.8 FTE (4 days a week) | Hobart based | SCHADS Level 5 (salary packaging available) | Closes 12pm 19-10-2020
The Tasmanian alcohol, tobacco and other drugs sector is world-class, helping people from all walks of life manage a range of personal health challenges.
Whether it be excessive drinking, a smoking habit or an illicit drug dependence there are hundreds of Tasmanians working hard, using their expertise and giving their all to make a difference to the lives of others.
But they can’t do it on their own, it is well recognised that services become better when they listen to the voices of the people that use them.
This specific type of expertise is called lived experience and it is vital. Everyone agrees that we need to hear the voices of Tasmanians who have experience with accessing alcohol and other drug treatment and support.
This is where you come in. First and foremost, you have to be a people person with strong empathy for people who experience disadvantage and who are often not used to having their voice heard. Alongside this a qualification and/or experience in working in or with the health sector would be looked upon favourably.
We are wanting you to work with people with lived experience to support them to interact with alcohol and other drug treatment and support organisations. For example: they may be invited to sit on an interview panel, attend a sector meeting, share their stories, among other opportunities. It will require you to engage and work with (often) vulnerable Tasmanians, to identify where their capacity could be built, and then support them to interact with services.
See why we need a people person? Your personal values will be instrumental in how you interact and support people.
This role also requires the development of systems that protect the confidentiality and interests of people with lived experience while also ensuring that they are matched with the appropriate opportunities. The ability to maintain good systems that ensure that everyone (including yourself) is supported. We don’t have to start from scratch though a lot of the work has been done to set this system up.
Sounds boring but proficiency in Microsoft Word/Excel/database programs is a must.
Another part of this role is supporting organisations to ensure that this process is meaningful and valuable to all parties. Having previous experience in our sector is highly desirable, because the person in this role will be required to understand where the opportunities are to have the lived experience voice heard. This is why stakeholder management skills are vital.
Lastly, drawing all of this together, experience in facilitating small groups and participating in sector events is necessary. Over and above connecting people to opportunities in organisations is also the task of gathering information in collaboration with people with lived experience to inform our policy and advocacy work.
Our sector may be small, but the issues that we respond to have big impact. So we look forward to welcoming someone who is excited about working in an organisation that is fiercely committed to evidence-based policies and practices that treat drug use as a health issue, and seeks to reduce the stigma, harm and discrimination associated with drug use.
Our organisation has around seven staff who are all committed to supporting each other and working collaboratively to deliver services and programs that make a difference.
If you are a person who has lived experience, as noted above, then we strongly encourage you to apply for the role.
Interested?
Want to chat with me? I can be contacted on 0438 347 056.
If you do apply, click on this link and have a read of the position description, and in no more than two A4 pages (plus a CV) tell me who you are and why you are the best person for the job and our team (no recruitment agencies please).
Send it to me, Jackie Hallam at policy@atdc.org.au by Midday, Monday 19 October.
If you think you are the right person for this role, and you also have a lived experience of alcohol, tobacco or other drug use, I encourage you to apply.
