Community Connector – Aged Care

The South West Aboriginal Medical Service (SWAMS) is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service based in Bunbury which provides a variety of health services to Aboriginal people in the South West, Great South, Upper Wheatbelt and Peel Regions of Western Australia. SWAMS delivers a wide range of services including: GP Clinics, Primary Health Care, Counselling, and Mental Health. SWAMS has a strong growth strategy through partnership opportunities and future community development.

Are you passionate about Aboriginal community, fostering connections, driving positive change, and making lasting impact on communities? The SWAMS Aged Care team are excited to invite a dynamic individual to join our team as a Community Connector. If you’re enthusiastic about building relationships, achieving outcomes for the local Aboriginal community, and supporting community members to access disability or aged care services depending on their needs, this could be the role for you!

We act with integrity. We put our people at the centre. We are dedicated to excellence. If these values align with your own and this opportunity is something you’ve been looking for, we invite you to submit your application. As a member of the Aged Care team, you will:

• Understand and respect cultural diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people
• Want to achieve outcomes for the community
• Want to develop your skills in the growing aged care sector
• Enjoy working and yarning with people in community
• Adherence to the Aged Care Quality Standards in all aspects of work
• Act as a cultural broker between the community and the Customer by providing relevant information and referring Elders to aged care services
• Be a point of contact for the client regarding their services
• Establish strong relationships with Elders and families in community.
• Assist in promoting broader community understanding and awareness of the National Aged Care Systems and My Aged Care Portal
• Assist community members to test their eligibility for aged care services
• Assist in linking people for Customer meetings and provider appointments.
• Support local linkages with the local health clinic and other community-based service organisations.
• Active community outreach to promote aged care services, identify and engage with potential clients.
• Support clients to identify goals and needs to ensure they get the appropriate level of care and services, which can include referrals to other specialised services and support. 
• Support clients’ aged care needs through internal referral processes.
• Assist clients with advocacy and support throughout the My Aged Care registration and review processes.
• Provide support to enable client access to appointments.
• Liaises with the aged care team to continuously review and enhance the role.
• Attend relevant internal and external meetings as required.
• Build strong partnerships and relationship with local service providers.
• Actively support people with diverse needs to remain living in their home independently for as long as possible.
• Advocate on behalf of clients to relevant assessment services and other service providers as appropriate.
• Undertake diversity quality improvement and monitoring.
• Work sensitively and diplomatically with a diverse range of individuals and service providers and to advocate on behalf of clients and empower people to self-advocate.
• Ensure confidentiality of all matters.
• Maintain effective working relationships with all other departments of SWAMS and other relevant stakeholders.

About you

You will be someone who enjoys connecting with and advocating for others that may need assistance. You show commitment to your team and your role and ensuring that you are not letting people down who rely on you for help. While no formal qualifications are essential for this role you will have:

• Demonstrated experience in advocating and supporting others to reach goals or outcomes.
• Ability to prioritise tasks and follow up, particularly in busy environments.
• Able to communicate clearly and confidently in both writing and conversation, using persuasive communication to influence, inform and build understanding.
• Strong understanding of, and experience working in disability services, in particular NDIS services. Awareness of disability-related challenges and a willingness to learn about NDIS supports, with any lived or community experience considered valuable.
• Experience working with aged care clients and an understanding of the unique needs, challenges, and supports relevant to older people, particularly within Aboriginal communities.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust and rapport with individuals and groups to achieve positive outcomes for them.
• Experience in the community and aged care sector with demonstrated experience in assessment, care coordination / case management or advocacy or other relevant role within a community services context.
• A demonstrated understanding of diversity issues as they relate to individuals and their engagement with community care services.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Experience in planning and delivering community events.
• Demonstrated understanding of the principles of person-centred care and trauma-informed practice.
• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills with a demonstrated ability to write in a way that is clear, appropriate and readily understood by the target audience.
• A demonstrated understanding of the unique issues effecting and impacting upon the health of Aboriginal people
• Must hold or able to obtain a National Police Clearance less than 6 months old
• Current WA C Class driver’s licence
• Covid 19 Vaccination Certificate
• NDIS Worker Screening Check
• Working with Vulnerable Persons Check

Why SWAMS?

Along with working with passionate people and being able to feel like you have contributed to something every day, SWAMS offers the following:

• 17.5% leave loading
• Up to $18,550 salary packaging options and novated leasing options
• Discounted gym memberships
• Uniforms supplied
• Generous leave allowances
• Professional development opportunities

Important information

At SWAMS, child safety is our highest priority. We are committed to the wellbeing of all children and young people, with zero tolerance for abuse. All team members have a legal and moral duty to ensure a safe environment and are required to undergo a National Police Clearance. Roles involving direct contact with children also require a valid WA Working with Children Check as part of our pre-employment screening.

In addition to this, all applicants require satisfactory completion of a Drug and Alcohol test. Unsatisfactory pre-employment checks will result in the offer of employment being withdrawn.

For more information about SWAMS and the role

• About SWAMS, our great organisation – https://www.swams.com.au/about/
• For queries – please contact Human Resources on (08) 97978111.

To Apply

To apply for this role please follow the online application process of this platform or email your application through to: hr@swams.com.au. We also welcome you to drop your resume to our office at 30 Wellington Street, Bunbury.