Thorne Harbour Health · South Yarra, Melbourne, Australia
Our Community Support Program has supported people in Victoria most affected by HIV since 1984. Its staff and volunteers provide social support, transport to medical appointments, home care and peer support, working in partnership with the HIV nursing team at Bolton Clarke.
As Client Support Officer (Peer Support), you’ll be part of a small team delivering these services. You’ll provide peer support to people living with HIV, including at major hospitals and HIV clinics, coordinate volunteer support, and train HIV-positive volunteers to deliver peer support.
You will:
Assess clients referred for support and link them to services
Provide HIV peer support to clients
Give advice and referral options to clients with needs outside the Support program
Advocate for clients in a culturally appropriate way
Supervise and support volunteers in line with Thorne Harbour policies and procedures
Maintain strong working relationships with internal and external service providers, particularly the HIV clinical nurse consultants at Bolton Clarke
About you
You will have a tertiary qualification in community development, social work, counselling or a related discipline. You will also bring:
Demonstrated understanding and experience of the implications of living with HIV and the broad range of issues facing people living with HIV
The ability to work sensitively with clients from a wide range of cultural backgrounds
Experience working with volunteers
The ability to keep the confidentiality of clients, volunteers and staff, and to maintain appropriate boundaries
Highly developed communication skills, including active listening, conflict resolution, problem solving, support planning and accurate case notes
The ability to take direction and feedback, work well in a team and contribute to planning and reviewing support services
A current Victorian driver’s licence