Position based in school in Yarra Ranges / Eastern Suburbs region. 

The Blue EDGE Program

Blue EDGE (Educate, Develop, Grow, Empower) is an in-school program run by Blue Light Victoria in partnership with the Victoria Police. It comprises of 16 sessions facilitated twice a week across a term, or weekly across a semester, to a targeted group of 15-20 young people aged 12-15 years of age. 

Blue EDGE is a unique opportunity for young people designed to nurture engagement, belonging, resilience and wellbeing through activity based learning and interactive workshops. Some programs have the option of a full day excursion at the end of the program, encouraging participants to push themselves outside of their comfort zone and celebrate their potential.

The Blue EDGE program is delivered by facilitators across the state, and we are currently recruiting for a position to cover programs in the Yarra Ranges and far eastern suburbs of Melbourne. This role would ideally suit someone with a teaching, youth work and/ or youth facilitation background.

BACKGROUND

Blue Light Victoria (BLV) is an independent, for-purpose organisation with a vision to ‘Inspire, Engage and Equip young people to be their best self’. Working with young people primarily between the ages of 10-21 years, BLV provides youth engagement opportunities, and builds resilience and wellbeing through interactive programs across the state.

BLV has a long history of working closely with its key partner agency, Victoria Police. Together, BLV and Victoria Police have designed and facilitated programs and initiatives that provide positive opportunities for young people to participate in with police and their local community. 

BLV has approximately 22 branches across the state. Each branch is a member of BLV however they are also independent incorporations, with management committees containing members of Victoria Police and the local community. 

Programs facilitated across the state enable approximately 20,000 young people to participate in a BLV event or program each year.

ROLE PURPOSE

Blue EDGE Site Facilitator

REPORTING STRUCTURE

Blue EDGE Site Facilitators will report to the Program Coordinator.

HOURS AND BASIS OF EMPLOYMENT

Casual, based in Yarra Ranges – Approx. 3-6 hours per week (1-2 x shifts per week). Possible extension of hours with more programs in 2024, depending on schools involved. The successful applicant will also need to be available to attend training sessions and a full day excursion component of the program (remunerated). 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Pre-program administrative functions including:

• Completion of Blue EDGE Facilitator Training/s
• Liaising regularly with the Blue EDGE Program Coordinator to provide feedback on individual sessions and program progress
• Completion of Workplace Health and Safety Checklist prior to all programs.
• Other tasks as appropriate

Program delivery includes:

• Facilitation of the Blue EDGE program at allocated school locations.
• Management of key stakeholder relationships
• Maintaining participant attendance records.
• Facilitation of the completion of participant evaluation surveys
• Facilitation of the completion of feedback surveys by key stakeholders.
• Completion of facilitator feedback survey after each session.
• Undertaking other tasks as assigned by the Blue EDGE Program Office.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Required

• 1 year experience in group facilitation
• An understanding of issues facing and faced by young people.
• Ability to build rapport with and deliver a diverse range of workshops to young people in an inclusive way. 
• Capacity to create a safe space for young people to think about, reflect on and challenge their attitudes, opinions and experiences.
• Approachable team player with strong interpersonal and listening skills together with the ability to empower.
• Excellent organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
• Current First Aid certificate (including CPR)
• A valid state-based Working with Children Check.
• Candidate must pass a National Criminal Police Check.

Desirable

• A qualification in Youth Work, relevant Social Sciences, teaching or related field. 

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Experience in working with young people, and the ability to abide by child safe standards.
• Demonstrated competency in group facilitation. This includes planning, delivering program materials, ensuring compliance with programming requirements and evaluation of program sessions.
• Ability to work with a wide array of young people including those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those who identify as gender diverse, and those from low socio-economic backgrounds, in an inclusive manner.
• Highly developed interpersonal communication skills coupled with confidence in conflict resolution, and problem solving.
• Highly motivated with a demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and prioritise workload.
• Demonstrated experience or ability to develop and foster positive working relationships with key stakeholders, including Victoria Police members, schools and external partners.

Blue Light Victoria has a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination and child abuse and expects that staff and volunteers will act on incidents or disclosures of this matter. 

Please note we will be assessing applications as they are received. Only applications with a resume and cover letter will be considered.

Applications close Friday 1st September, unless filled earlier.