Carer Peer Supporter-Coach - Remote / Work from Home

What Different Journeys Does 

Different Journeys provides a friendly, safe peer support environment to empower autistic people and their communities. Together we change people’s lives. We use evidence-based programs which respond to local need to replace isolation and prejudice with connection and community. 

We listen, we engage, and we involve our Autistic community and their carers and families in the design and delivery of everything we do. 

Our Values

Community: We build communities of people to share their lives, interests, hopes and fears. Collectively we build community capacity and link segregated and disconnected parts of our service system and our society.

Social Justice:  We recognise and support the rights of all people. We strive to create fairness and equality of economic, social and cultural rights for all. We seek to bring about positive changes for individuals and society.

Diversity:  We embrace individual and societal diversity. We honour the unique strengths, talents and interests of all people and recognise the importance of diversity in enriching our world.

Our Vision

A future where autistic people fully participate in public life facilitated by community awareness and understanding.

The Carer Peer Supporter-Coach

Different Journeys is a growing, flexible organisation focussed on working together to achieve our goals in line with our vision and values. 

The Carer Peer Supporter-Coach helps achieve those goals by facilitating participation, engagement and communication between our autistic people, their families and carers at our events, virtually and in their communities. 

Responsibilities

1. Support our events by attending to meet carers, provide on-the-spot support, and build relationships with the Different Journeys community. 
2. Support our peer support events by connecting with carers at a range of activities, including online and in person programs, one to one or group supports for different and mixed age / gender / other groups. 
3. Contact, build relationships and support individual carers to obtain skills, knowledge, services and supports which meet their individual needs and interests. 
4. Collaborate with colleagues in identifying, researching and organising ways to respond to carer needs through our programs, events, tools, referral services and other available services (i.e. through Carer Gateway). 
5. Intentionally use your lived experience to provide carer peer support, navigation support, connection and continuous improvement of our services. 
6. Use coaching skills and models to help carers identify and explore their own goals for caring, wellbeing, family life, working, home, and any other hopes. 
7. Comply with procedures for data collection, entry, management, transfer and destruction, including attending training and following security protocols as required. 
8. Maintain confidentiality, respect and a commitment to our Values and Vision at all times, and encourage these attributes in your team.
9. Participate in risk management and work health and safety practices for the planning, and evaluation delivery of Carer Peer Support. 
10. Maintain knowledge of legislative, regulatory, policy and funding matters that apply to peer support, coaching and our service arrangements. 

Key Skills and Experience 

• Mandatory: lived experience as a carer.
  • Different Journeys considers that being a carer is a genuine occupational requirement for this position under the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic) ss12 and 26.
• Lived experience of accessing carer supports and navigating the service system.
• Experience with peer support, mentoring and a person-centred approach.
• Experience with coaching individuals, particularly with diverse or vulnerable people.
• Excellent relationship building, engagement and communication skills.
• Excellent time management, prioritisation and organisational skills.
• Dedicated to community and building the capability of others.
• Resilience, compassion and a calm, friendly manner.
• Willingness to share and grow your knowledge and experience.

Award

This role has been assessed Level 4 of the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (MA000100).

The position is subject to receipt of external funding, and completion of a national police check and Working with Children check. You’ll need to be willing to travel to different event locations across metropolitan Melbourne, with occasional regional travel.

Next Steps

To submit your application please click 'Apply Now' by the closing date.

You can send this information in writing or another form. Contact us if you'd like to talk it through verbally, or if you have questions. 

Multiple roles are available. 

Please note the main safety and accessibility features of this job: 

• connecting with carers who have been referred to us for support 
• occasionally attending our events for in-person support, which may be after hours or weekends 
• ability to adjust your work hours (part time and full time available)
• remote work with no dedicated office
• a supportive, aligned team of carer peer supporters
• a very high level of flexibility and independence 
• plenty of use of technology and secure databases 
• high standards of safety, privacy and ethics 
• regular exposure to others' personal experiences and histories.

A position description is attached.