Community Connector (Identified)

Description:

Community Connector (Identified)

1 Part Time Permanent

Based in Cairns

Salary: Wuchopperen Health Service Limited Enterprise Agreement (2023)

Social, Community, Homecare and Disability Employees, Grade 2

Salary $65,551.26 – $71,520.11 per annum (PT pro-rata)

Wuchopperen Health Service

‘Keeping Our Generations Growing Strong’

Wuchopperen is a Community Controlled Aboriginal Health Organisation providing holistic health care services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Cairns.

Benefits of working with Wuchopperen:

• We provide a positive work culture and a diverse and inclusive environment. Our people matter to us, and we are committed to supporting them:
• Competitive Salary + 12% Super + Salary Sacrifice (up to $15,899 for tax free benefits and $2,650 p/a for-entertainment benefits).
• 5 weeks annual leave and 15 days personal leave pro rata.
• Commitment to professional development.
• EAP for employees and family members.

About the role:

This position will work as part of the National Community Connector Program (NCCP). The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is implementing the NCCP to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with a disability to navigate the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Community Connectors will work with the NDIA Partners in the Community (PITC), NDIS Planners and Support Coordinators to support and promote the NDIS and the NDIA in the community. Community Connectors will enable better linkages between people, communities, and services.

The position of Community Connector reports to the Coordinator, Integrated Team Care Program. The position has no supervisory responsibilities.

This position works closely with other members of the clinical teams and maintains regular contact with other program staff to ensure effective outcomes for clients.

Significant liaison is required within a multidisciplinary team approach including working with external healthcare providers and community organisations.

Key Responsibilities include:

• To support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in a culturally sensitive manner, developing trust, rapport and breaking down barriers to accessing the NDIS.
• Foster connections with support agencies including PITC and/or the NDIA and provide support for clients and their representatives to attend appointments, obtain functional assessments and other evidence for access requests.
• Link potential Participants to their PITC or NDIA to help complete Access Request Forms (ARF), Verbal Access Request (VAR) and psychosocial disability evidence forms and provide support in obtaining updates on submitted forms.
• Assist in linking Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are not eligible for NDIS to community mainstream supports and/or refer them to their PITC to support linkages to the community and mainstream supports.
• Work collaboratively with existing NDIA community and mainstream engagement activities that support:

1. Participants in setting goals
2. Assisting in understanding plans
3. Participant handover to PITC and/or NDIA
4. Planning and meeting reviews

• Provide advice to the funding body regarding any barriers regarding access to NDIS or implementing and utilising completed Plans.
• Participate in organisational and community activities to advance the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Work within Wuchopperen’s Policies and Procedures including the Staff Code of Conduct and the Work Health and Safety requirements and contribute to continuous improvement processes to ensure compliance with relevant standards and safe, effective service delivery.
• Other duties as required, within your skills, experience and capacity.

Core Capabilities:

For applicants to be successful in this role, they should demonstrate:

1. Experience in providing support to clients, assisting to set goals and to understand and overcome barriers reducing clients engaging with services.
2. Knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander societies and cultures from an historical and contemporary perspective, including the ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
3. Capacity to support and collaborate on behalf of clients and to assist them to build positive relationships that enables clients to access services.
4. Extensively developed interpersonal and communication skills including the ability liaise with a range of stakeholders as well as effectively advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
5. Ability to work independently and in a multi-disciplinary team environment, prioritise and meet deadlines, deal with matters of a sensitive and confidential nature.
6. Ability to meet and work within the core values and behaviours of Wuchopperen.

Requirements:

• A certificate qualification or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline.
• It is a condition of employment in this role for the employee to be, and remain, vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chicken pox), pertussis (whooping cough) and hepatitis B.
• It is recommended for the employee to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
• Proof of qualifications and current registration is required to be provided prior to the commencement of duty.
• The Community Connector is an Identified position. It is a genuine occupational requirement that an Identified position be filled by an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander person, as permitted by and arguable under section 25, 104 and 105 of the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Act (1991).
• It is a condition of employment that all employees are holders of a current and valid ‘blue card’ or Working with Children Check. This is at your cost. Employment cannot continue or commence if you do not have a ‘blue card’ or if your ‘blue card’ is withdrawn or is disqualified.
• Possession of a current CPR certificate or commitment to obtain within the first six weeks of employment is essential.
• Possession of a current Queensland “CA” class driver’s licence is essential.
• Commitment to work within the principles of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community control including a willingness to develop the leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.
• Ability to use Microsoft products and the ability to use or willingness to gain proficiency in the client information management systems.
• Undergo and Child Safety and Personal History Screening Check

Applicants who do not address these requirements, will not be considered for shortlisting.

Note: Revised legislation requires applicants to hold a blue card prior to commencement. Refer to Qld Government’s Blue Card Services website for more information.

How to apply:

To be eligible for interview, applicants must submit a cover letter (no more than two pages), addressing the Core Capabilities, provide an up-to-date Resume (including two referees) and complete the screening questions.

For more information contact Irene Kelly, Acting Manager, Allied Health on 07 4080 1184‬

The above is an Identified position. It is a genuine occupational requirement that an Identified position be filled by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, as permitted by and arguable under section 25, 104 and 105 of the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Act (1991).

Wuchopperen is a Child Safe Organisation, and the safety and wellbeing of children is of utmost importance.

Closing date for applications: 5pm on Monday 7 April 2025