About Make-A-Wish Australia

Make-A-Wish is one of Australia’s most trusted charities and part of the world's largest wish-granting organisation.

We create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses, bringing hope and joy when it’s needed most. We partner with children with life-threatening conditions, their families and medical teams to grant wishes as unique as the children who imagine them. Our mission is to grant the wish of every eligible child. We believe wishes complement treatment, build resilience and bring hope to children and their families.

We are a values-driven, child-protected organisation committed to inclusion, ethical conduct and community engagement. We prioritise children’s wellbeing and protection throughout their wish journey and embed inclusion across our operations. We uphold high standards of governance and transparency and work towards leadership and a volunteer base that reflect Australia’s diverse communities.

About the Role

Schools help make wishes possible through fundraising, our IMAGINE education program and activities connecting students with our mission.

We seek a proactive Schools & Community Partnerships Coordinator to grow school fundraising, increase IMAGINE participation and build community partnerships.

You will recruit schools, respond to enquiries, and help them deliver fundraising activities suited to their students, community, calendar and capacity.

You will also grow participation in IMAGINE, our education program encouraging empathy, creativity and community connection. You will build collaborations with art studios, galleries, creative organisations, education providers and community venues to host, facilitate, promote or enhance the program.

Fundraising experience is not essential. We welcome transferable experience in education, school engagement, community programs, relationship development, partnerships, participant recruitment or a related field.

This role is initially offered as a 12-month maximum-term contract, with a longer-term view to transitioning to a permanent role.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Head of Community Engagement & Fundraising, you will:

- Coordinate and grow our schools fundraising program.




- Respond promptly to enquiries from schools, educators, students and parent groups, matching them with fundraising and participation opportunities.
- Research and proactively approach government, Catholic and independent schools.
- Introduce schools to IMAGINE, IMAGINE Art Show and school fundraising activities and campaigns.
- Build relationships with principals, teachers, wellbeing and curriculum leaders, student leadership coordinators, parent associations and school networks.
- Manage a pipeline and regular outbound contact, progressing interest through confirmation and onboarding.
- Match fundraising and participation activities to schools’ students, priorities, calendar and capacity.
- Provide practical guidance, resources and ongoing support to help schools deliver successful activities.
- Thank and recognise schools, share their impact and encourage repeat or deeper involvement.
- Build collaborations with galleries, art studios, creative organisations, education providers and aligned community organisations.
- Keep Salesforce records accurate; track enquiries, acquisition, conversion, participation, retention and forecast income.
- Use data and feedback to improve recruitment, fundraising participation and the school experience

About You

You are a motivated relationship builder who turns enthusiasm into meaningful action.

You are comfortable supporting interested teachers and school fundraisers and proactively approaching new schools. You follow up consistently, manage relationships carefully and work towards participation, partnership and income targets.

You will bring:

- Experience in education, school engagement, community programs, partnerships, participant recruitment, fundraising or a related field.
- Confidence initiating new relationships, making outbound calls and progressing opportunities through to conversion.




- Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to engage educators, school leaders and community organisations.
- Excellent organisation and follow-up skills, including managing a pipeline of prospective relationships.
- Experience working towards measurable acquisition, participation, engagement, partnership or income targets.
- Strong written, verbal, presentation and influencing skills.
- Ability to adapt your communication for different audiences.
- Strong coordination and customer service skills.
- Confidence using Microsoft 365 applications and a CRM such as Salesforce.
- Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team.

Experience working within or alongside the Australian education sector will be highly regarded, particularly an understanding of school structures, decision-making processes, budgeting and planning cycles.

Experience working with P&Cs;, P&Fs;, school foundations, alumni networks, galleries, creative organisations, community arts or education providers would also be valuable.

About the Application Process

Please apply by submitting your resume and cover letter outlining:

- your experience engaging schools, educators, or community organisations,
- an example of how you have developed a new relationship or converted an opportunity into participation, and
- why you would like to work with us.

Only people with the right to work in Australia may apply.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, with suitable candidates progressing as they are identified. Interviews may commence prior to the closing date, so we encourage early applications.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to an inclusive, accessible recruitment process. Please let us know if you require any adjustments during the recruitment process.

Make-A-Wish Australia is a child-safe organisation committed to safeguarding children and young people.

Our recruitment practices include thorough application and interview screening to ensure alignment with our values and child-safety commitment. The successful candidate must maintain a valid Working with Children Check at all times and must undergo a national criminal check.

📌 Schools & Community Partnerships Coordinator (Richmond)
🏢 Make-A-Wish Australia
📍 Richmond