ROAMING SUPPORT RAISER
CERES SUPPORTERS DATABASE ASSISTANT
VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT ASSISTANT
HARDING STREET: MARKET GARDENER
SITE GARDENER
MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS ASSISTANT
FARM ANIMAL CARE
VOLUNTEER ACCESS FOR ALL COORDINATOR
Assistant Events Volunteering Coordinator

ROAMING SUPPORT RAISER - Volunteer Position

Background: 
This role is to work in a small team of other Roaming Support Raiser volunteers to assist the Membership and Fundraising Coordinator at CERES to attract support for CERES projects, in the form of memberships, donations & email subscribers. CERES is dependent on community support of this kind to continue its work towards creating a sustainable society.
You will roam the CERES site, enjoying the fresh air & meeting visitors. The emphasis is on meeting people & thanking them for being a part of the place, rather than a hard sell. You will carry Supporter Forms with you to be able to offer them as part of your conversation. There are no quotas or other pressures – most of all, represent the spirit of the place & enjoy meeting & thanking the great people who come to CERES.
You have the opportunity as always to suggest improvements to the way the job is done, specific to your role, and in general with attracting support to CERES.
You will part of a great team where you can enjoy a well supported and defined role that plays a major part in supporting CERES continuing its operations.

Supervisor: Anthony James - Membership & Fundraising Coordinator
Team: Communications
Team Leader: Cathy Nixon

Objectives:
To encourage more of the hundreds of thousands of visitors CERES welcomes each year to become members, donors &/or email subscribers, in order to ensure a healthy & thriving community support base for CERES.

Specific Tasks & Duties:

1. Roam the CERES site meeting & thanking visitors for coming here
2. Unofficially surveying people for their interests & reasons for visiting
3. Offer Supporter Forms or email subscription to anyone interested (thanking those who are already supporting CERES)
4. If appropriate, complete forms on the spot, with or without payment, & bring to the supervisor (payment can be arranged later)
5. Advise of your intention to leave the role at least 4 weeks in advance, in order to train a replacement volunteer before you move on
6. Please note: preparedness to sign a confidentiality agreement is a must.

Benefits: 
Be part of a great team.
Receive induction and experience with public relations.
Obtain a written reference, industry experience with the most noted environmental education centre in Australia.
Co-create! Help invent how things are done in this part of CERES.
Enjoy a well supported and defined role that plays a major part in CERES continuing its operations.

Training:
Induction offered on-the-job
An Induction Session with the supervisor will be provided prior to commencing independent work roaming.

Times / Days:
An Induction Session for this role will be held in the morning on a Wednesday at CERES .  Independent Work will be on a range of days in rostered shifts as negotiated between you and the supervisor.
The minimum time commitment required is one 2 hour shift per 6 week period (more may be available if you are willing).
You will also be required to attend at least 3 of the 4 team meetings that will occur every 3 months throughout the year.  These will also be held on a Wednesday morning at CERES.

Commitment Required: Minimum commitment of 3 months. Please Note: 4 weeks notice is requested with this position.
Long Term Time Commitment Required: A minimum of 6 months commitment to the team is required.

Skills / Experience:
Essential:
You are a person who can be clearly understood when speaking English.  Second languages are welcome.

Personal Qualities:
Essential:
You strongly support and are able to exemplify the CERES core values (These core values are: Sustainable Environment, Social Equity, Cultural Richness and Community Participation).
You are a perceptive listener and non-aggressive speaker in undertaking this role. 
You are a person who is deeply sensitive and respectful of the rights of CERES visitors to enjoy their own space while visiting CERES.
You are a person who can easily take no for an answer.
You strongly respect the ‘gift’ members offer the community through their support and involvement at CERES.
Reasonable mobility suited to getting around CERES Lee Street Site.

Probation Period:
This role is subject to a standard 3 month probation period from the time that volunteering commences.

Required Attachments to Accompany your Volunteering Request:
A resume of previous professional experience would be appreciated if it seems relevant to the job.

Privacy Agreement
You will be required to sign a Privacy Agreement with CERES prior to commencing in this role.

To request this position:
Email Greg Thorpe at volunteers@ceres.org.au with your request and attach any relevant resume.
Type the word’s “Roaming Support Raiser” in the subject line of your emailed request.

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CERES SUPPORTERS DATABASE ASSISTANT - Volunteer Position

Background: 
This role is to assist the Membership and Fundraising Coordinator at CERES to improve & maintain the data in the CERES Supporters Database, our key resource for communicating with CERES members, donors & email contacts. You will work with an Access Database to do this. The current system is under re-development though, so you’ll have an opportunity to contribute to system improvements if you would like to. Your ideas on how the database works, letters are formed, reports are compiled etc. are always welcome, though are not necessary. Fundamentally you can enjoy being part of a great team where you can enjoy a well supported and defined role that plays a major part in CERES continuing its operations.

Supervisor: Anthony James - Membership & Fundraising Coordinator
Team: Communications
Team Leader: Cathy Nixon

Objectives:
To brush up the CERES Supporters Database, to end up with a resource that holds information about CERES members, donors and email contacts, that is secure, error-free and functioning well. This will free up CERES staff to attend to supporter needs & enquiries, report and plan etc. a lot more effectively, and ensure our communications are relevant to people.

Specific Tasks & Duties:

1. Correcting data errors & inconsistencies
2. Deleting old contacts & entering new ones
3. Offer as many suggestions as you like
4. Advise of your intention to leave the role with 4 weeks notice, in order to train a replacement volunteer before you move on
5. Please note: preparedness to sign a confidentiality agreement is a must.

Benefits: 
Be part of a great team.
Receive induction and experience using Access Database.
Obtain a written reference, industry experience with the most noted environmental education centre in Australia.
Co-create! Help invent how things are done in this part of CERES.
Enjoy a well supported and defined role that plays a major part in CERES continuing its operations.

Training:
Induction offered on-the-job, re the procedure and the use of the database
An Induction Session with the supervisor will be provided on a Wednesday morning prior to commencing independent work on the database.

Times / Days:
Independent Work will also be on a Wednesday or Thursday afternoon (specific date and time to be negotiated with the supervisor).
Time commitment required is at least 2 hours each 4 weeks (something more regular if you can).
2 review meetings will be held within the 3 month probationary period. These will be on a Wednesday or Thursday morning at CERES.

Commitment Required: Minimum commitment of 3 months. Please Note: 4 weeks notice is requested with this position.

Skills / Experience:
Essential:
Very good level of skill and experience using a personal computer (eg A working knowledge of MS Office, no specific experience in MS Access is needed provided the general computing skill level is high).
Attention to detail and thoroughness is a must.
Desirable:
Good telephone manner, to call those members with incorrect postal information
Good email skills for the above reason also.

Personal Qualities:
Essential:
You are polite and clear in your inter-personal communication skills.
You strongly respect the ‘gift’ members offer the community through their support and involvement at CERES.
Desirable:
Commitment to CERES and its values.
Reasonable physical health and mobility; suited to a tight office environment.

Probation Period:
This role is subject to a standard 3 month probation period from the time that volunteering commences..

Required Attachments to Accompany your Volunteering Request:
A resume of previous professional experience would be appreciated if it seems relevant to the job.

Privacy Agreement
You will be required to sign a Privacy Agreement with CERES prior to commencing in this role.

To request this position:
Email Greg Thorpe at volunteers@ceres.org.au with your request and attach any relevant resume.
Type the word’s “CERES Supporters Database Assistant” in the subject line of your emailed request.

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VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT ASSISTANT - Volunteer Position

Background: 
The number and diversity of volunteering requests to CERES Volunteer Program has experienced strong and on-going growth in the past two or more years.  Despite the increased volunteer demand, the resources to place and support the 400-600 annual requests across all areas of the program remains set at 14 hours for the paid coordinator. 

This volunteering demand is great news for CERES, however with current resource levels, it is proving difficult to effectively respond to all the requests promptly and to properly track and support volunteers once they are placed in work.  Starting in 2009  the CERES Volunteer Program Co-ordinator wants to expand a team of appropriately skilled volunteers to support the program by learning to run some of the routine functions of general volunteer placements and free up coordination time to enable him to better reach out and support our CERES staff to grow the Volunteer Program to provide new volunteering opportunities. 

This expansion will involved working on-site at CERES for a training period on a Wednesday and then working off-site from a home computer with an internet link to overcome constraints with office and computer resources on site.  Regular (4-6 weekly) Wednesday Team meetings will continue for off-site team members.

Supervisor: Greg Thorpe (Volunteer Program Co-ordinator)
Team: Community and Governance Team (Volunteer Program)
Team Leader: Cathy Nixon

Objectives:
To develop a group of Volunteer Desk Assistants support the Volunteer Co-ordinator with the routine running and on-going development of the CERES Volunteer Placement and Tracking System. 
To make a major difference to the quality of the volunteering experience for the volunteers who work at CERES by improving response time for requests and tracking of volunteers once they are placed.

Specific Tasks & Duties:

1. Respond via phone and/or email to incoming volunteer requests/enquiries.
2. Collect and collate questionnaires from new willing volunteers.
3. Forward volunteer requests to CERES supervisors to consider placements.
4. Maintain volunteer placement records.
5. Conduct basic volunteer follow-up surveys and visits with specific CERES staff.

