Hobsons Bay City Council Volunteer Position Description

Volunteer Applications Apply to volunteer with City Council online www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/VolunteeratCouncil

Planned Activity Group Volunteer

Volunteer Program Name: Planned Activity Groups Department responsible for volunteer: Community Care Last updated: May 2019

Role Overview

Volunteers contribute to the provision of a high quality support and activity program for the elderly and persons with a disability at Council’s Planned Activity Group. This includes activities at the centres and also activities in the community. Volunteers encourage and support participant’s independence and to maximise their involvement and enjoyment when attending Planned Activity Groups.

Volunteer Program Description

Planned Activity Groups are part of Council’s Community Care department. Community Care provides a range of services to support residents to remain living independently in their home and in their community.

Location

This role is based at the Lorraine Bedella Senior Citizens Centre, Waker Close, Altona North.

Time Commitment

Volunteer shifts are available between Monday and Saturday from 9.30am to 2.30pm

Key Responsibilities:

 Assist with activities such as calling bingo, arts and craft, musical activities etc. This will include activities at the centres and also activities in the community.  Assist in the setup of materials and activities as directed for daily programs

 Provide timely feedback/information to Team Leader relating to any concerns/issues regarding the program, staff or clients  Assist with meal preparation, assisting participants with their meal where required and assist at the conclusion of a meal.  Assist with monitoring of clients’ wellbeing and report concerns to Team Leader.

Skills Required

 Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in written form.  Have good conversational skills  Ability to notice changes in participants and notify supervisor.  Moderate physical activity required such as carrying/transferring trays of food, boxes assisting with activities and getting on and off buses several times a day.  Strict confidentiality and privacy rules apply to all information within Council.

Physical Requirements

 Moderate physical activity is required for this role

General Requirements

 Aged 18 years or older  Police Check  Working with Children Check  Council Volunteer Induction  Program specific training

Code of Conduct The Volunteer Code of Conduct outlines the minimum standards of behaviour and conduct which volunteers must comply with when carrying out their duties in association with Hobsons Bay City Council.

Child Safety & Working With Children Check Hobsons Bay City Council is a Child Safe Organisation. We recognise the safety of all children including Aboriginal children, culturally and/or linguistically diverse children and children with a disability.

Hobsons Bay City Council requires volunteers working in child related positions or who have contact with children as part of their role to hold a current Working with Children Check Card, update their card with the Department of Justice with Council as their place of volunteering, and to provide the Council with proof of this. Any changes to the status of a volunteers’ Working with Children Check must be advised to Council immediately.

Criminal Record Check A Criminal Records Police Check must be undertaken prior to commencement for all persons who are the preferred applicants for positions where there is a direct contact with clients, including aged, disabled persons, juveniles, children and infants. An unsatisfactory assessment may result in the volunteer not being recruited. A volunteer who refuses to complete the appropriate forms will not be recruited.

Hobsons Bay Volunteering Strategy The Hobsons Bay community are inclusive, vibrant and diverse; they give their time, share their skills and talents to make a difference locally. The Hobsons Bay Volunteering Strategy outlines Hobsons Bay City Councils’ commitment to supporting a vibrant volunteering community, thriving through the collective and deliberate efforts of Council and the volunteering community.

About Hobsons Bay The is situated at the northern end of Bay, about 7kms west of central . Hobsons Bay is known for its rich natural environment, its maritime history and its industrial strength.

The Yalukit Wilum clan were the first people to occupy the area now known as Hobsons Bay. A number of sites of significance to the Aboriginal community are located throughout the municipality, particularly along the coastal trail.

Hobsons Bay was created on 22 June 1994, following the amalgamation of the former Cities of Williamstown and Altona with parts of Laverton and South Kingsville.

It includes the suburbs of Altona, Altona Meadows, Altona North, Brooklyn, Laverton, Newport, Seabrook, Seaholme, South Kingsville, Spotswood, Williamstown and Williamstown North. Each suburb has its own unique character, from the historic seaport of Williamstown with its range of heritage buildings, to the more recently developed residential areas of Altona Meadows and Seabrook. Hobsons Bay also has a range of major industrial complexes, which contribute significantly to the economy of .

Hobsons Bay is unique to the Western Metropolitan Region. It covers an area of approximately 64 square kilometres with over 20kms of coastline. It is also home to significant coastal wetlands, five creek systems, remnant native grasslands, and important flora and fauna habitats, which makes up 24 per cent of the city’s total land area.

The city is located between 7 and 20 kilometres from the CBD and has good access to regional transport facilities such as the , the Western Ring Road, CityLink, the National Rail Line, together with the ports and airports of Melbourne and Avalon.

In 2016, Hobsons Bay had an estimated resident population of 95,046 people, which is forecast to increase by 10 per cent (or 10,770) by 2030. 31 per cent of our residents are born overseas, speaking over 100 different languages and practising over 90 faiths.

Our community loves Hobsons Bay for its proximity to the CBD, the beach, its parks and green spaces, its vibrant atmosphere and sense of community, its character housing and above all, its people. For many, Hobsons Bay is the ideal place to live.

The Council Plan 2017-2021 is Council’s key strategic document that describes how we will work, as an organisation, to achieve the vision and priorities of our community. The Council Plan was informed and guided by the Hobsons Bay 2030 Community Vision, which was developed BY the community, FOR the community. It sets out the community’s vision for the future of Hobsons Bay and six priority areas for how to get there. The vision was created through an innovative community engagement process involving over 2,500 community comments. As a Council, we have made a commitment to our community that we will work towards their vision by incorporating it into the development of our Council Plan, Annual Action Plan and budgets until 2030.