YACVic Rural Policy & Advocacy Officer
Hours: 0.5FTE,38 hours per fortnight (negotiable)
Remuneration: $63,232 – 67,184p.a. (pro-rata). Classified at SCHCADS Award Level 4 (YACVic pays above award rates)
Status: Fixed term contract until 30 June 2019 with potential to be ongoing, subject to funding
Location: This role can be based in Melbourne, Swan Hill or Warrnambool, or potentially elsewhere is regional Victoria, and includes regular travel to all three sites.
About Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic)
The Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic) is the peak body and leading policy advocate on young people's issues in Victoria. YACVic’s vision is that young Victorians have their rights upheld and are valued as active participants in their communities. YACVic is an independent, not-for-profit, member driven organisation that represents young people (aged 12-25 years) and the sector that works with them.
About YACVic Rural
Funded by the Victorian Government, YACVic Rural increases the YACVic’s presence across the Great South Coast and Southern Mallee regions, and expands our state-wide advocacy and support for young people in rural communities and the rural youth sector. YACVic Rural operates from offices in Melbourne, Warrnambool and Swan Hill. YACVic recognises that young people and sector professionals in these areas face particular challenges and offer specific insights that differ to their metropolitan counterparts. YACVic Rural works to support both young people and the youth sector through targeted delivery of YACVic core services to regional and rural Victoria.
About the role
The YACVic Rural Policy and Advocacy Officer works directly with young people and the youth sector to:
- Advocate for appropriate resourcing and cross-sector collaboration to support better outcomes for all young people.
- Amplify young people’s voices to support themto have a stronger voice in State Government and local decision making.
- Celebrate and promote the positive stories of young people within and beyond their community.
Major Duties
- Lead YACVic Rural’s policy writing, development and research into issues affecting rural and regional young people.
- Advocate for and with young people and the rural youth sector to strengthen relationships, networks and practice within each region.
- Work collaboratively with YACVic staff, YACVic partner agencies, and key stakeholders within each region to build the capacity of young people and the youth sector in policy development andadvocacy.
- Facilitate policy forums, roundtables, reference groups and training for youth practitioners and young people.
- Lead content development for information sharing mechanisms between the rural youth sector, Victorian Government and rural communities.
Administrative Duties
Attend weekly team meeting via skype, bi-monthly YACVic staff meetings and quarterly YACVic Rural Reference Group meeting in person.
Contributing to YACVic publications, media, social media and events, and carry out monthly reporting and administrative tasks, as assigned by the Rural Manager.
Travel
Travel is a major component of this role including to the Great South Coast, Southern Mallee and Melbourne on a regular basis, as well as to other parts of the state as required.
Essential Criteria
- Provenability to build rapport and work effectively with youngpeople.
- Proven understanding of the unique concerns of young people and youth workers in rural/regional areas.
- Proven strong research and writing skills, with the ability to make complex topics accessible and relevant to diverse audiences.
- Highly developed organisational skills, with the ability to balance multiple tasks and deadlines.
- Willingness and capacity to travel throughout regional Victoria and work occasional evenings as required.
- Demonstrated understanding of appropriate behaviours when engaging with children and young people, including those with diverse needs and/or backgrounds, and commitment to the Code of Ethical Practice for the Victorian Youth Sector.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate, write and edit content for publications both on and offline.
Desirable
- Tertiary qualification in social research, community development, public policy or similar or equivalent work experience e.g. experience in advocating or campaigning to create policy change.
We promote the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all children and young people, including those with a disability, those who are Aboriginal or those from refugee or migrant backgrounds. We take child protection very seriously. All employees are subject to screening and assessment against child safety standards, including rigorous background, identity and reference checks. The successful applicant will require a current Working with Children Check and Police Check (costs reimbursed) and must agree to adhere to our child safe policy and code of conduct.
YACVic is an equal opportunity employer.
Application Details
To apply, please email with ‘Rural Policy & Advocacy Officer’ in the subject line.
Applications should be addressed to Andy Bell, YACVic Rural Manager, and must include:
- a cover letter stating where you saw the job advertised
- your resume
- your response to the key selection criteria as stated in the position description.
Applications close at 5pm, Thursday 30th November 2017. Interviews for the position are likely to be held at YACVic’s Melbourne office on Thursday 7th December. If you wish to discuss this position further, please contact Andy Bell on 0427464335 or at