Benefits: 
During the on-site training period, this role is a great way to get to know who is who amongst the CERES supervisors and to generally make contact with many of our fabulous volunteers and paid staff.  You will get to be welcomed ‘aboard’ the Red Train where the Volunteer Program is working out of.  There is a fun team atmosphere in that train!
Through this role you will be making an important contribution delivering ‘real work’ that will help the CERES Volunteer Program to “honour the gift” that volunteers make to CERES.  In particular, you will be helping the program coordinator to create quick and clear responses to volunteering requests and expand our capacity to fully recognise and acknowledge the valuable service or each individual volunteer which will help to build and maintain the great loving spirit that many feel when they visit CERES. 
Performing this role is potentially a good stepping stone towards other leadership  roles as a volunteer in the CERES Volunteer Program.

Training:
Training is on-the-job with the program coordinator and focuses on learning the CERES Volunteer Placement and Tracking System.   This will be provided over the first 12 week period of the placement.

Times / Days:
For the first 3 months (12 weeks) of this role will be required to provide around 2-4 hours on a Wednesday to receive training and develop a sense of how CERES works.  You may choose to do your volunteering in the morning starting at approx. 9am or afternoon beginning at approx.1pm

After the first 3 months (12 weeks) it is likely you will be required to begin working from a home PC via an established internet link with CERES to vacate a Wednesday ‘training’ space on-site for a new team member.  This will then open up a high degree of flexibility around when and how much you volunteer in this role. Attendance at Wednesday Team Meetings will not be mandatory after 6 months but will be encouraged.  (This new method of expanding the Volunteer Program Team open up the potential for you to remain engaged in this role even after personal circumstances change, such as a return to study or even change of residence).

Commitment Required:       
Regular weekly Wednesday shifts of 2-4 hours for the first 3 months.
Regular weekly volunteering off-site (flexible minimum of 2 hours) and required attendance at the monthly Wednesday team meeting during the second 3 months.
Commitment for a minimum term of 6 months in the role.
Terms for longer periods of service in this role are negotiable with the CERES Volunteer Program Coordinator.

Skills / Experience:
Good telephone manner and inter-personal communication skills are mandatory.
Excellent E-mail skills are mandatory.
Ability to work in a team environment as well as alone with limited supervision is mandatory.
Ability to use MS Word, and Access Database preferred.
Office Administration skills/experience highly valued.
Human Resource Management skills/experience highly valued.

Personal Qualities: 
Polite and clear inter-personal communication skills.
Commitment to CERES and its values (CERES values the creation of: Sustainable Environment, Social Equity, Cultural Richness and Community Participation)
Strong commitment to ensuring volunteers are looked after and respected for the ‘gift’ they offer the community through working at CERES.
Reasonable physical health and mobility; suited to a busy shared office environment with limit space.

Probation Period:
This position commences with a three month probationary period.
Required Attachments to Accompany your Volunteering Request:
A resume of previous professional experience would be appreciated if it seems relevant to the job.

To request this position:
Email Greg Thorpe at volunteers@ceres.org.au with your request and attach any relevant resume.
Type the word’s “Volunteer Placement Assistant” in the subject line of your emailed request.

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HARDING STREET: MARKET GARDENER - Volunteer Position

Background: Harding St Market Garden is 2.5 acres of vegetable growing heaven, 2kms North of CERES on the bike path. Farmed continuously for around 150 years, this garden is providing amazing organic produce for the CERES Market, Café, the CERES Farmer’s Market stall and a number of local food co-ops. The Market garden is certified organic by NAASA.

Supervisor: Silke Genevose
Team: Organic Farm
Team Leader: Chris Ennis & Melissa Lawson

Objectives:
To create a model of exemplary urban land and water use, that links and educates diverse groups of people to grow organic food, feeding hundreds of families through CERES Market & Café, The Urban Orchard Project and local food co-ops, contributing to the local economy and inspiring thousands more to grow food together in their own suburbs.

Specific Tasks & Duties:

1. Soil preparation
2. Planting
3. Irrigation
4. Watering
5. Weeding and pest control
6. Harvesting

Benefits: 

• Work outdoors and learn about the wonderful world of vegetable growing!
• Learn a wide repertoire of weather based conversation starters
• Learn a range of organic gardening skills
• Contribute to a progressive and ethically minded project
• Contribute to providing local organic produce for homes throughout the local community

Training:
Induction & ongoing training will be provided on-the-job.

Times / Days:
10am to 5pm every Monday, Thursday and Friday

Commitment Required:
Minimum 4 hours per volunteer day
Minimum commitment of 24 hours work (i.e. 6 minimum shifts) within any year.
You will email volunteers@ceres.org.au to give notice of your intention to end your volunteering in this role.

Skills / Experience:
No experience or skills are necessary. 

