The Otago Rural Support Trust is a charitable organisation set up to assist rural individuals and their families in a wide range of challenging situations including personal challenges, farm succession, financial issues and climatic adverse events. The Trust’s Facilitators offer one-on-one support to rural individuals experiencing challenges and the Trust seeks to grow connection in rural communities through supporting local events which encourage wellbeing for farmers and growers.
The purpose of the Trust's Facilitators:
- To provide peer support to primary producers their families and employees during difficult times that affect their overall well-being, whether it's related to finances, work, or personal issues.
- During adverse events to provide support to primary producers and their immediate families who require general support or those facing challenges due to severe weather conditions and/or natural disasters for recovery purposes.
Key Responsibilities:
- 1 to 1 peer support for farmers and growers who are facing challenging times (financial, farm management or personal matters) including connecting clients with relevant specialist knowledge or support where necessary.
- Assist rural families or individuals who require support and/or have experienced an adverse climatic event or natural disaster with through triaging needs and helping with recovery assistance.
- Maintaining accurate and timely records and reporting in the internal RST system as per Trust processes, including all client records and your personal records.
- Providing updates and feedback to the Coordinator and/or Administrator this may include, current trends/issues in the area, feedback from the community.
- Adhering to and promoting the Trust objectives and adhering to all Trust processes including health and safety and confidentiality protocols.
- Participating in meetings and community events of interest to the rural community.
- Participating and giving feedback in service development and best practices.
- Participate in training to develop knowledge and relevant skills.
Support for Facilitator:
- Professional supervision.
- Training including onboarding and potential for working alongside the Coordinator on client visits initially.
- Ongoing training to upskill available.
Requirements
- Have good local knowledge and rural life experience.
- Good communicator and able to relate to rural people, professionals and stakeholders.
- Possess essential personal qualities, including empathy, tact, commitment, and reliability, while also ensuring the ability to uphold confidentiality.
- Have a basic understanding of assistance and measures available to the rural community.
- Maintain accurate records of client dealings and attend to administrative matters related to Trust affairs .
- Have basic administrative skills and ability to use the Microsoft Suite (or willingness to be trained in this).
- Effective communication, problem solving skills and ability to work flexibly in times of uncertainty.
- Assist rural families who require general support and/or experienced an adverse climatic event or natural disaster with recovery.
- To work well in a team.
A Police background check is required for this role.
Time commitment
- Provide 1 to 1 peer support (approx. 4 hours per month but this will be variable)
- Training (approx. 1 hr per month)
- Meetings with Coordinator (approx. 1hr per month)
- Attend local events to represent the Trust (as required)
- Represent the Trust in adverse event response in your area (as required)
The anticipated commitment will be approximately 6hrs per month but this may vary.
Getting started
The first step is to express your interest by filling out the form below.
We will then put you in touch directly with the organisation for more information on the role and how to proceed.
Enquire about this role: