• EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Part time - 15.2 hours per week - 2 days. Monday and Tuesday based at our Abbotsford Office. Fixed term contract to July 2024.
• AWARD DETAILS: Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (SCHADS) Level 1.3. Generous salary packaging available.
• REPORTS TO: Manager of Ambassadors and Peer Cadet program
• LIAISES WITH: Program Directors, all EDV managers and staff, individuals experiencing an eating disorder and their families/support people, relevant external stakeholders

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.

All of our work is guided by our values of Connection, Courage, Optimism and Perseverance.

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 can offer you:

• A genuinely nice place to work – we know that our people are our best asset
• Support and encouragement to grow your skill set in a hands-on environment
• Ability to take ownership of your role
• Opportunities to engage in a fun social calendar of events
• Ability to take scheduled mental health days to focus on your personal wellness
• Regular supervision provided for all staff
• Salary packaging arrangements (increasing your take-home pay)

ROLE STATEMENT

The Lived Experience Peer Cadet Program at Eating Disorders Victoria is an employment opportunity for people with lived experience of an eating disorders. Cadets will undertake the Cert IV in Mental Health Peer Work while completing a paid cadetship.

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 must align with the definitions as detailed in the attached Position Description.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Develop work readiness skills in relation to peer-led support across EDV
• Engage proactively with other Peer Cadet team members, and Peer Cadet Project Lead
• Participate in induction and training program and other professional development activates as required
• Attend and engage in active reflective practice, and supervision
• Assist with administrative tasks and special projects as required
• Engage effectively with the Peer Mentoring Program (PMP) though providing one-on-one peer-led support to multiple participants
• Support the EDV Peer Mentor Program to develop training resources and undertake other tasks as needed
• Develop skills around the co-facilitation of groups and events at EDV
• Attend EDV Staff Meetings and other groups as relevant to the role – Lived Experience Peer Support Group; Education and Psycho-social Team sessions, and keep up to date with EDV related news and sector developments
• Other duties consistent with position as directed by Peer Cadet Project Lead

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential:

• Evidence of enrolment or intention to enrol in the Cert IV in Mental Health Peer Work
• Lived Experience of an eating disorder and aligned with the definitions as specified in the position description
• Ability and willingness to discuss own experiences of mental illness in the context of supporting someone with an eating disorder
• Ability to demonstrate functional coping mechanisms that allow you to effectively maintain good health and wellbeing, and that enable you to engage fully with the roles and responsibilities of the role
• Strong commitment to peer support and understanding of the value of peer work in mental health recovery
• Well-developed communication skills (both written and verbal) and the ability to build rapport and adapt approach according to the audience (clients, services, staff)
• Understanding of the role of professional treatment in recovery from an eating disorder
• Ability to take responsibility for own learning, and to use direction and feedback to develop capabilities
• An understanding of the importance of self-care and demonstrated ability to enact own self-care routines during times of stress
• A moderate understanding of eating disorders
• Experience in online communication systems

Employment conditions:

Location: This position will be based on-site at the EDV office on Level 2 of the Magpies Community Centre (corner Lulie and Abbot Streets, Abbotsford). 

Normal working hours will be during Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm.  There may at times be some out of hours work and this will be negotiated with your manager.

Other conditions as mandated by the Fair Work Act. 

Subject to satisfactory Working with Children Check, National Police Check and completion of Conflict-of-Interest Declaration. 

Probationary period will apply (3-months). 

Wellness Plan:

EDV acknowledge that the work in this sector can be challenging and stressful, which can impact on all employees, volunteers and students' personal wellbeing and mental health. All staff complete a ‘Wellness Plan’ and this important document acknowledges that in times of stress, a commitment to positive mental health practices and supports can improve resilience and wellbeing.

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 click the 'Apply Now' button and include a resume and a cover letter including a specific response to each of the Key Selection Criteria (found on the position description). 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 Ruth Green, Manager of Ambassadors and Peer Cadet program at [email protected], using the subject line: Peer Cadet enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.