Edmund Rice Services Mt Atkinson (ERSMA) is an organisational team of Edmund Rice Community Services (ERCS) which operates out of Mt Atkinson Community Centre, based in Truganina in Melbourne’s West. Being an NFP/NGO with our core values being dignity, integrity, liberation and justice, we are committed to creating an environment where all children feel safe, empowered and respected based upon understanding community development principals, family & systems thinking and using a strengths based approach. In partnership with Kirrip Aboriginal Cooperation, we aim to create opportunities for participants to increase their confidence both socially and academically and flourish within their own educational environment. Our Study Buddies Program require volunteer tutors and mentors to support young people from culturally diverse backgrounds, on their journey to achieving their best learning outcomes. Supported by our volunteers, we aim to create a fun, safe and supportive environment that encourages learning and inclusion.

Responsibilities include:

• Help create a fun, positive and safe environment for the students attending our programs.
• Help with the set up and pack up of the program including arranging afternoon tea.
• Support students’ learning, wellbeing and participation in accordance with the aims/goals identified by the student and/or program coordinator
• Assist in the facilitation of the daily program, running educational activities for the young people attending the program
• Participate in debriefing
• Safeguarding Duties
• Support children in the program and maintain a balance between studies and the social aspects of the program.
• All staff and volunteers are responsible for assisting, monitoring and reporting matters pertaining to OH&S during the session/activity.

General Duties:

• Liaise with program coordinator regarding issues pertaining to the development and running of the program
• Help foster the development of the student’s social, interpersonal and language skills.
• Inform the coordinator if unable to attend on a nominated day.
• Participate in tutors’ evaluation meeting at the end of each term
• Attend all mandatory training including Child Safeguarding training as required by the program

Knowledge and Skills:

• Pre-service teacher, youth work student, retired teacher or simply someone who wants to build skills in tutoring and mentoring
• Excellent organisational and interpersonal skills
• You are a motivated, enthusiastic, fun, warm individual.
• You can commit to a minimum of two hours per week, over a minimum period of 3 months (coincides with the school term)
• An appreciation of and commitment to Mission within the context of the Edmund Rice charism with the Edmund Rice tradition
• Capacity to work with organisations and people across different contexts and cultures
• Compliance with statutory and Province requirements in respect to Child Safety and legal standing