This week's featured jobs are a number of Traineeships and Cadetships, as part of the Aboriginal Jobs Together program, which are available throughout NSW.

The program provides job opportunities for Aboriginal people to work in non-government organisations in the disability sector in various types of roles; from disability support, to social work to human resource management.

The Traineeships and Cadetships are being offered in the following locations:

• Sydney Metropolitan
• North Coast
• Mid-North Coast
• New England
• North West Slopes and Plains
• Newcastle/Hunter/Central Coast
• Orange/Far West
• Riverina/Murray
• Illawarra

For more information and application details please visit the carecareers website.

One of our featured jobs this week is a psychologist role with LeapFrog ability in Islington (near Newcastle).

LeapFrog ability provides rapid response and flexible support services to people and families living with a disability or who are disadvantaged. 

Closing date: 12 March 2012

Find out more about this psychologist job or search for more frontline professional roles in the disability and community care sector.

Lifestyle Solutions in Newcastle are seeking a  Coordinator for Person, Place and Planning (Team Leader).

Are you passionate about genuine inclusion for people with support needs? Join Lifestyle Solutions and become part of a team committed to making a difference to people's lives within our community.

Lifestyle Solutions are seeking an energetic, resourceful and committed person, for an immediate start with Glendale (Newcastle) Out of Home Care Services.

You will be experienced in working with young people with a disability and/or challenging behaviours with high and complex needs in residential care settings. You will be responsible for leading a team that provides care to young people and adults, in a personalised environment, as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Knowledge of Out of Home Care programs would be highly regarded.

Salary is paid in accordance with the NSW SACS Award Grade 4, with salary packaging available for all permanent staff.

Lifestyle Solutions is an EEO employer and welcomes applications from people from ATSI and CALD backgrounds.

All applicants are required to undergo employment screening through probity checks prior to commencing.

Closing date: 16 May 2011

Read more about the Coordinator position at Lifestyle Solutions and apply online, or learn more about frontline support roles in the disability and community care sector.

Firstchance Inc. is a not-for-profit organisation based in the Special Education Centre at the University of Newcastle. The Early Intervention Program at Firstchance is seeking a pool of motivated and talented Casual Early Intervention Teachers to support the services the team are providing.

This is an opportunity to work in a supportive team environment with excellent potential for career and personal growth.

Key roles and responsibilities

• Work effectively with others in the Early Childhood Intervention Program
• Maintain Documentation
• Participate as a valued member of the Early Childhood Intervention Program
• Maintain professional knowledge
• Maintain Confidentiality
• Work as an effective member of the Firstchance team

Essential criteria

• Early Childhood and/or Special Education Teaching Qualifications
• Experience in providing individual educational programs for children with disabilities (0-6 years)
• Demonstrated knowledge and /or experience working within a Family Centred Practice
• Demonstrated experience in working in a Strengths Based Approach to practice
• Experience supporting the inclusion of children with additional needs into mainstream early childhood communities
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to relate well to a diverse range of families and professionals, while maintaining professional boundaries
• Well developed interpersonal, written and oral communication skills
• A working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications
• A current driver’s licence and use of own comprehensively insured car
• First Aid Certificate

Closing date: 15 April 2011

Learn more about the Casual Early Intervention Teacher positions at Firstchance in Newcastle or search for more frontline support roles in the disability and community care sector.

Setting the chairs in an almost semi circle arrangement, ideal for an engaging discussion over freshly brewed coffee, people began to trickle in and find a seat. The trickle turned into a steady flow, and then waves of people began rushing through.

Over 120 people walked through the doors to hear about Lifestyle Solutions; who we are, what we have to offer as an employer and what we are looking for in future employees. It was an overwhelming response considering only 22 people had registered their interest in attending the information night in Coffs Harbour, on the Mid North Coast of NSW.

You can image the look on our faces when just 3 weeks prior we’d had almost no response to our advertised positions in the local newspapers. Where was everyone coming from? Were they in the right place? What were their expectations for the evening? First things first, we had to find everyone a chair!

Once the room was set up to cater for the cast of thousands, well nearly, we had to double check. Was everyone aware that the free holidays are being given away next door?! Some laughs filled the room. The pressure was off.

Over the next 90 minutes we spoke about supporting people, walking alongside people with disability in the community, working closely with families, and how these approaches to supporting people better enable true inclusion into community life. We also spoke about people living with disability having valued roles within their local network of family, friends and community.

As smiles from people in the room grew in numbers and heads began to nod, we were certain some who were there would be interested in learning more. We had found a way to target ‘good’ skilled workers in an area where our organisation was not well known.

From this information night we received over 40 applications for the new positions we had on offer in the Coffs Harbour area. We have since employed five diversely skilled people who will soon commence working with families, walking alongside people with disability and working flexibly to create greater opportunities for these people to live a great but ordinary life - something many of us regularly take for granted.

Looking back through the attendance sheet for the information night, there was representation from other agencies, family members, as well as people interested in working in the sector. Many of the applicants were experienced, however many were new to the idea of supporting people.

Regardless of who was represented in the room, we had an opportunity to chat to people about what good support looks like. We had an opportunity to share with people about how the industry is changing and how supporting people or caring for people is becoming more person focussed.

Working in this sector is not only about an empowering and rewarding role; it enables the regular every day person to make a difference in someone’s life, in a family, and in the community as a whole.

As community workers we become geared with the knowledge and the opportunities to engage the wider community in acknowledging and valuing people in our lives who require additional support. An information night was a great way to start a conversation about good support and is something we will continue to facilitate in other areas across Australia.