ROLE OVERVIEW and APPLICATION

PLAN YOUTH AMBASSADOR 2015

About Plan International

Plan International is one of the oldest and largest children’s development organisations in the world. We work with communities in 50 developing countries. We also have offices in 21 countries like Australia to raise funds and hold advocacy campaigns to support our work with communities in developing countries. By actively involving children, and working at a grassroots level with no religious or political affiliations, we unite and inspire people around the globe to transform the world for children.

Our Work

Long Term Community Development

Our grassroots development projects address specific problems and issues in communities that contribute to ongoing poverty and affect children’s rights. Our work is designed to bring long-term, sustainable, positive change to communities.

Campaigning and Advocacy

Our campaigning and advocacy work is about collective action to improve the lives of children. Plan campaigns raise awareness and support for people who are often disregarded or who have difficulty having their opinions heard.

Disaster and Humanitarian Response

When Plan responds to emergencies, we work with government, other agencies and local communities to ensure children and young people are protected and that their immediate and long-term needs are met. In addition to disaster relief, Plan has an ongoing partnership with the UN World Food Programme to provide food relief to communities across the developing world.

About The Plan for Change Youth Program

Plan in Australia has been working with a group of ten young people, aged 15-25 based in Victoria for the past two years. This is what they have to say about the work we do together:

Did you know that nearly half the world's population is under the age of 25? We recognise the value of working with young people so we're building a network where they can use their passion, skills and experience to create real change. Issues including global poverty, child rights, social injustice and gender inequality will continue into the future. What better way to tackle these issues than to engage, inspire and motivate the young people of today.

In 2014, we appointed 23 young women aged 14-26 from around Australia as Parliamentary Delegates for the Because I am a Girl Campaign. They consulted with their peers on the issues that they want to see addressed for girls and women in Australia and around the world in the next set of global development goals, the Post-2015 Goals or Sustainable Development Goals. They developed their findings into a Call to Action to the Australian Government, and delivered it to leading parliamentarians in a two day Parliamentary event. For more information, see our Because I am a Girl website here.

In 2015 we are building on these experiences by appointing Plan Youth Ambassadors from around Australia to work with us to progress advocacy and fundraising activities, and to engage with our Management Team and Board of Directors through our Advisory Committees.

About The Role

This is a voluntary role with an expected time commitment of 2-4 hours per week for one year, with the option to continue
Plan Youth Ambassadors will have individual responsibilities to lead on advocacy and fundraising activities.

As a group, they will form a Youth Advisory Panel, who will meet five times each year via skype or other online conference to talk about how activities are going and update Plan’s three Advisory Committees on relevant issues.

Three of the Youth Advisory Panel members will be appointed to each of the Advisory Committees to the Board of Directors

-Programs Advisory Committee

-Finance & Audit Committee

-Marketing & Fundraising Committee

Advisory Committee Members are responsible for attending all committee meetings (5) per year
They will provide updates to the Advisory Committees on the progress of the Plan for Change activities

They will report back to the Youth Advisory Panel

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for both females and males aged 15-25 from all over Australia, with one male and one female appointed to at least three states or territories.

All Plan Youth Ambassadors must have:

Passion for social justice, child rights and poverty alleviation
Good organisational and time keeping skills – ability to work to deadlines
Ability to communicate in a range of ways to motivate and inspire others including public speaking, presentations, blogging and social media posts
Ability to work well both autonomously and in a group

If you have an interest or skills in these things, please let us know:

Visual arts - graphic design, making movies, photography
Research and Information gathering – finding relevant statistics and facts on key issues and topics
Using social media to engage large numbers of people on an issue or topic

In addition, Advisory Committee members must also have:

*if you want to be considered for an Advisory Committee, please answer the additional questions in the application form

Ability to read and synthesise information and provide relevant and appropriate feedback to both Advisory Committees and Youth Advisory Panel

Ability to participate with some confidence in an adult environment
Ability to communicate within a professional context, and confidence to pose questions and offer suggestions for improvement

Currently undertaking university or equivalent study relevant to the Committee –

Finance & Audit Committee – currently undertaking an undergraduate degree in Chartered Accounting

Marketing & Fundraising Committee –currently undertaking an undergraduate degree in Marketing, Communications or similar, with a strong capability in digital campaigning

Programs Advisory Committee–no particular study requirements, but must have a strong understanding and passion for international development and advocacy

How we will support you

You will take part in the Plan Youth AmbassadorLaunch Camp in late January in 2015 in Victoria, which will provide an opportunity to form a team, learn about Plan and the skills you need to take action, and make plans for fundraising and advocacy activities. This will take place over five days and four nights.

We will pay for your transport, accommodation and meals to participate in the Plan Youth Ambassador Launch Camp. If you can contribute to these costs however, please tick the box in the application form.

We will provide a dedicated Plan staff member to support you in rolling out the planned activities, including an Advisory Committee mentor if you are selected to as an Advisory Committee member

The Application Process

Step One:

Please return your completed application toVictoria Kahla by Friday 12 December 2014.

If you would like to be considered as an Advisory Committee member, make sure you answer the additional questions.

You can return your application by email:

Or mail to:

Victoria Kahla

Community Engagement Advisor

Level 18, 60 City Road

Southbank VIC 3006

Step Two:

Victoria will get back to you by Friday 19 December 2014to let you know the result of your application. We may ask you for a phone interview.

Step Three:

If selected, you will be expected to attend the Plan for Change Launch Campfrom Monday 19 January to Friday 24 January 2015.

Plan Australia is committed to ensuring all possible steps to protect the wellbeing of children we work with. If selected and aged 18 years and above, you must take part in a background check. Participants of all ages will sign on to a Child Protection Policy and Code of Conduct, and have a briefing on roles and responsibilities.

Application Form

Your Details

Name:

Contact number:Contact email:

Address:

Postcode:State:

Date of birth:Male or Female:

Availability:

Are you available to attend the Youth Ambassador Launch Camp to be held in Victoria from 19-24 January 2015?

YES  NO 

Where do you currently spend most of your time?

SCHOOL  UNI  WORK  TAFE HOME 

OTHER Please give some detail

If you have the ability to fundraise part or all of the funds needed to participate in the Plan for Change Launch Camp, please tick this box. We will work with you to develop ideas and materials needed.



Please respond to the four questions belowin any way you like.For example, you could

make a movie (under 2 minutes)
write a poem
record a song
write an essay (between 500-1000 words)
have someone interview you
anything else you can think of!

We don’t have a preference about how your application is presented- it won’t affect your chances of getting to the next stage. So be as creative as you like, just make sure your response to these questions is clear.

Why are you passionate about social justice and poverty alleviation?

What skills, strengths or talents can you contribute as a Plan for Change Ambassador? Please refer to the criteria on Page 3 – Who we are looking for

What kind of team work have you done, and how do you perform as part of a team?

What networks are you a member of and how would you gain their support?

Additional Questions if you would like to be considered as an Advisory Committee Member:Please refer to the criteria on Page 3 – In addition, Advisory Committee members must also have

Do you meet the Committee’s requirements for study, skills or interest in the relevant field?

What experience and talents can you contribute as an Advisory Committee Member?