Qualities Desired: 
An enthusiastic passion for being part of the CERES local food system and a willingness to help feed our local community!
A genuine interest and commitment to organic gardening, looking to develop skills and who are able to commit to the work in an ongoing manner

Moderate Fitness: You will need a reasonable level of physical health and mobility; suited to undertaking moderately vigorous physical work including bending, using a wheel-barrow and lifting moderate weights.
Readiness to Learn:  A willingness to learn more about organic gardening and the standards needed for saleable produce.
Reliability: It is important you come when you commit to come and communicate (as agreed with the work supervisor) if you can’t make it. 
Safety: A commitment to safety and to employ safe working practices as guided by your supervisor is mandatory.

Required Safety Equipment – You Must Supply:
Volunteers applying for this role must be able to provide steel toe-capped workboots.  You will need to wear weather-appropriate clothes that you are happy to get grubby in (eg.raincoat or sunhat).

Probation Period:
This position commences with a three month probationary period.

To request this position:
1. You must fill in a Volunteer Questionnaire downloadable from the volunteer page on the CERES website www.ceres.org.au
2 Attached your completed Volunteer Questionnaire to an email message and send it to Greg Thorpe at volunteers@ceres.org.au
3. Attach any other attachments requested in this Position Description to the same email.
4. Type the word’s“Harding Street Market Gardener Volunteer” in the subject line of your emailed request.

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Site Gardener - Volunteer Position

Background: The position is to assist the Site Horticulturist in the care and maintenance of the CERES grounds. The area covers most gardens outside the farm and market garden areas. Planting types include indigenous habitat, bush food, vegetable, herbs, fruit trees and water treatment. Organic gardening and Permaculture principles are followed. The gardens tie in with most onsite programs. No chemical fertilisers or pesticides are used on site. Gardens and processes need to mapped and documented.

Supervisor: Ivan Robles
Team: Site Team
Team Leader: Nick Curmi

Objectives:
CERES gardens are an ongoing process of re-creation. Volunteers will learn about plant identification, pest control, plant applications, ecology, planting and maintenance, harvesting and pruning, seed saving and more, in an immersive, hands on environment. Records of change and maintenance are kept to build up a picture of the site over time.

This position exists in team which welcomes a broad range of volunteers doing similar gardening work where connection, well-being and community building are important objectives.

Specific Tasks & Duties: Volunteers can take on or learn about a range of duties depending on their abilities and interests:

General garden maintenance ie. planting, mulching, weeding; Fruit tree pruning and harvest; Specific interest gardens i.e. indigenous, habitat, herb and vegetable gardens, water treatment, water saving; Composting and worm-farming; Hard landscaping i.e. rock work, retaining walls, fencing, basic construction.

Benefits:
Volunteers can learn a range of practical skills and theories of gardening and garden ecology. The CERES garden is placed in a greater context of the social and environmental sustainability and education programs that run out of the site. The gardener position relates to other positions around CERES such as propagation, nursery, green technology, café, farm and education. Records are kept of site changes and maintenance regimes. Gardens are in the process of being drawn up and there is the potential for volunteers to have a part in the mapping and redesigning of some areas.

Volunteers will often work alongside others in this role and have an opportunity build fun new relationships with team members and CERES staff.

Written references can be supplied. This request should be included in your Volunteer Request Questionnaire.

Training: Initial induction followed by specific on job training. You may be required at some stage to attend volunteer training events for specific tasks or occupational, health and safety needs as they arise.
Times / Days: Monday & Wednesday 10:00 – 3:00

Commitment Required:
It is preferred that volunteers commit to at least 3-4 hours per shift and complete at least one shift per week for the first 4 weeks of volunteering.
Consistent (if not regular) patterns of volunteering after the initial 4 week period are appreciated although more flexible arrangements can be negotiated.

Skills / Experience:
The gardening position allows for a range of skills from none at all to highly skilled. To understand and follow instructions and work with limited supervision are the only requirements.
An interest in plants and desire to learn are preferred.
Desirable skills are any experience in horticulture, food production, gardening, building, irrigation, records keeping, CAD (Computer Aided Design), surveying, ecology, native plants.

Personal Qualities:
Volunteers need to be able to work within and maintain a safe work environment.
Reasonable physical health and mobility is desirable. Some special needs can be supported. (So please mention any of these in your volunteer request form if you want to do this role).
Polite and clear basic oral communication skills, an ability to follow basic oral instructions and to work with limited supervision are mandatory.
We require a commitment to core CERES values. CERES is a safe and respectful community resource committed to social equity, environmental sustainability, cultural richness and community participation.
We have a strong commitment to ensuring volunteers are looked after and respected for the ‘gift’ they offer the community through working at CERES.

Required Attachments to Accompany a Volunteering Request:
None

Probation Period: This position commences with a three month probationary period.

