About the Program

Strong Starts is a two-year, nationally funded program supporting LGBTQ parents through pregnancy and early parenthood. Building on RFA's established NSW based antenatal, new parents' and peer support programs. Robust Starts will deliver six tailored, facilitated online group programs to expectant and current LGBTQ parents across Australia, including regional and remote communities:

- antenatal information and support
- new parents' group
- adjustment to early parenting for birthing parents
- non-birth parents support
- trans and gender diverse parents information and support
- gay dads' information and support

Position Purpose The Project Lead is responsible for the end to end coordination and delivery of the Strong Starts program, working closely with the EO, the Family Health Inclusion Coordinator, the Marketing Coordinator, a national Advisory Group and specialist consultants. The role combines program management, facilitation, stakeholder engagement and funder reporting to ensure Strong Starts is delivered safely, on time, and to a high standard across all six cohort programs nationally.

Key Responsibilities

Program coordination and delivery

- Coordinate and oversee delivery of all six cohort programs across the two year program, ensuring programs are culturally safe, evidence informed, and responsive to participant needs.

- Establish and maintain program documentation, coordination systems, and a program schedule from commencement.

- Recruit, induct and coordinate the national Advisory Group, and convene regular meetings to guide program design, content and community engagement.

- Engage and manage specialist consultants supporting targeted cohorts (trans and gender diverse parents, non-birth parents, and postnatal mental health).

- Identify, onboard and support state based peer leaders to coordinate local in person connection activities and community meetups.

- Oversee development and cultural review of all six program curricula, in partnership with the Family Health Inclusion Coordinator.

Facilitation and participant experience





- Facilitate program sessions and coordinate guest speakers from inclusive health and social services.

- Administer pre and post program participant surveys, and coordinate facilitator debriefs after each session.

- Ensure programs are delivered in line with RFA's child safety, privacy, safeguarding and incident response policies.

Stakeholder engagement

- Establish and maintain relationships with maternity, child and family health clinicians and services in each state and territory to build referral pathways.

- Work with the Marketing Coordinator on promotional materials and national recruitment for each cohort.

- Represent RFA and the Strong Starts program with partner organisations, funders and community stakeholders as required.

Monitoring, evaluation and reporting

- Collate and analyse participant feedback and program data on an ongoing basis, and use learnings to refine content and delivery between and within program years.

- Support the evaluation of pre and post program survey data across all six cohorts.

- Prepare milestone reports, and lead preparation of the comprehensive final report, including participant numbers, demographic reach, outcomes, learnings and recommendations for future delivery.

- Document a scalable, replicable program model to support future funded or volunteer led delivery beyond the pilot.

Selection Criteria

Essential

- Demonstrated experience coordinating or managing programs or projects, ideally within community services, health, or the NFP sector.

- Experience facilitating groups or programs, with an understanding of trauma informed and person centred practice.

- Strong understanding of, and connection to, LGBTQ communities and the issues affecting LGBTQ parents and families.





- Excellent relationship building and stakeholder engagement skills, including with health services and clinicians.

- Strong written communication skills, with the ability to prepare explicit reports for funders and the Board.

- Ability to work autonomously, manage competing priorities, and coordinate a geographically dispersed team of peer leaders and consultants.

- Willingness to travel interstate periodically to support program delivery.

- Current or ability to obtain a Working with Children Check and National Police Check.

Desirable

- Lived experience as an LGBTQ parent or as part of an LGBTQ family.

- Experience in perinatal, antenatal or early parenting programs or services.

- Experience delivering government or philanthropically funded programs, including funder reporting.

- Tertiary qualification in social work, community services, public health, health promotion or a related field.

- Experience working with or coordinating volunteers or peer leaders across multiple locations.

Reports to

Executive Officer

Employment type

Part-time (.8), fixed-term (approx. 22 months, August 2026 – June 2028)

Salary

SCHADS award Level 4

Location

Work From Home with occasional national travel required

About Rainbow Families Australia

Rainbow Families Australia (RFA) is a community led national peak body founded in 2015 by LGBTQ parents, supporting LGBTQ families through advocacy, community programs, and education. Governed by a Board comprised entirely of LGBTQ community members, RFA is staffed almost entirely by people with lived experience of the communities it serves, and works nationally to improve the health, wellbeing and inclusion of LGBTQ parents and their children.

How to Apply

Please submit a cover letter addressing the selection criteria, along with a current resume, to Ashley Scott, CEO, at *@rainbowfamilies.com.au by August 17th 2026.

Rainbow Families Australia is an equal prospect employer and strongly encourages applications from LGBTQ people, First Nations people, people with disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

📌 Perinatal Support Program Coordinator (Sydney)
🏢 Rainbow Families
📍 Sydney