Armenian Resource Centre Receives 300 Thousand Dollars in Australian Government Funding, Now Hiring

By armenia.com.au | Monday, 11 February 2019

SYDNEY: The Armenian Resource Centre of Australia (ARC-AU) has announced it will begin full-time operations from a Ryde location, after receiving Commonwealth funding to provide support to humanitarian visa entrants and other vulnerable migrants within their first five years in Australia.

The Australian Department of Social Services funding of over $300,000 – which is part of over $1,200,000 granted to a Consortium that includes the Armenian Resource Centre, the Assyrian Australian Association, the Chaldean League and the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese – will cover operational expenses to assist with the resettlement of migrants.

"Once we are up and running, the Armenian Resource Centre will help migrants with services that meet their settlement and social needs," explained ARC-AU Chairperson, Taline Megerditchian. "These services will include help with housing issues, liaising with government services and departments, community integration, student requirements and more."

ARC-AU Board member, Chris Shahinian added: "The Armenian Resource Centre was founded to replicate the model of the already-operational Assyrian Resource Centre. With the increase of Armenian migrants from Syria, Iraq and other parts of the Middle East, we needed to take action and form a Centre in the heart of the Armenian-Australian community in Ryde, to facilitate their settlement into Australian society."

This funding from the Australian Government will allow the set up of the physical Armenian Resource Centre in Ryde, a Resource Centre in Blacktown, as well as allowing the continuation and expansion of the Assyrian Resource Centre.

The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU), which supported the Consortium's application process, welcomed the announcement.

"Our community will be delighted that the Armenian Resource Centre will move from the planning phase to the operational phase of its existence thanks to this funding," said ANC-AU Executive Director, Haig Kayserian. "We congratulate all Consortium members, as their cause is noble and will help many people settle into their new lives in Australia."

ARC-AU is now looking for staff, having begun advertising for a Settlement Support Worker this week. The job notice is pasted below.

Armenian Resource Centre of Australia Job Notice

JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION TITLE: Settlement Support Worker

3 year Contract with possibility of extension, P/T (23 hours)

AWARD: Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services (SCHADS) Industry Award 2010, Level 5

PERIOD OF APPRAISAL: After 3 months and then annually

FUNDED UNDER: Settlement Engagement and Transition Support – Client Services funded by Department of Social Services.

This service aims to equip humanitarian visa entrants and other vulnerable migrants from war-torn communities within their first five years in Australia with the knowledge and skills to identify, understand and take action to address their settlement needs. Service activities focus on social participation, economic and personal well-being, independence, and community connectedness.

ORGANISATION RELATIONSHIPS

Responsible to: The Board of the Armenian Resource Centre

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential:

Degree or Diploma qualifications in community development, social work, health or social sciences; or significant experience in these areas.
Demonstrated knowledge of Australian settlement and other services relevant to refugees and humanitarian visa entrants.
Demonstrated knowledge of settlement issues affecting individuals, families and communities from refugee backgrounds.
Demonstrated experience in casework, provision of information and client referrals.
Demonstrated skills and experience in working within a team structure.
High level of written and oral communication skills in both English and Armenian.
Excellent computer literacy, including competency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Desirable:

Experience in working within the Armenian community.
Understanding and knowledge of Armenian history and culture.
Verbal communication in other languages including Arabic and Farsi.

This position requires a Working With Children's Check (WWCC) as per the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012, as well as a National Police Check.

PRIMARY DUTIES OF THE POSITION

1. Deliver services that provide the opportunity for an initial needs-based assessment to be conducted, which determines the level of support required by the client.

2. Provide low-level casework support to clients requiring minimal assistance to meet their settlement needs and achieve their goals. Clients requiring low-level support will generally present with the knowledge and skills required to settle into their new community with minimal assistance from a service provider. The client may only require assistance once or at infrequent intervals.

3. Provide medium-level casework support to clients who have identified as requiring this through the needs assessment. Clients requiring medium-level support may present with a range of issues impacting their settlement in Australia, but are not considered to require Specialised and Intensive Services under the Humanitarian Settlement Program.

4. Address client needs through casework and targeted group sessions that align with the nine priority areas identified in the National Settlement Framework.

5. Participate in community consultations to discuss issues, needs, and challenges affecting the settlement and integration of specific cohorts.

6. Participate in a Community of Practice (COP) arrangement. Effective collaboration between service providers is an essential element of the COP program. COP forums are designed to share good practice, and provide opportunities to learn from shared experiences.

GENERAL DUTIES:

1. Administration