Community Health Promotions Officer

Who are we

MDAS reason for being is described by our Elders as:

Employed by our Community to work for our Community engaging educating and empowering individuals families and our Community in their journey to self-determination.

MDAS has embarked on a commitment to become a leading Aboriginal organisation known for its ability to make a practical difference to clients lives families and our Community.

This is underpinned by our LORE which is the foundation stone of who we are what we do and why we do it.

Our organisations services people and culture will be guided through strong leadership and engagement with community and MDAS teams.

Our Purpose

MDAS purpose is:

Healing supporting serving and protecting our communities throughout the Mallee Region.

Healthy resilient and capable Aboriginal people and families who can be their very best selves and exercise true self determination.

Caring for strengthening empowering motivating and guiding our Mob.

About the role

The Community Health Promotion Officer will play a key role in delivering the Tackling Indigenous Smoking (TIS) Program at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS). This program funded by the Australian Government Department of Health aims to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by reducing tobacco and vaping use through evidence-based population health promotion activities endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and supported by research such as the Mayi Kuwayu study.

Reporting to the Health Promotion Coordinator the officer will implement local health promotion initiatives including community events smoke-free/vape-free workplace programs and information-sharing campaigns. The role also involves supporting smoking cessation efforts engaging with young people to empower them and connect them to appropriate services and fostering community ownership and leadership to close the health gap across the region.

Key responsibilities

• Deliver smoking and vaping prevention and cessation campaigns activities and events through the statewide TIS program The Koori Way.
• Provide smoking and vaping cessation support programs appropriate to qualifications and refer clients to other health services as needed.
• Coordinate and deliver community-based activities and education programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people including youth-focused initiatives.
• Identify target groups (e.g. pregnant women elders) and tailor health promotion activities accordingly.
• Model healthy lifestyle behaviours including non-smoking and non-vaping practices

Develop and maintain partnerships through networks in Indigenous communities across the Mildura region to build community support for health promotion activities smoking prevention and smoking cessation outcomes.

Identify and develop stakeholder relationships to maximise program reach and impact.

Develop local partnerships to increase reach and effectiveness of TIS initiatives.

Reporting and Compliance

Collect and report data as per performance targets to assist in the evaluation of the program.

Ensure targets are met and advise the Health Promotions Coordinator on any issues that may restrict achieving set KPIs or program objectives.

Program Development

Contribute to the development implementation and evaluation of TIS activities.

Promote and support smoke/vape-free workplace strategies at VAHS and partner organisations including community-controlled organisations community events and sporting events.

Coordinate and deliver school-based and youth programs to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students through leadership development and improved health literacy.

Lead anti-smoking and vaping initiatives targeting pregnant women.

Undertake induction and other training specifically provided for the COAG Tackling Smoking measure and the broader Closing the Gap National Partnership.

Attend workshops and training (including interstate travel).

Corporate Responsibilities

Support values that respect historical and contemporary Aboriginal cultures so that Aboriginal people are recognised as having a special connection with the State.

Comply with relevant Quality Risk and Occupational Health and Safety laws standards safe work practices policies and procedures and attend to all improvements and training opportunities.

Actively monitor and improve the quality and safety of care and services.

Assist with and support any internal or external audit processes.

Key Selection Criteria

Direct Service Delivery

Experience in communicating and working constructively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Understanding of the health social and emotional wellbeing needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Knowledge of smoking prevention vaping risks and population health principles.

Ability to deliver appropriate training and programs to achieve reduction of tobacco/vaping usage among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Experience in project administration coordination and planning.

Social marketing skills or the capacity to quickly acquire such skills.

Stakeholder Management

Experience in developing and maintaining effective networks alliances and relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals families communities and health sector organisations.

Respect Cultural Diversity

Ability to provide services that are inclusive of Aboriginal people and engage in learning about other cultures to better establish relationships and improve services.

Qualification/s:

Certificate IV or above qualification in Aboriginal and Torre Strait Islander Primary Health Care/Practice Population Health or Health Promotion or willingness to obtain within 12 months of commencement

Other Screening Requirements:

A current Drivers License that allows you to drive in Australia.

A current Employee Working with Children Check card.

A current National Police Check.

KEY CAPABILITIES

Managing Difficult Conversations

• Ability to prepare for initiate and conduct conversations that address sensitive complex or contentious issues in a respectful and constructive way.

Resilience

• Maintains a positive attitude perseveres through challenges consistently delivers quality work and is flexible and willing to change.

Continuous Improvement

• Ensures work meets or exceeds standards and identifies and implements ways to make job tasks or processes more efficient.

Develop Capability

• Improves knowledge skill and the ability of others to deliver against performance expectations and outcomes for community.

Workplace Culture and Ethical Leadership

• Demonstrates respect for Aboriginal culture fosters inclusivity holds oneself and others accountable and practices empathy by understanding diverse perspectives avoiding gossip and promoting a positive organisation culture.

MDAS is a child safe organisation and is committed in everyday practice to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children at all times. As a child safe organisation employment with MDAS is subject to satisfactory national police check and Working with Children Check in Victoria prior to commencement of paid or voluntary work and/or participation in any service or undertaking.

MDAS is a health service provider and it is a condition of employment at MDAS that all employees volunteers and contractors receive all COVID-19 vaccination requirements and provide evidence of vaccination certificates and subsequent booster information or evidence of a valid medical exemption to be able to perform duties at any of MDAS work sites.