To request this position:
Go to Steps to Volunteering at CERES and follow the instructions.
Type the word’s ‘CERES Volunteer Gardener’ in the subject line of your emailed request to volunteers@ceres.org.au

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Membership Renewals Assistant – Volunteer Position

Background:This role is to assist the Membership and Fundraising Coordinator at CERES to service and maintain a membership support base through the mailing of renewal letters each 4 weeks.   You will work with an Access Database to do this.
The current system is under re-development and you will be working the current system while having an opportunity to contribute to the system improvements.  Ideas on how the letters can be better addressed to our members, how the renewal system works etc. will be welcome, though fundamentally you be part of great team where you can enjoy a well supported and defined role that plays a major part in CERES continuing its operations.

Supervisor: Anthony James - Membership & Fundraising Coordinator
Team: Communications
Team Leader: Cathy Nixon

Objectives: Administering membership renewal letters every 4 weeks to the CERES membership base.

Specific Tasks & Duties:

Generating the form letters in the database Printing them double sided Packing them into envelopes with reply paid envelopes and a membership form. Delivering them to the mail intray in the Education Office Advise of your intention to leave the role with as much notice as possible, in order to train a replacement volunteer before you move on Please note: preparedness to sign a confidentiality agreement is a must.

Benefits: Be part of a great team.
Receive induction and experience using Access Database.
Obtain a written reference, industry experience with the most noted environmental education centre in Australia.
Co-create! Help invent how things are done in this part of CERES.
Enjoy a well supported and defined role that plays a major part in CERES continuing its operations.

Probation Period:
This role is subject to a standard 3 month probation period from the time that volunteering commences.

Training:
Induction offered on-the-job, re the procedure and the use of the database
An Induction Session with the supervisor will be provided prior to commencing independent work on the database.

Times / Days:
An Induction Session for this role will be held on a Tuesday on a four week rotation as required.
Independent Work will also be on a Tuesday (time to be negotiated with the supervisor).
Time commitment required is up to 2 hours each 4 weeks.
If meetings are required with the supervisor, these will need to happen on Tuesday or by phone on other days if you are open to that.

Commitment Required: Minimum commitment of 3 months. Please Note: It would be appreciated if you intend leaving this role if you could give as much notice as possible.

Skills / Experience:
Essential:
Very good level of skill and experience using a personal computer (eg A working knowledge of MS Office, no specific experience in MS Access is needed provided the general computing skill level is high).
Attention to detail and thoroughness
Good telephone manner, to call those members with incorrect postal information
Good email skills for the above reason also.

Personal Qualities:
Essential:
Polite and clear inter-personal communication skills.
Desirable:
Commitment to CERES and its values.
Strong respect for the ‘gift’ members offer the community through their support and involvement at CERES.
Reasonable physical health and mobility; suited to a tight office environment.

Required Attachments to Accompany a Volunteering Request:
Resume preferred but not essential.

To request this position:
1. You must fill in a Volunteer Questionnaire downloadable from the volunteer page on the CERES website www.ceres.org.au
2 Attached your completed Volunteer Questionnaire to an email message and send it to Greg Thorpe at volunteers@ceres.org.au
3. Attach any other attachments requested in this Position Description to the same email.
4. Type the words “Memberships Renewal Assistant” in the subject line of your emailed request.

 

FARM ANIMAL CARE – Week Day Volunteer Position

Background:  This role supports the care of the animals, particularly the chickens that provide the organic free-range eggs sold at the market shop at CERES. The animals are dependent on committed volunteer support on weekday mornings.

NOTE:  This role is NOT for the ‘Chook Group’ which operates at the CERES.  Our volunteering role is located at the CERES Market & Farm.  If you want to contact the Chook Group which rents space at CERES, contact CERES Reception for up-to-date contact information on 9387 2609.

Co-ordinator: Louise Kay
Team: Organic Farm
Team Leader(s): Chris Ennis
Objectives: To respectfully care for and maintain the well-being of all farm animals.  To provide an enjoyable interaction between the volunteers and the farm animals (especially suitable for young families).

Specific Tasks & Duties:

• Read communication diary
• Follow animal feeding checklist
• Feeding and watering of all animals
• Collecting eggs
• Morning shift: Let out all animals      

Benefits: Work out of doors, fresh air, interact with animals and their natural rhythms, enjoy a country experience within the city contribute to CERES at a nuts & bolts level.

Training: On-the-job induction will be provided.

Times / Days:
Morning shift - Arrive approximately between 6am to 7am.

Commitment Required:     Minimum 2 shifts per week.
Commitment to the role for a minimum of 6 months.

Skills / Experience:
No experience or skills are necessary, a love and respect for animals is paramount, particularly when working with laying hens.

Qualities Required: 
Reliability is important as the well-being of the animals will depend on it.
A commitment to basic communication guidelines with the co-ordinator. In particular, if you can’t make a scheduled shift or you change your current contact details you will be required to communicate with the co-ordinator.
An awareness of safety is important.
Initiative: The capability to anticipate and raise issues and concerns relating to the care of the animals.
Reasonable physical health and mobility.

