Seniors Rights Victoria
Position Description
Title: COMMUNICATIONS officer
Classification: As per Social, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award- Community Development Worker – Level 5.
Salary Sacrificing: Available in accordance with Australian Taxation Office legislation and regulations, and in accordance with the Council on the Ageing’s Policy and Procedure.
Employment: 0.5 EFT, continuation dependent upon funding
Hours of Work: 19 hours per week, 9.00am - 5.00pm with an unpaid ½ hour for lunch
Reports to: Manager, Seniors Rights Victoria
BACKGROUND
Mission Statement
Seniors Rights Victoria seeks to empower older Victorians so they can take steps to live in safety, with dignity and independence.
Background
Seniors Rights Victoria provides leadership across Victoria by addressing and responding to older people experiencing abuse. It operates under principles of the empowerment of older people and recognition of their rights.
Seniors Rights Victoria provides information, support, advice and education to help prevent elder abuse and safeguard the rights, dignity and independence of older people. Elder abuse is any act which causes harm to an older person and is carried out by someone they know and trust such as family or friends. Abuse may be physical, sexual, financial, psychological, social and/or neglect.
The services include a Helpline, specialist legal services, short-term support and advocacy for individuals and community education. Seniors Rights Victoria also provides leadership on policy, systemic advocacy and law reform and works with organisations and groups to raise awareness of elder abuse. The Service advances the rights of older Victorians at risk of/or experiencing abuse.
In addition to providing direct client services, Seniors Rights Victoria has a role in capacity building and working collaboratively with relevant sectors to better identify, address, and prevent incidences of elder abuse.
Seniors Rights Victoria is a program within COTA Vic. Funding is provided by Victoria Legal Aid (VLA), the Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department, and the Department of Health.
Position Overview
The focus of the Communications Officer is to empower and inform older people and service providers to prevent and overcome elder abuse through various approaches.
The position effectively promotes Seniors Rights Victoria through the high quality production of information in different forms.
The incumbent in the position works with the Seniors Rights Victoria team, including the Community Education Coordinator, Advocates and Lawyers to ensure the provision of a consistent ‘message’ within the context of the Centre’s approach and government frameworks.
The successful applicant must be highly organised, a strong communicator, and have the capacity to work independently whilst retaining strong connections with each facet of Seniors Rights Victoria’s multi-disciplinary team.
Roles and Responsibilities:
The Communications Officer will be responsible for:
· Overseeing service communications to ensure they are accurate, clear and appropriate to the organisation’s style and ethos.
· Collaborating with staff to identify required communication resources for older people and service providers in accordance with Seniors Rights Victoria strategic objectives.
· Preparing and overseeing the production of external written communications and publications, such as help sheets, reports and other promotional materials.
· Overseeing the maintenance and updating of content for the websites, including generating content or sourcing content from other Seniors Rights Victoria staff and the strategic development of the Seniors Rights Victoria websites and social media activities.
· Evaluating and reporting on the effectiveness of the websites and communication activities.
· Co-ordinating, writing, editing and managing the production of the e-bulletin for external stakeholders.
· Preparing and distributing media releases, articles and opinion pieces in collaboration with the Manager.
· Co-ordinating promotional activities, including World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
· Project management of the development of publications including production, promotion and distribution.
· Attending Seniors Rights Victoria staff meetings and the broader COTA staff meetings.
· Other related tasks associated with the role, as directed.
Key Selection Criteria (each selection criteria is to be addressed separately):
Qualifications and Experience
· Qualifications and/or demonstrated experience in communications or a related field.
Professional
· Demonstrated and excellent skills in writing and editing for different audiences and media
· Experience in the production of community information.
· Demonstrated and excellent skills in online communication and website content management, development and maintenance.
· Strategic communication and planning abilities.
· Ability to develop and implement communications and media strategies under the direction of the Manager
· High level of computer literacy in general office applications and some desk top publishing skills (including Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Publisher and Outlook).
· Skills in managing time, setting priorities, planning and organising work.
· Experience in the community sector is desirable.
Interpersonal
· Work with integrity and in accordance with the COTA Code of Conduct.
· Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to develop and edit content for service promotion materials.
· Excellent oral communication skills,
· Good interpersonal skills.
· The ability to work well in a small team and to work effectively with minimal supervision.
Other Relevant Information:
Location / Based at COTA Office, 4th Floor, 98 Elizabeth Street Melbourne.Commencement Date / To be negotiated.
Probation / This position is subject to a 3 month probationary period.
Award / This position is entitled to the provisions in the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 and the COTA Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) that covers all COTA employees.
Classification Salary / An attractive salary package which includes employer funded superannuation (9.25 %), the benefits of tax-free salary packing up to $16,050 and the salary rate for SCHCADS Award- Community Development Worker – Level 5. Salary Range: $52,000 - $62,000 pro rata per annum will be negotiated with the successful applicant based on qualifications, skills and experience.
Self referral / It is Seniors Rights Victoria policy that no staff member or volunteer shall, under any circumstances, refer work to themselves, their families or other members of their firms.
Drivers Licence / A current Victorian Drivers Licence is necessary.
Employer / Council on the Ageing Victoria
COTA Victoria is an equal opportunity employer
Application process: Applications must address key selection criteria to be considered
For a confidential discussion, please contact Jenny Blakey, Manager, on (03) 9655 2104
Email your application in confidence to SRV Manager.
Applications close: 9am Monday 30th September 2013
Email:
Fax: 9639 6577
Postal Address: COTA Victoria, Level 4, 98 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne VIC 3000.
Council on the Ageing Victoria
Council on the Ageing Victoria (COTA) is the legal entity which auspices Seniors Rights Victoria. COTA is the peak body representing the wide-ranging needs and interests of older people in the Victorian community.
The vision of COTA Victoria is a just, equitable and humane society in which older people live well, with dignity and purpose. The COTA mission is to resource and mobilize older people and shape a society that enables people to age well.
COTA has been the voice of older Victorians for over 50 years.
While individual issues may have changed over that time, the determination and commitment of the organisation to ensure that the voices of older Victorians are heard has not.
COTA is governed by an elected Board of Management, dedicated staff and volunteers who continually strive to ensure that the contributions of older people are proudly recognised and acknowledged within our community.
COTA works in five main areas:
· Policy Development
· Education
· Information
· Representation
· Membership
COTA Values
COTA Victoria will:
· Strive to enable older Victorians’ voices to be heard in all aspects of life.
· Enshrine dignity and human rights for all people.
· Work in ways which facilitate the engagement and involvement of older people in all levels of our activities.
· Strive to understand and respect the diversity of older people.
· Seek solutions to end the circumstances of poverty and other social constructs which disadvantage or isolate some older people.
· Seek to provide older people with accurate and timely information to assist them to make informed decisions and live full and independent lives.
· Work to create new opportunities for older people, in work, recreation, community participation and civic democracy.
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