Community Worker – Sydney

About OzHarvest:

OzHarvest is a leading food rescue organisation on a mission to ‘Nourish our Country’ by stopping good food from going to waste and delivering it to charities that help feed people in need. Through our education programs and our advocacy work, we hope to inspire others to change their behaviour and help reach the national target of halving food waste by 2030.

About the Role:

The Community Worker is a key frontline role supporting local Community programs. This role focuses on guest relationship management, promoting social inclusion, and empowering individuals to be food secure. Central to the role is building rapport with guests to foster trust and connection, enabling meaningful referrals to internal and external support services. The Community Worker engages closely with individuals experiencing food insecurity, social isolation, and complex needs, with a strong commitment to understanding and addressing the root causes of food insecurity. This role plays a key part in connecting guests with relevant support options while upholding a safe, inclusive, and dignified environment for all staff, volunteers, and guests.

We are recruiting two positions for this role.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Be a positive and effective team member and bring the OzHarvest values to life:
• Demonstrate each value in your actions and decisions
• Communicate honestly and openly and respectfully at all times
• Problem solve, provide solutions, be helpful, supportive and proactive
• Work collaboratively and positively with volunteers to support their experience at OzHarvest
• Commit to a growth mindset and respectful constructive feedback at all times
• Complete surveys, mandatory training and other employment requirements
• Everyone is an OzHarvestar – be an ambassador of our purpose and culture

Responsibility Area: Guest Engagement & Program Implementation:

• Build positive relationships with Guests, ensuring they feel welcome and following best practice in service delivery.
• Identify individuals in need of additional support and provide equitable service based on their needs.
• Identify guests in need of additional support and provide appropriate referrals to relevant community services and agencies.
• Advocate for guest wellbeing by actively listening, understanding root causes of food.insecurity, and supporting access to relevant supports and resources.
• Facilitate social inclusion by fostering a welcoming and supportive environment.
• Support the delivery of community engagement initiatives locally.
• Ensure best practices in supporting diverse populations, including those experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, trauma, and other vulnerabilities.

Responsibility Area: Crisis Management and Risk Mitigation:

• Apply de-escalation techniques to manage challenging situations and ensure the safety of all individuals.
• Support staff and volunteers through debriefing sessions and incident response planning.
• Implement and uphold policies that contribute to a safe and respectful environment for staff, volunteers, and guests.

Responsibility Area: Record Keeping and Impact Measurement:

• Maintain accurate, confidential, and well-organised records of individuals, ensuring the use of appropriate and professional language.
• Utilise various digital systems and software for record-keeping and reporting, demonstrating confidence in technology and adaptability to different programs.
• Contribute to the measurement and documentation of activities that support OzHarvest’s Social Impact Framework.

Responsibility Area: Team Collaboration:

• Work collaboratively with team members and volunteers to uphold OzHarvest’s mission and values.
• Provide guidance and support to volunteers, ensuring they are well-equipped to engage with vulnerable guests.
• Contribute to a positive team culture by communicating openly and fostering teamwork.

At OzHarvest there are fabulous opportunities for each of us to work together to contribute to deliver on our purpose to Nourish our Country. These could include a range of reasonable additional duties from time to time as required.

Personal Specifications:

Qualifications:

• Certificate ||| in Social Work, Community Services or similar
• Current and Valid Police Check
• Current and Valid Working with Children Check
• Current First Aid Certificate
• Current Mental Health First Aid Certificate

Skills, Knowledge & Experience:

• Experience working as a Community Worker, Social Worker, or Case Worker (or similar frontline support role).
• Proven experience working with vulnerable populations, including individuals experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, trauma, alcohol and other drug (AOD) dependencies, and people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
• Strong de-escalation and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to assess and provide appropriate referrals for guests and customers.
• Experience in managing stakeholder relationships, including volunteers, community members, and service providers.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and CRM systems.

Personal Abilities and Aptitudes:

• A strong commitment to and enthusiasm for OzHarvest’s purpose and values.
• Positive, proactive, and energetic approach to work.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport and trust with guests, volunteers, and team members.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and handle challenging situations with sensitivity.
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Ability to foster teamwork and drive a positive organisational culture.
• Upholding discretion and commitment to maintaining privacy in sensitive situations.
• Strong motivator within the team.

If you’re ready to take on this rewarding role and help us Nourish our Country, apply today! Together, we can create lasting change and bring hope to those in need.

To apply:

Please follow through the online application process and attach your CV, a cover letter, and include a message as to “Why would you like to work at OzHarvest, and why this role?” (creativity encouraged!).

Please note that only applications with a cover letter addressing the question above will be shortlisted.

OzHarvest is proud to be an equal opportunity employer that supports diversity, inclusion and belonging. Please note: If you have a Language or Cultural special consideration, a disability or impairment or use assistive technology, please let us know in your Cover Letter when applying. You can ask a support person to help you through the application and interview process.