• Role title: Eating Disorders Victoria - Hub Volunteer
• Employment status: Volunteer - Minimum 3.5 hour weekly shift required
• Duration: Minimum 12 Month Commitment
• Reports to: Hub Manager
• Liaises with: EDV staff, volunteers and service users.

ABOUT US

Eating disorders are complex and debilitating mental illnesses that affect up to 1 in 20 people. Like any mental illness, they are not the fault of the individual and can affect anyone no matter their age, gender or background. While serious, eating disorders are treatable. With the right support, full recovery is possible for everyone.

Eating Disorders Victoria is the trusted guide for Victorians affected by eating disorders. We help people get the support they need to inspire hope and ensure the earliest possible recovery.

How we work:

We are a committed, engaged and progressive community health service who value innovation. We are known for developing and delivering eating disorder services that can’t be found anywhere else in Australia, or even the world. We are a strong voice for people affected by eating disorders and actively advocate for our eating disorder affected community at state and national level.

We pride ourselves on being a vibrant place to work, where creativity, collaboration and lived experience are highly valued and supported.

Our work is guided by our values of Courage, Lived Experience, Authenticity, and Optimism.

Where we are going:

We are moving through an exciting time of reform in Victoria’s Mental Health System, and have every intention of ensuring eating disorders are fully supported in this new system. We want eating disorders to be considered core business when it comes to mental health, so that more Victorians are identified, diagnosed and put on the path to recovery, sooner.

We are focused on delivering high quality, data-driven community services that demonstrate the impact of our work, while underscoring the growing community demand for specialised eating disorder services. Underpinning this is an evolving culture of strong clinical governance, which supports the wellbeing of staff, volunteers and our service users.

We consider the lived experience workforce to be pivotal to the future of eating disorder treatment and are positioned to be leaders in this emerging field.

What we are looking for:

We are looking for motivated and compassionate individuals who are passionate about supporting our community that are impacted by eating disorders. You are communication savvy and have the ability to adapt your style and confidently create a safe and trusted space for those seeking support. Whilst not expected to have all the answers, you will be trusted to problem solve and seek out answers independently, as well as being encouraged to seek out support from your volunteer peers and Hub Manager.

The following shifts are currently available in our Hub roster:

• Monday morning 9.30am - 1.00pm
• Monday afternoon: 1.00pm – 4.30pm
• Tuesday afternoon: 1.00pm – 4.30pm
• Wednesday afternoon: 1.00pm – 4.30pm
• Thursday afternoon: 1.00pm – 4.30pm

You may have experience or a passion for not-for-profit, health or mental health settings or perhaps studying and seeking more hands-on experience in this space.

What we can offer you:

• A genuinely amazing place to work – we know that our people are our best asset  
• Support and encouragement to grow your professional skill set 
• Opportunities to engage in a fun social calendar of events 
• Hybrid working arrangements (flexibility to volunteer onsite or remote) 
• Professional development opportunities  

ROLE STATEMENT

Hub Volunteers participate in the direct provision of information, support and service referral at EDV. Importantly, the EDV Hub is not a crisis service, a counselling service or one that provides professional/medical/nutritional advice. Service users include individuals with an eating disorder, families, partners and friends, community members and health professionals.

EDV has a commitment to supporting the Lived Experience Workforce through the EDV Lived Experience Framework. Candidates who have lived experience of an eating disorder or who have cared for a person with an eating disorder, must align to the definition of ‘recovered’ or ‘non active carer’ as detailed in the attached position description.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Provide support, information and details of additional professional services to consumers accessing the EDV Hub via phone, email or web
• Statistical data entry associated with Hub enquiries
• Assist EDV with other administrative tasks as required

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential:

• A willingness to volunteer onsite or remote under EDV’s hybrid volunteering model
• An understanding of eating disorders and related mental health issues.
• Understanding of the nature and purpose of support services in Victoria.
• Well developed written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to modify own style to meet the consumer’s needs.
• Ability to relate to people in distress.
• High level of personal accountability.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a broader team of up to 20 Hub volunteers.
• Ability to establish meaningful contact (empower & build rapport) with service users from diverse backgrounds.
• Desire to take responsibility for own learning.
• Ability to take direction and use feedback to develop own professional capabilities.

Desirable:

• Lived experience of an eating disorder and or other mental illness or as a carer of a loved one with an eating disorder and or other mental illness.
• Counselling experience/knowledge.
• Experience working in a professional environment.
• Experience working in a voluntary capacity.
• Proficient with Internet, Outlook, Microsoft Office and Salesforce

CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT

Location: This position will be based at the EDV office on Level 2 of the Magpies Community Centre (corner Lulie and Abbot Streets, Abbotsford). Under the current volunteer Hybrid model, Hub volunteers are very welcome to attend the office for their weekly shift and just as welcome to volunteer remotely provided they have a safe, confidential space to do so. 

• Voluntary role, minimum 12-month commitment. Volunteers will be rostered on the same shift each week (minimum 3.5 hours per week)

• Background checks & reference checks apply. Completion of the internal training program is compulsory

• In recognition of contribution to the organisation, EDV will provide each volunteer with a written reference after 12 months of continuous volunteering. EDV is also able to be a verbal referee for tertiary program applications and paid employment.

Ethical requirements:

All EDV staff are required to adhere to the EDV Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct, Core Values and guiding principles and relevant organisational policies, practices and guidelines.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please navigate to the 'Apply Now' section. Please include a resume and a cover letter that address the key selection criteria (found on the position description), your availability and ability to commit to volunteering for 12 months and why you will be a great addition to the EDV Hub Volunteer Team. If you identify with having lived experience of an eating disorder, we ask you to also please respond to the framework definitions. Please combine these as a single document. Direct applications to EDV via email will not be monitored.

If you don’t meet all of the key selection criteria, but are still keen to work with us, we want to hear from you! Please just tell us what you will bring to the role within your application.

For more information about the role and working at EDV contact Melanie McTaggart, Hub Manager at [email protected] using the subject line: Hub Volunteer enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.