volunteer Committee of Management (COM) elected annually. At least 50% of the COM must be people with a disability. Projects under the SARB consortium such as the SARU, also have established a Project Management Group comprising representatives from AMIDA and our partners, Reinforce, Brain Injury Matters and stArt Community Art.

Remuneration

The position is for a fixed term from 30 October 2017to30June 2018.The position is as per the Social and Community Services SCHCADS Level 4, pay point 1, Community Development Worker, Class ll(a), 1styear.

Payment will be at a casual rate of $37.65 per hour for 13 hours per week.

This position is two-fold:

1)The majority of time, 11 hrs per week, is dedicated to the Innovation in Disability Advocacy project.

2)The remainder,2 hrs per week, to the NDIS Transition Support project, supporting New Wave to ‘get ready’ for the NDIS.

Hours of actual work are flexible according to position requirements.

The role may require occasional out of hours and weekend work which should be taken as time in lieu according to the SACS/SCHCADS award.

Travel

Travel is paid according to award rates per km. Car parking will be paid where the worker is required to use their own car for work purposes or for night meetings.

Police Check and other policy

All workers must abide by our police check and other policies.

Location

The New Wave Innovations Project Support Worker(Casual)will be required to work at various locations for meetings and other appointments, most usually the work will be located at the New Wave office in the E.W Tipping Foundation Building (Vista), 58-60 Commercial Road, Morwell.

Characteristics of the Position

The Disability Advocacy Innovation project worker will lead this project in consultation with New Wave self advocacy group, under the direction of SARU.

Project support and reporting

The project worker will report to the SARU Project co-ordinator on a monthly basis, who in turn will report to the SARU Management Group.The project worker will also report directly to the New Wave’s management meetings.

SARU will monitor and support the worker as part of its core role of supporting Victorian self advocacy groups.

The position entails

  • Supporting the development of skills needed to ensure New Wave is managed and controlled by people with disabilities.
  • Providing the encouragement, support and advice required to assist New Wave to undertake meetings and group activities.
  • Supporting strengthened self advocacy, leadership, public speaking and networking skills of members.
  • Supporting members’ capacity to identify and act on systemic issues.
  • Developing group members’ skills in utilising technologyto communicate and meet, e.g. Skype.
  • Supporting New Wave to increase its profile across the community.
  • Supporting New Wave to implement its SWOT plan.
  • Supporting New Wave to develop submissions and other tasks to assist the group’s NDIS readiness.
  • Supporting active participation and decision making of all members of New Wave.
  • Assisting New Wave to work towards becoming self-sustaining.
  • Assisting New Wave to source ideas, practical training, advice, networks and resources in the areas of:

Individual Self Advocacy

Group Self Advocacy

Self-management

Governance

Rights and Responsibilities

Planning

Decision making

Working towards change

Lobbying

Assertiveness

Leadership

Other, as required by the members of the group.

  • Supporting New Wave to review and develop resources and training.
  • Supporting New Wave to undertake training.
  • Supporting New Wave to network and link with other self advocacy groups and the Victorian Self Advocacy Network (VSAN).
  • Supporting New Wave to develop and maintain links and partnerships with the SARU, RuralAccess, DHHS, NDIA and other organisations as required.

Project 1): Innovation in Disability Advocacy Project Goals

New Wave is a Morwell based self advocacy group run by and for people with an intellectual disability and an acquired brain injury.

The goals of the Innovation project are toensure that New Wave can continue the work it needs to:

•build the capacity within the group of existing and new members

•establish a new base from which to meet and work

•reach more ‘hard to reach’ individuals with an intellectual disability or acquired brain injury who may, for example, be attending day services or be isolated from information and peer support in group homes.

New Wave members believe it is important to ensure as many people with disabilities as possible are provided with information about their rights, self-advocacy and speaking up and the NDIS.

All activities to pursue these goals will be undertaken with members of the New Wave.

