About the role

The Loddon Children’s Health and Wellbeing Local (LCHWL) provides a range of health and wellbeing services to children up to 11 years of age who may be experiencing some challenges such as developmental, emotional, relational or behavioural concerns. Services are available to families across the Victorian shires of Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Loddon, Macedon Ranges, Mt Alexander, and Greater Bendigo.

The LCHWL is an innovative model co-designed with partners – paediatric service providers, and people with lived experience – to provide a regionally based system response that improves access across prevention, primary and tertiary care in the Loddon region. The service is particularly targeting those children who are not accessing support under other mechanisms such as NDIS.

Services provided through the LCHWL include paediatric health, mental health support, parenting support, specialist assessments, allied health, family services and care coordination.

The LCHWL has been established in response to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. Led by Bendigo Community Health Services in partnership with Bendigo Health and regional partners Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-operative, Njernda Aboriginal Corporation, Echuca Regional Health, Dhelkaya Health, Sunbury & Cobaw Community Health, North Central LLEN and Maryborough District Health.

This position is employed by Njernda Aboriginal Corporation and works as part of the LCHWL team, alongside colleagues employed by partner agencies. The position supports a local service response in the Echuca area / Yorta Yorta and actively engages in the multi-disciplinary LCHWL team to provide accessible and coordinated services to children 0 to 11 years and their families across the region.

This position aims to enhance the experience that the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander families and their children have when accessing services within the LCHWL and ensures that their cultural needs are met.

The role of the Aboriginal Children’s Health and Wellbeing liaison officer is to work across the organisations to actively increase awareness, access, and community engagement within services.

 

Organizational Values

Respect	Establishing relationships based on respect and trust
Accountability	Taking ownership and initiative of Njernda values to ensure trusted collaborations are formed
Resilience	Encouraging cultural and spiritual growth to enable personal growth
Advocacy	Working to transform the disadvantage and challenge that causes impact on our community
Cultural Sensitivity	Welcoming and serving our community with understanding and without judgement

 

Key Responsibilities

Perform duties including, but not limited to:

• -Collaborate as a member of the LCHWL team to support children and families in accessing LCHWL services and navigating the broader service system.
• -Liaise between Njernda and LCHWL services to support families and children in accessing timely health and wellbeing services.
• -Promote access to local services and coordinate client care and support
• -Actively engage with multidisciplinary teams to share information and practice knowledge in support of the best outcomes for children and their families.
• -Work with clinical staff to support client appointments, referrals, and documentation
• -Ensure cultural safety and awareness in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander client engagement with services.
• -Establish and maintain effective relationships with networks and stakeholders throughout the local Aboriginal Community.
• -Represent Njernda at all relevant meetings and gatherings to promote specialised Njernda/LCHWL programs and services, ensuring that the interests of the Aboriginal community are effectively communicated.
• -Support client access to and coordination of paediatric services
• -Advocate for families and children to access services that cater to their healthcare needs.
• -Communicate effectively with healthcare professionals and clients.
• -Create and assist with referral pathways for patients.
• -Model and abide by Njernda Values, Code of Conduct, Policy, and Procedures.
• -Participate actively in and facilitate supervision and professional development activities.
• -Ensure that you participate in team meetings, staff meetings and other community activities as requested.
• -Ensure that you adhere to legislative requirements.
• -Ensure that you report any risks identified immediately to your line manager.
• -Participate within the team to ensure performance against expectations including performance management and staff development, in accordance with Njernda’s policies and procedures.
• -Ensure that all staff are provided with and operate in a safe environment in accordance with Njernda’s OHS policies and procedures.
• -Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities.

 

Key Selection Criteria

Applicants must possess:

• -Experience in similar role such as a liaison officer or in community outreach worker.
• -Knowledge and understanding of the health issues that face Aboriginal people and their communities.
• -Respect, understand & acknowledge the traditions of Aboriginal people.
• -Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills, including written and verbal communication. Ability to communicate, consult, liaise, and negotiate with a broad range of people both Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal, at all levels to achieve program objectives and goals.
• -Experience working within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities.
• -Knowledge of current immunisation schedule, NDIS pathways, child development and local services.
• -Demonstrated patient-focused approach in service provision with genuine empathy and interest in patient needs.
• -Maintain absolute confidentiality regarding patient and practice information.
• -Ability to effectively and efficiently plan and organise own workload. Work cooperatively within a team as well as be able to work independently.

 

Commitment to Safety

All children have the right to be children and live free of abuse and neglect, so they can grow, learn, and develop. Everyone within Njernda is responsible for ensuring a culture of child safety; preventing child abuse and abiding by the Child Safety Principles

Qualifications & Experience

• -Experience in delivery of a collaborative service in conjunction with partners.
• -Experience in a liaison, case management, project or community outreach role.
• -Local connection to the Aboriginal community.
• -Previous cultural awareness training, or willingness to undertake course.

 

Other Relevant Information

• -The successful applicant will be required to undergo satisfactory pre-employment checks, including providing at least two professional referees, completion of a medical declaration, Police Records Check, Working With Children Check, Victorian Driver’s License, and proof of identify and qualifications
• -Commitment to equal opportunity and occupational health and safety principles and practices is required
• -You will need to disclose any pre-existing illness or injury you know about which could be affected by the described work duties. Under section 82 (7) of the Accident Compensation Act, failure to disclose such a pre-existing illness or injury will mean that, if employed, you will not be paid compensation for that condition.
• -Vaccination Policy: all staff are encouraged to be vaccinated against whooping cough, measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) (if not immune), influenza (annually), hepatitis A and B, chicken pox (if not immune); shingles (for eligible people), and COVID-19.
• -Written applications should include a covering letter. Please include the names and telephone contacts of at least two referees.
• -Please check the closing date to ensure your application is received within the specified time. Applications may be posted, emailed, hand delivered or faxed (provided that a hard copy is posted on the same day).

 

To be Eligible for an Interview

The Applicant MUST address the Key Selection Criteria and include a recent resume.

Address your application marked: “Private & Confidential”

To:             Human Resources Manager

                  Njernda Aboriginal Corporation

                  P.O. Box 21 Echuca Vic 3564

Email         jobs@Njernda.com.au

 

All applications close: 26th Aug 2024