Required Attachments to Accompany your Volunteering Request:
No addition attachments required.

Probation Period:
This position commences with a three month probationary period.

To Request This Position:
Go to Steps to Volunteering at CERES and follow the instructions.
Type the word’s ‘ANIMAL CARE’ in the subject line of your emailed request to volunteers@ceres.org.au

 

Volunteer Access for All Coordinator – Week Day Volunteer Position
The CERES Volunteer Program coordinates volunteer placements across all areas at CERES. Volunteer requests are over 400 and increasing steadily in number and complexity every year, this is great news but it also stretches our very limited coordination resources. (Paid Volunteer Coordination amounts to only 14 hours per week currently).  This makes it very hard to find enough time to focus on more complex requests involving volunteers needing extra support to overcome barriers to accessing volunteer work at CERES.  In line with the CERES commitment to create a world where “social equity” and “cultural richness” show up, we are developing a volunteer team of special coordinators to sensitively work with volunteers needing special support to open this access.

Volunteer Access for All Coordinators (A4A) will for a self-managing and co-supportive team (approx.5) of volunteers focussed specifically on the needs of other volunteers who have unusual access barriers. These barriers are varied and could include physical disability, poor literacy or oracy skills or other barriers which limits their access to volunteering or deserve on-going support while volunteering. A4A coordinators will, based on reactive work demands, also engage in outreach activities to groups identified as ‘under-represented’ in volunteering and the co-creation of CERES.

If you have a home computer with a broad-band access and are willing to make some phone calls from your home phone (connecting remotely to the CERES computer network) is a possible work flexibly from home or remain on the team when/if your circumstances change.

Background
The CERES Volunteer Program coordinates volunteer placements across all areas at CERES. Volunteer requests are over 400 and increasing steadily in number and complexity every year, this is great news but it also stretches our very limited coordination resources. (Paid Volunteer Coordination amounts to only 14 hours per week currently).  This makes it very hard to find enough time to focus on more complex requests involving volunteers needing extra support to overcome barriers to accessing volunteer work at CERES.  In line with the CERES commitment to create a world where “social equity” and “cultural richness” show up, we are developing a volunteer team of special coordinators to sensitively work with volunteers needing special support to open this access.

Volunteer Access for All Coordinators (A4A) will for a self-managing and co-supportive team (approx.5) of volunteers focussed specifically on the needs of other volunteers who have unusual access barriers. These barriers are varied and could include physical disability, poor literacy or oracy skills or other barriers which limits their access to volunteering or deserve on-going support while volunteering. A4A coordinators will, based on reactive work demands, also engage in outreach activities to groups identified as ‘under-represented’ in volunteering and the co-creation of CERES.

If you have a home computer with a broad-band access and are willing to make some phone calls from your home phone (connecting remotely to the CERES computer network) is a possible work flexibly from home or remain on the team when/if your circumstances change.

Objectives: 

• Support volunteers with special access needs during the volunteer request process, prioritising those living in local community around CERES (eg. Moreland Darebin and Yarra municipal areas).
• Work with the volunteer, as well as the social and structural support around the requesting volunteer (eg. Case workers, family, carer, occupational therapists, etc) to develop a Volunteer Access Action Plan.
• Advocate to provide access to everyone who wants to fill a CERES volunteer role and co-create CERES community despite their current access barriers.
• Identify outreach & community connection projects aimed at increasing the diversity and cultural richness of volunteers co-creating CERES community.
• Work to embody the CERES core values for the creation of a world where ‘social equity’, ‘cultural richness’, ‘community participation’ and ‘sustainable environment’ show up for both the volunteer and the CERES community.

Specific Tasks & Duties: 

• Initial engagement with nominated volunteers by phone and/or email. (CERES Volunteer Program Coordinator will identify these volunteers).
• Meet with potential new volunteers with special needs to identify how they would like to be involved at CERES
• Introducing them to CERES and its community and be an on-going support resource for the volunteer as they get started.
• Identify their accessibility, special health needs or any other barriers
• Identify additional supports through the volunteer’s own networks, e.g. Occupational Therapist, carer, family, etc.
• Investigate CERES staff support options & limitations.
• Develop and write a brief Volunteer Access Action Plan for each case.
• Write volunteer position descriptions (as required) to invite additional co-creative & co-supportive volunteers to help bridge access barriers for individual special needs volunteers.
• Support and foster the supportive relationships around the special needs volunteer at CERES (eg. With direct supervisors).
• Identify community outreach project options aimed at increasing signs of ‘cultural richness’ and ‘social equity’ at CERES and around in the local community. (eg Moreland, Darebin and Yarra municipalities).
• As directed, contact and visit local community groups to develop new relationship and open new access to CERES volunteering and community participation.
• Work positively with all relevant Ceres staff and develop an understanding of the CERES community and it’s structure.

