Oonah Health & Community Services Aboriginal Corporation - Healesville VIC

The Social Emotional Wellbeing Elder Advocate is employed by Oonah in partnership with Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC). The position sits within the Elder Care program at Oonah and works with ECLC's elder abuse response integrated teams. The Social Emotional Wellbeing Elder Advocate provides SEWB social support and non-legal advocacy to clients (primarily First Nations clients), alongside the community lawyer and financial counsellor. The role also provides secondary consultations to First Nations community members and workers, creates and maintains stakeholder relationships with partner organisations, and delivers community engagement activities, including education sessions. This is a contract position for 12 months, at which time it will be reviewed, with the possibility of extending. The position is full-time, operating from Oonah 3 days a week and ECLC 2 days a week, and will work from a range of locations including ECLC offices, outreach locations, and from Oonah.

Key responsibilities

- Undertake Social and Emotional Well-Being (SEWB) assessment, risk assessment, safety planning and provide SEWB support and non-legal advocacy for older people who have/are experiencing, or at risk of, elder abuse
- Provide trauma-informed, culturally protected and client-centred care to clients
- Identify the SEWB needs of the clients and refer to external services and other resources, as required
- Address power issues in relation to elder abuse and support older people to make informed decisions




- Provide specialist elder abuse information and advice to internal and external stakeholders
- Work in collaboration with Oonah Elder care coordinator to facilitate elder abuse related community engagement events
- Work collaboratively with Community Lawyers, Elder Abuse Advocates, and Financial Counsellors to deliver SEWB support services as part of an integrated response practice model, including by actively engaging in client file review meetings and reflective practice with colleagues
- Develop and deliver education sessions face-to-face and online (including preparing PowerPoint presentations)
- Participate in external forums, networks, and committees as a representative of ECLC where required
- Participate in regular supervision with the Partnerships Co-ordinator – Elder Abuse

About you

- A relevant tertiary qualification in social work, health/social sciences, and/or extensive experience in the community/welfare sector (essential)
- Excellent and strong relationships with the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community (essential)
- Demonstrated experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities and demonstrated cultural awareness and sensitivity (essential)




- Good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trusting relationships in community (essential)
- Experience working with older people (essential)
- Demonstrated understanding of trauma-informed practice (essential)
- Knowledge of or willingness to learn about the aged care landscape (essential)
- Demonstrated experience working unsupervised and as part of a team (essential)
- Significant experience providing specialist family violence or elder abuse services or extensive experience in the community/welfare or health sectors (essential)

About us

At Oonah Aboriginal Health and Community Services, we strive to uphold a Culturally respectful approach that includes and strengthens all peoples, traditions, stories and Culture, now and for future generations. The Corporation and its members are committed to providing a central point of contact for Community members to access our service and programs across Eastern Metropolitan Melbourne. Oonah's Elder care team is designed for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Elders, with a strong focus on rights, advocacy, access to services and creating a safe space to elevate Elders' voices in their community. The Elder care team focuses on building health, Culture, resilience and strengthening women. Oonah has a key partnership with ECLC in the delivery of ROSE (Rights of Seniors in the East). The primary purpose of this partnership is improving outcomes for Elders in Community.

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📌 SEWB Elder Advocate (Healesville)
🏢 Oonah Healthmmunity Services Aboriginal Corporation
📍 Healesville