Access and Engagement Lead

Your future Workplace

Sacred Heart Mission is a community of dedicated people working together to end homelessness and disadvantage. Our strength lies in our shared purpose and values. We welcome individuality and support each other to bring our best and whole selves to the work we do each day. Join us in making a meaningful difference in a fun and friendly organisation with a big heart.

Your new role

The Access & Engagement Lead supports older people who have experienced homelessness or disadvantage to access residential aged care in a safe, dignified and person-centred way.

Drawing on community and homelessness expertise, the role builds trust with individuals often excluded from mainstream systems, strengthens referral pathways, and advocates to remove barriers to care. It leads holistic intake and assessment, working closely with clinical teams to ensure the right fit for each person.

From first contact through to settling in, the role ensures individuals feel respected, supported and a true sense of belonging—while navigating key systems to deliver fair, timely and well-matched access to care.

Click here to download a copy of the position description.

Your day to day

• Build and sustain strong, values-aligned relationships with hospitals, homelessness services, housing providers, outreach teams and community organisations to support access to Sacred Heart Community.
• Maintain oversight of enquiries, referrals and waiting lists, and proactively plan for vacancies to support timely and appropriate access to the home.
• Contribute to and inform admission decisions in partnership with the Residential Manager and clinical team, bringing a strong psychosocial lens to the assessment of suitability for entry into the home.
• Ensure admission documentation and eligibility requirements are completed in line with the Aged Care Act 2024, My Aged Care processes and SHC’s Admissions Procedure, supporting timely and appropriate access to the home.
• Support access and transition for residents who are eligible for, or accessing, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), ensuring supports are aligned with their needs within a residential aged care setting.
• Support prospective residents, and where relevant their families or support networks, to prepare for admission and transition into the home in a way that is respectful, informed and responsive to their needs.

We're looking for someone

The successful candidate will have:

• Relevant tertiary qualification in social work, community services, health or a related discipline. A qualification in social work or a closely aligned field is highly regarded.
• Working knowledge of aged care systems, funding and regulatory requirements, or the capability to rapidly develop this knowledge.
• Experience supporting people accessing NDIS and coordinating supports with external providers.
• Demonstrated experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness, disadvantage or complex psychosocial needs.
• Ability to navigate and coordinate access across complex service systems, including admissions, intake and assessments.
• Strong relationship‑management skills with hospitals, housing, homelessness and community‑based services.
• Sound knowledge of aged care systems (including My Aged Care and AN-ACC funding processes) and relevant regulatory requirements (Aged Care Act/ Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards) would be highly advantageous.
• Experience working with people accessing the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), including their support coordinators and external providers (desirable)
• Strong organisational and coordination skills, including the ability to manage competing priorities, coordinate complex processes and maintain accurate documentation across multiple systems (e.g. LeeCare, My Aged Care, PRODA).

You can look forward to

• Salary range between $115,000 - $123,000 FTE plus Super based on experience
• Permanent Part Time, 30.4 hours per week
• Working in a supportive team and having the opportunity to develop professional skills
• Access to in-house training
• Salary packaging expenses like your rent, holiday accommodation and dining out: up to $15,990 pre-tax
• Be located in the heart of St Kilda, close to public transport & parking
• Completing your workday knowing you have made a meaningful difference to residents’ lives

Come and work with us!

To join our team, please scroll down and enter your details below.

Applications close: at 11:59pm on the closing date.

For more information about the role, please contact Khrisna Ogacion, Clinicial Practice Lead at kogacion@sacredheartmission.org using the subject line: Access and Engagement Lead enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Shortlisting for this position will commence immediately, and the position may close earlier than stated if we have found suitable candidates.

SHM is committed to equal employment opportunities for all people regardless of age, gender, cultural background, disability, or sexual orientation. We recognise the strength and value in diversity and actively foster an inclusive workplace. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.

All appointments are subject to Police Checks and certain roles require additional pre-screening as outlined in the position description. Sacred Heart Mission complies with all industry standards which entails many of our roles to require a NDIS Worker Screening Check.