Benefits: 
You can expect to:

• Engage in a front-line community empowerment project with a social equity focus at CERES and in local community.
• Get to know interesting new people within and outside the CERES Community and networks.
• Do a volunteer job that make a big difference in the life of persons facing barriers to full participation in community life.
• Experience working with people who come from a place of social difference.
• Enjoy the support of an enthusiastic and likeminded team
• Develop people coordination and teamwork skills generally and in volunteering specifically.
• A written reference is available upon request to the CERES Volunteer Program Coordinator.

Training: 
The CERES Volunteer Program Coordinator or an experienced member of the Access for All Coordination team will provide an induction on the history, structure and current work for the team. You will also get an induction on how to use the teams computer systems from CERES and remotely from home (provided you have the home hardware to support it).

Times / Days: 
Training, induction and computer work on site must be – Monday afternoons.
Work from home – any time. Specific tasks as agreed with the team.
Team meetings – Variable – Monday Afternoons and Wednesday Afternoons or any other times as team determines (eg. After hours, weekends).

The role requires a minimum time commitment of 4 hours per week. Attendance on-site Monday afternoons during the initial training phase (eg.3-4 weeks) is mandatory. Attendance at Team Meeting is not mandatory but highly desirable.

Commitment required: 
Minimum commitment sought in this role is 4 hours per week for 3 months.

Skills & Experience: 
Mandatory:

• Ability to communicate and hold a loving, sensitive, ethical and supportive connection with a wide range of different people.
• Ability to work cooperatively in a team
• Good computer skills capable of operating a web-based email environment, word documents, and a document file system.
• Good organisational, time management and team work skills.

Preferred:

• At least short term experience in volunteering at one way or another at CERES
• Experience in working with people with special needs.
• Professional skills and experience in any of the following areas, social work, counselling, human resource management or occupational therapy.
• Documentation for a current police check is highly desirable.

Personal qualities: 
Mandatory:

• Commitment to CERES and it’s values
• Clear understanding of the power and privilege issues relating to working with people who experience access barriers to community life.
• Ability to work productively in a team, as you will share this role with other volunteers
• Ability to build up a relationship with people you have never met before.

Preferred:
Good sense of humour and a couple of ready (and appropriate) jokes for the workplace.

Required Attachments to Accompany a Volunteering Request:
Please attach any relevant resumes and mention any current Police Check documentation you may have.

Probation period: 
This position commences with a three month probationary period.

To request this position: 

1. You must fill in a Volunteer Questionnaire.
2. Attached your completed Volunteer Questionnaire to an email message and send it to Greg Thorpe at volunteers@ceres.org.au
3. Attach any other attachments requested in this Position Description to the same email.
4. Type the word’s Volunteer Access for All Coordinator in the subject line of your emailed request.
5. You will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement with CERES to protect the private information of other volunteers.
6. You may be required to under-go a police check. If you have current police check documentation it is of advantage.

 

Assistant Events Volunteering Coordinator - Volunteer Position

Background
Volunteering at CERES is about empowering people to become co-creators of CERES and to connect with and enhance the CERES community.

The CERES Volunteer Program has one part-time paid coordinator (14 hours per week) guiding the CERES Volunteer Program and overseeing the administration of over 400 volunteer placements per year.

The demand for volunteering at CERES is strong and in some areas growing but the program is currently constrained by the lack of coordination capacity.  This currently makes it impossible to respond to all volunteer requests in a timely fashion without volunteer support for the CERES Volunteer Program.

The program coordinator is setting up a team of volunteers to collectively and co-creatively work with the Event Volunteering Coordinator (EVC) volunteer.   The Assistant Events Volunteer Coordinator will work closely with the EVC who reports to the Volunteer Program Coordinator.   This role is set up to also support the Event Volunteering Team to at times work from a home computer.

The next CERES event the team is working on is the Return of the Sacred Kingfisher Festival on 29 November 2009.

Volunteering at CERES festivals and events is a great way for people to get involved in one-off volunteering and co-creating CERES festivals and events.  It attracts volunteers from all walks of life who commit to support a single event on a specific day.  By taking on this role, you will be supporting those volunteers and will get involved in, recruiting, registering, rostering, meeting, greeting, training and caring for volunteers at events which occur mostly on weekends and after-hours.

Supervisor : Greg Thorpe, Coordinator CERES Volunteer Program and the Event Volunteering Coordinator (Supervising Volunteer)

Team: Community and Governance Team
Team Leader: Cathy Nixon

Objectives:

• Support the volunteer working in the CERES Event Volunteering Coordinator role (EVC) and potentially other Assistant EVC’s  (also volunteers) to support people to volunteer at CERES festivals and events.  To do this in a loving and timely fashion.
• Work with the EVC to plan and structure volunteering for the event that will be clear, caring and enjoyable for the volunteers.
• Take a leadership role and work as a team member within the EVC team.

