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.

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.

Up to 5600 jobs are anticipated to be available between now and 2015 in the disability and community care sector of northern New South Wales.

The sector is expected to boom in the next five years with employers looking to recruit 40,000 people; it is estimated that the number of people needing to access these services in New South Wales will rise to 350 000.

“There are several misconceptions about what it is like to work in this sector, yet most people simply aren’t aware of the benefits including: job security, flexible hours, varied and creative work, and on-the-job training,” says Patrick Maher, Chief Operating Officer of National Disability Services NSW.

To hear more about what working in the disability and community care sector is really like, read True Stories on carecareers.

Alstonville resident Sarah Jurd started working in the disability and community care sector 13 years ago and has held a variety of roles in that time: respite carer, teacher’s aide, support worker in vacation care, and most recently as a speech therapist with Cerebral Palsy Alliance.

“My parents were respite carers so I got involved at a young age because of them. We had a little girl with disabilities who came and lived with us for a while, and I learnt to help her and found that I enjoyed it,” says Jurd.

On the growth in the sector she says, “I have definitely seen an increase in the demand for our services in the last few years.

“There are a lot of children that need a lot of support, and it seems like there are not enough resources to meet that need, even now”.

For those who are considering a career in the sector Jurd says, ”It’s important to remember that clients are people who would like to be independent and just need some support to achieve that.”
 
“One of the benefits of working in the disability sector is that I work as part of a bigger a team no matter what area I’ve worked in; as a speech therapist I work closely with both occupational therapists and physiotherapists to find solutions to problems.

“I love working with the kids and their families; no child is ever the same and each client presents a new challenge for the team,” says Jurd.

“The work is also personally rewarding; I started out working with one family as their Respite Carer about 12 years ago, to support them and their children who have a disability. The family is as much a part of my life now as my own family is, and spending time with the children over the years has been great fun”.

More than 100 positions based in Lismore and the surrounding areas have been advertised through carecareers since its launch 12 months ago. Search for jobs now.

carecareers was developed by NDS to help meet the demand for new workers in the disability and community care sector. Head to carecareers and search for jobs now, or contact our Careers Centre online or by calling the help-line for job seekers on 1300 637 637.

This is your opportunity to be involved in an exciting new project at Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect), which will deliver a information sessions and workshops across NSW using a culturally inclusive program to support parents and carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The project aims to build awareness and capacity, therefore enabling them to support their child’s learning outcomes.

On a Full Time, 12 month fixed term contract, working in an excellent team environment, with competitive remuneration with excellent salary packaging

Essential criteria

• Engaging in respectful and collaborative partnership and building processes with key members of Aboriginal communities in the planning, delivery and support of this program
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent
• Demonstrated experience in working collaboratively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities on specific projects
• Experience in conducting research and/or outcomes focused projects with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team and to deadline
• Highly developed written, oral communications, interpersonal, organisational and time management skills
• Able to undertake travel within NSW
• Use of car and current driver's licence
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite

Desirable criteria

• Experience in working with students with ASD and/or other disabilities and parent/carers of children/young people with ASD
• Knowledge of current research evidence base in the education of students with ASD and building sustainable networks to support parents/carers

Competitive salary package to be negotiated based on qualifications and experience. Excellent salary packaging opportunities available.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.
Autism Spectrum Australia is a Public Benevolent Institution and EEO employer.

Closing date: 1 April 2011

Learn about more the Aboriginal Project Officer role at Autism Spectrum Australia or search for more roles in the disability and community care sector.

Do you live in the Northern Sydney area?
Are you happy to travel at work?
Do you enjoy a person-centred approach?

Sunnyfield support people with an intellectual disability to live more independent lives. They are seeking Regional Managers in Housing and Support Services.

Key roles and responsibilities:

• The delivery of high quality accommodation and support services to the people we support
• Providing leadership and direction to the housing and support staff
• Ensuring that accommodation services embrace and reflect positive family and community values
• Working in partnership with stakeholders
• Managing services within budget

Essential criteria:

• Committed to the rights of people with a disability
• Highly motivated and self-driven
• A team player with great interpersonal skills
• Able to demonstrate a strong track record in senior management

All positions will require travel across different sites and locations and a current NSW driver’s licence is essential.

Applicants are advised to upload a cover letter, addressing the specified criteria above, with their resume.

Closing date: 28 March 2011

Learn about more the Regional Manager role at Sunnyfield or search for more corporate and management roles in the disability and community care sector.