Position Description

Stigma Response Coordinator

1.  OVERVIEW

Position / Stigma Response Coordinator
Employment status: / This position is available up to full time (38 hours per week) for a 12 month period up to 31 December, 2017. Less than full time options can be negotiated.
Accountability: / The position is accountable to and reports to Melanie Eagle, Chief Executive Officer of Hepatitis Victoria for the delivery of project objectives.
Remuneration: / Commensurate with responsibilities of position and experience of the successful candidate.
Access to the benefits of salary packaging is available.
Location: / The position is based at Hepatitis Victoria,
Suite 5, 200 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, 3056.

2.  ORGANISATIONAL ENVIRONMENT

Hepatitis Victoria is the peak not for profit, community organisation committed to better liver health for Victorians, free from hepatitis and stigma. It is governed by an independent Board of Directors with the Chief Executive Officer and staff performing the day to day duties.

Hepatitis Victoria works to:

·  Provide leadership and coordination for the Victorian community response to viral hepatitis

·  Build a strong and sustainable organisation that works effectively across all activities and is positioned to have greatest impact

·  Raise community awareness and prevent the transmission of viral hepatitis

·  Increase access to quality viral hepatitis information, care, treatment and support.

The organisation strives to address the needs of priority populations affected by viral hepatitis including:

For hepatitis B: / For hepatitis C:
·  Culturally and linguistically diverse communities / ·  People with hepatitis C
·  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people / ·  People who inject drugs
·  Pregnant women with hepatitis B and their children / ·  People in custodial settings
·  Unvaccinated adults at risk of infection / ·  People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
·  People living in rural/regional Victoria / ·  People with hepatitis C co-morbidities
·  Young people
·  People living in rural/regional Victoria

3.  OUR VISION AND VALUES

OUR VISION

Better liver health for Victorians, free from hepatitis and stigma.

OUR VALUES

·  Respect – We respect all people affected by liver disease, promoting dignity and challenging stigma and discrimination

·  Inclusion – We seek to understand and value the diverse circumstances and cultures of the people and communities with whom we work

·  Collaboration – We work in partnership with those affected by liver disease, and with others who share our values and aim

·  Impact – We strive for maximum impact, building on evidence, being innovative, and driving change to achieve better liver health.

4.  POSITION CONTEXT

Hepatitis Victoria receives general funding from the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services to deliver a range hepatitis health promotion, education and early intervention programs with key priority groups within the Victorian community.

In addition, Hepatitis Victoria has received funding from the Department of Health and Human Services to undertake work to reduce stigma and discrimination for people living with viral hepatitis, in line with the Victorian Hepatitis Strategies’ (2016 -2020) aim of empowering affected communities to speak up about stigma and discrimination. The ‘Stigma Response’ project will establish mechanisms for people living with viral hepatitis to respond to instances of stigma and discrimination, providing a better understanding of how people with viral hepatitis experience stigma and discrimination. The project will also develop tools to empower and support people to respond to stigma and discrimination and identify avenues through which systemic discrimination can be addressed.

5.  KEY RESPONSIBILITY AREAS

5.1  Response to stigma and discrimination

·  Develop an understanding of consumer experiences of stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with viral hepatitis.

·  Develop systems for the collection of data in relation to experiences of stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with viral hepatitis.

·  Develop an awareness of existing complaints functions within Victoria and establish relationships with the organisations that manage them.

·  Develop internal processes and upskill applicable Hepatitis Victoria staff to manage complaints from people living with viral hepatitis and take appropriate action including intervention and/or referral to existing available complaints functions.

·  Develop an awareness of and establish relationships with other stigma and discrimination research projects within the BBV/STI and broader health sectors.

·  Conduct investigations into and where appropriate act in response to instances of systemic stigma and discrimination in Victoria.

·  Identify future initiatives, collaborations and/or funding options to enhance the capacity of Hepatitis Victoria to be the lead player in the response to hepatitis related stigma and discrimination in Victoria.

·  Undertake Hepatitis Infoline shifts as negotiated with the Health Promotion Programs Manager.

5.3  Team work

·  Report regularly to the Chief Executive Officer on progress of the project.

·  Provide written progress reports to Hepatitis Victoria and to project funders as required.

·  Provide supervision to student placements and interns working with Hepatitis Victoria in the area of stigma and discrimination.

·  Contribute to Hepatitis Victoria communications strategies, including social media and publications, as required.

·  Attend and participate in regular general and specialist staff meetings.

·  Be involved in Hepatitis Victoria initiatives such as World Hepatitis Day, the Hepatitis Liverability Festival, the StreetShot project and other initiatives

·  Act to promote a friendly climate, good morale and co-operation within the Hepatitis Victoria team.

·  Take actions, make decisions, and shape priorities to reflect the organisation’s vision and values, and abide by Hepatitis Victoria’s operational policies.

·  Undertake other duties as agreed.

5.3 General

·  Abide by Hepatitis Victoria’s policies and procedures.

·  Carry out general administrative tasks in support of the role.

·  Facilitate the involvement of people living with and affected by viral hepatitis in the development and delivery of all programs.

·  At all times maintain confidentiality of information about members, staff, volunteers, service users and other personnel.

·  Promote Hepatitis Victoria’s broader services to outside agencies and individuals.

6.  KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

Please note: all applications must specifically address the key selection criteria.

Essential

·  Relevant qualifications and/or experience in legal studies, health promotion and/or community development.

·  Highly developed communication skills, including the ability to develop quality documentation, supporting literature, guidelines, written reports and correspondence in a clear and concise manner together with the ability to network with individuals from other organisations and groups.

·  Ability to develop a thorough understanding of the medical, emotional and social implications of living with viral hepatitis, as well as a commitment to and understanding of the principles regarding appropriate responses to stigma and discrimination.

·  Proven ability to establish and build good stakeholder relationships and to network with individuals from other organisations or groups.

·  Proven ability to identify and solve problems and where applicable provide relevant recommendations.

·  Demonstrated proficiency and experience using the Microsoft Office suite of applications (eg Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, Access), combined with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.

·  Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision as well as within a team, working collaboratively to achieve goals.

·  Demonstrated ability to work with and to supervise interns and volunteers.

·  A capacity to obtain a National Police Check and Working with Children check as required.

Highly desirable

·  Experience in working with marginalised or at risk communities, including people in custodial settings, Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples, people who inject drugs, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

·  At least two years experience in health education or community development or related fields.

·  Ability to analyse and contribute to research and policy development.

7.  GENERAL INFORMATION

·  Hepatitis Victoria is committed to cultural diversity in the workplace, and is an equal opportunity employer. People affected by viral hepatitis, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people, people from a culturally and linguistically diverse background and people with experience working those communities are encouraged to apply.

·  The general conditions of employment will those contained in the Hepatitis Victoria Enterprise Bargaining Agreement 2010 or its successors.

·  A vehicle will be provided for work related duties.

·  Regular performance reviews will be conducted using mutually established performance indicators.

8.  APPLICATIONS

Think that you have the skills and experience of working with people living with a chronic illness and to empower them to speak up about stigma and discrimination?

Then send your letter of application to:

Ms Melanie Eagle

Chief Executive Officer

Hepatitis Victoria

Suite 5, 200 Sydney Road

BRUNSWICK 3056

or via email to

Applications close at 5-00 pm on Monday 11 December, 2017

For further enquiries, call Melanie Eagle, Chief Executive Officer, on

(03) 9380 4644 or email

Stigma Response Coordinator November 2017