Specific Tasks & Duties: 

• Assist in managing the mailing list and volunteer roster for specific events.
• Lead volunteers on the day/night of the event by meeting them prior to their shift and conducting inductions (including safety training).
• Be one of a group of contacts for event volunteers in the recruitment process and during the events to responding to their specific needs for support.
• Assist in the development of roles and position descriptions for specific for events.
• Assist the team in keeping volunteers informed of upcoming volunteering opportunities via email.
• Assist in delivering an official ‘thank you’ email on behalf of CERES to all volunteers following events.
• Assist in asking for and welcoming feedback from volunteers about their volunteering experience and reporting feedback to the CERES Volunteer Program Coordinator.
• Supervise event volunteers during events and be a ‘back-fill’ staffing resource where rostered volunteers don’t turn up.

Benefits: 
This job is a great way to get close to the creation and production of CERES Festivals and Events.  You will have the opportunity to work closely with the CERES Events Team who produce and direct CERES Events.

The position offers a great way to get an overview of CERES, connecting with CERES staff and community (including other volunteers as well as CERES visitors at events).  You will work in a welcoming team and become part of the crew on board the Red Train at CERES.

This role gives you an opportunity to prove and develop yourself in the areas of :

• Project Leadership
• Personal Communication
• Training and Induction
• Organisation and administration of staff.
• Working in a community not-for-profit organisation.

(A reference from the CERES Volunteer Program Coordinator is also available on request).
The opportunity to issue official ‘thank you’ messages is fun and not a bad practice in acknowledging the gift volunteers bring.  It’s good ‘Karma’ all round!

Training: 
You will have regular meetings with the CERES Event Volunteering Coordinator who will support and train you to use existing planning and administrative processes.
All materials required to do this role will be provided by CERES, except any work you choose to do from a home computer.  The computer and internet connection would not be provided for in that case.  Broadband connection will be necessary for remote access to the CERES server.
Computer, phone and desk access at CERES will be provided where space is available (see below).
Donations of a few phone calls when working from home are appreciated (not mandatory) although most communications will happen over email.

Times / Days: 
Team Meetings: It is important that you can commit to meetings and some training at CERES on Tuesdays from 1pm to 2pm.
More time availability is welcomed, especially in the two weeks directly preceding  an up-coming event.
On-site work at CERES will be determined to work around computer and desk space limitations.  (Computer and desk access generally available on Monday and Friday if on-site work is preferred).  
Off-site work through an internet link to CERES can be very flexibly negotiated with the EVC.
On Event Day: You will be required to work in the volunteer coordination team through an entire event.  Excluding scheduled breaks.

The role requires a minimum time commitment of 4 hours per week. Attendance on-site Monday afternoons during the initial training phase (eg.3-4 weeks) is mandatory. Attendance at Team Meeting is not mandatory but highly desirable.

Commitment required: 
Minimum weekly requirement is 4 hours per week and 8 hours per week in the two weeks close to a large event (eg. Kingfisher Festival).
Minimum commitment over time is 6 months.
Smaller events: (eg. Placing less than 15 volunteers for the entire event) A minimum of 4 hours per week in the month prior to the event. You must also be available to arrive an hour or two early to the event itself to help welcome, induct and lead volunteers during the event set-up phase.
Larger events: (eg. Placing more than 15 volunteers for the entire event such as the Kingfisher Festival) requires a commitment of approx. 8 hours per week for 2 weeks before the event.  You must be available to arrive an hour or two early at the event itself to help welcome, induct and lead the volunteers during the event set-up phase.
It is usual to expect 2-3 larger events in a year and 3-4 smaller events in a year on the CERES calendar.

Skills & Experience:
Mandatory
Excellent communicative competence (especially via email).
Strong organising and administrative abilities.
Good computer skills and ability to use (Word, Excel, email and Internet)
Desired
Experience in the events industry and/or human resource management and/or working with volunteers.

Personal Qualities:  
Mandatory:
Team player with the ability to work autonomously
Cheerful personality with a distinct sense of responsibility
Preferred
Talent for leadership
Understanding and sharing the values and aims of CERES
Ability to motivate and inspire people

Required Attachments to Accompany a Volunteering Request:
Resume is optional.  Please attach if prior experience is relevant.

To request this position: 

1. You must fill in a Volunteer Questionnaire.
2. Attached your completed Volunteer Questionnaire to an email message and send it to Greg Thorpe at volunteers@ceres.org.au
3. Attach any other attachments requested in this Position Description to the same email.
4. Type the word’s Assistant Events Volunteer Coordinator in the subject line of your emailed request.