Expected outcomes

On completion of the project New Wave will have:

  • Established a new base to work from.
  • Reviewed and updated existing resources.
  • Commenced building local support networks and partnerships with a view to undertaking joint projects under the ILC.
  • Increased the training, skills and confidence of existing and new group members to work towards incremental self-management.
  • Raised the profile of people with an intellectual disability and people with an acquired brain injury and the barriers they face in their community.
  • Developed activities and resources to assist connecting with ‘hard to reach’ individuals.
  • Provided a minimum of two peer information and education sessions to ‘hard to reach’ individuals and groups in settings such as day services and group homes.
  • Increased its membership base.

Specific Activities & Responsibilities:

  • Assist with the establishment and set up of an office to suit the needs of New Wave members.
  • Support the development of administrative and financial systems that enable ‘nominated’ members independent access.
  • Assist with administrative and governance processes including:

-support to members to plan regular member meetings

-support to members to undertake specific roles and responsibilities

-note taking and minute taking at meetings as required

-creating easy to read version for relevant New Wave members and key stakeholders (as necessary)

  • Hold a workshop to identify the training needs of New Wave members with a focus on office skills, social media skills, meeting skills and presentation skills.
  • Review and update New Wave resources and develop new resources.
  • Establish a member training schedule.
  • Establish a work plan with current members to grow the membership with a focus on how to connect with people who are “hard to reach’.
  • Identify other funding sources including the NDIS ILC to support the sustainability ofNew Wave.
  • Identify potential partnerships around ILC funding.
  • Provide a monthly report to SARU and New Wave on work undertaken.

Project 2: NDIS Transition Support Project Goals

The goal of the project is to support New Wave’s engagement with and readiness for the NDIS.

Outcomes

On completion of the project New Wave will have:

  • Undertaken activities that support New Wave’s readiness for the roll out of the NDIS including:

-strengtheninglocal, statewide and national networks locally

-identifying potential supporters and partners such as RuralAccess program, local council and other key decision makers

-raisingits profile within the local community.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities:

The Transition project worker will:

  • Support participatory decision making and inclusion of people with a disability in the running of the group.
  • Support and strengthen New wave self advocacy group through the provision of resources, training and advice.
  • Work with New Wave self advocacy group to implement its SWOT plan.
  • Assist in the development of submissions and other tasks to supportNew Wave self advocacy group’s NDIS readiness.
  • Support New Wave self advocacy group members to access resources, training and advice that ensures their ongoing control of the group as an independent entity which is not shaped by outside expectations of people without a disability.
  • Support New Wave self advocacy group members to establish pathways to have their voices heard and to have real input into all levels of service provision, government and the broader community.

The above positions require:

  • A demonstrated commitment to the human rights of people with a disability.
  • An up to date knowledge of current issues within the disability sector, including the NDIS.
  • The ability to work within the principles of community inclusion, empowerment and participatory decision making.
  • The ability to identify and work in collaboration with organisations, government bodies and foster partnerships with key stakeholders.

Key Selection Criteria

  • An understanding of human rights conventions and legislation relevant to people with a disability.
  • Knowledge of the disability sector, including the NDIS.
  • Awareness of; or experience in, disability advocacy and/or self-advocacy.
  • Demonstrated understanding of the principles of community inclusion, empowerment and participatory decision making.
  • Experience in working with a broad range of community organisations, government bodies and an ability to develop and foster partnerships with key stakeholders.
  • Project co-ordination and implementation.

Desirable Skills and Experience

  • Event planning and organisation.
  • Experience in working in the self-advocacy sector and the ability to resource people with an intellectual disability, people with an acquired brain injury and people with complex communication support requirements.
  • Capacity to create and assess accessible communication formats.
  • Knowledge and experience of implementing inclusive and participatory practices.
  • Knowledge of local community and key stakeholders.
  • Budget management experience.
  • Ability to work collaboratively.
  • Demonstrated experience working with people with disabilities.
  • An understanding of community development and community inclusion.
  • Excellent knowledge of the disability service system.
  • Good time skills, setting priorities, planning and organising one’s own work.
  • Well-developed written and verbal communication skills
  • Competence in computer based data processing, word processing and spreadsheets.
  • Current driver’s licence essential.

AMIDA is an equal opportunity employer and encourages people with a disability to apply.

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