Summer Foundation ,Project Officer Jobs in Australia

Project
Officer – YPINH Capacity Development
         

Position
Description     

Part Time
Position:
4 days per week (0.8 EFT)

Location:
                 
Negotiable – will need to work from Melbourne office   at strategic times

Reports to:               
Executive Manager

Salary:                       
$33.00
per hour, with generous salary packaging arrangements available, plus
Superannuation Guarantee

About the
Summer Foundation

The Summer
Foundation aims to resolve the issue of young
people in nursing homes (YPINH). We work for change utilising a
range of strategies to influence human service policy and practice. We focus on
robust evidence-based research, on directly supporting YPINH to speak out about
their own lives, and in developing and demonstrating appropriate housing and
support opportunities that can be replicated across the country.

With the National
Disability insurance Scheme (NDIS) having been launched in 2013, we have an
opportunity to ensure the design of the NDIS is a success for YPINH. We
currently operate projects in the Hunter and Barwon trial sites, identifying,
engaging and linking young people to the scheme who are in residential aged
care (RAC). Through this process we are identifying any barriers to be overcome
in time for the national roll-out, which is planned to start in July 2016.

Position
Background

Across Australia, an
estimated 6200 people under the age of 65 currently live in nursing homes,
where the average age is 84. Many are socially isolated and have been forgotten,
and their potential, health and well-being may be at risk due to lack of
resources, and a skills-base targeted to the aged population at the end of
their lives. Approximately 2250 additional young people are admitted each
year to RAC, about 300 of them under 50 years of age.

Summer Foundation
research indicates that most of these YPINH are unaware of their eligibility
for support through the NDIS. Data collected from our projects also indicate
that 60% have no existing link to any disability programs. Through our research
and project work with YPINH in and beyond the NDIS trial sites, we have
identified a number of key initiatives and resources that will make a
difference to this situation. Through project funding provided by the NDIS,
these initiatives and resources are now ready for delivery.

About the
Position

The Project Officer –
YPINH Capacity
Development will complete a project that involves a partnership
approach between the Summer Foundation, the National Disability Insurance
Agency (NDIA) and a range of agencies involved in health and disability service
provision. There are seven key deliverables to complete, as specified in our
contract with the NDIA. It requires a project management approach, with a
strong and sustained focus on evaluation of the impact of the project work. The
project officer will work within the Connections team at the Summer Foundation,
from which much of the information on practices and priorities for the project
will be obtained. There will also be a high level of cooperation required with
our Research, Ambassador, and Communications teams.

Key
Relationships

Internal:
Connections Project Team, Executive Manager, Research Manager, Community
Relations Team.

External: YPINH
& those at risk, their families/support networks, the National Disability
Insurance Agency (NDIA), Nursing Homes, Health & Disability Service
Providers & State and Territory Government representatives.

Responsibilities
and duties

• Develop
  a best practice guide for those working with young people living in
  residential aged care facilities, their families and/or carers that
  contributes to their social and economic goals;
• Support
  the establishment of ‘NDIS Connections projects’ in the Perth Hills and
  ACT trial sites, through information, resources and other assistance to
  local providers;
• Develop
  information and resource distribution strategies concerning the NDIS (and
  other relevant information) for identified young people currently living,
  or at risk of placement, in residential aged care and their families;
• Provide
  information and resources about alternate accommodation for young people
  in, or at risk of being accommodated in, residential aged care;
• Produce
  resources, information and/or training to community members and agencies
  (including government agencies) to better coordinate supports and services
  to young people living or at risk of placement in residential aged care;
• Resource
  relevant community agencies (including government agencies) to better
  understand and support young people living or at risk of placement in
  residential aged care;
• Coordinate
  hospital discharge planning forums across each of the four identified NDIS
  trial sites (Barwon, ACT, Hunter and Perth Hills), in collaboration with
  key Summer Foundation staff;
• Develop
  and present Best Practice in working with YPINH training sessions across
  all Australian States and Territories;
• Share
  regular updates with the Connections team and other internal departments
  on the project.
• Work in
  collaboration with the Summer Foundation Research Unit to design a
  framework for, evaluate, document and share outcomes of the project.
• Disseminate
  Summer Foundation resources (including research findings, toolkits and
  personal stories) to educate key stakeholders including the NDIA, other
  government bodies, allied health and direct support providers working with
  this target group, individuals, families and networks, as needed.

Essential
Attributes

• Project
  management experience;
• Advanced
  professional writing skills;
• Experience
  working in the aged care and disability sectors;
• Highly
  developed interpersonal skills;
• Excellent
  written and verbal communication skills.
• Capacity
  to work flexibly and prioritise workloads;
• A
  demonstrated commitment to advocating within a human rights framework;
• An
  understanding of person-centred and family-centred approaches to service
  provision, and the principles embedded in the NDIS;
• Demonstrable
  skills in using sound judgements in complex situations;
• Evidence
  of working collaboratively in a team environment;
• Ability
  to demonstrate high level collaboration and negotiation with a wide range
  of people from varied professions and backgrounds;
• Computer
  literacy, including experience with the internet, email, databases and
  word processing;
• Tertiary
  qualifications in an appropriate disability, research or health related
  field;
• Possess
  a driver’s license and be willing to travel across Australia, including
  capacity to stay overnight as required;
• Current
  police check.

Desirable
Attributes

• Experience
  working with people with a disability including people with acquired brain
  injury, progressive neurological condition and/or complex disability.
• Some
  experience in evidence based research.
• Prior
  experience in an allied health or related field e.g. Social Work, Nursing,
  Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology and Psychology.
• Experience
  in organisation of events/forums from conception through to execution
• Own
  vehicle.

Terms and
conditions

The Summer
Foundation aims to employ a project officer though to the end of June 2016.
Flexibility in location is available, but will be required to work from our
head office in Box Hill, Melbourne during planning and coordination with other
staff.

Summer Foundation
aims to provide a fully accessible and family friendly work environment.