Outreach Coordinator

• Make a significant difference with animal welfare in our community by supporting vulnerable people and their companion animals.
• Use your exceptional relationship skills to grow and support a team of foster carers and volunteers to expand the reach of the program.
• Work directly with external agencies to make a direct impact in the community.

Join us and make a difference!

At AWLQ, we’re committed to creating a brighter future for animals in need and keeping pets and people together by providing lifesaving support and resources to people in need with companion animals.

Are you looking for a rewarding career? Animal Welfare League Queensland (AWLQ) is currently looking for an Outreach Coordinator to join our team on the Gold Coast. If you are passionate about making a direct impact in animal welfare, we’d love to talk to you.

The role

Reporting to the Community Outreach Manager, the Outreach Coordinator is responsible for the coordination of AWLQ’s Emergency Boarding Program, to ensure vulnerable members of the community and their pets are being supported in times of need with short-term care. This program is part of AWLQ’s commitment to offering valued community services to pet owners and their pets to improve welfare within the community, and to reduce the relinquishment of pets to shelters and pounds.

Requests for assistance are predominantly via welfare agencies and hospitals; you will work with professionals to provide assistance to vulnerable people and their pets where possible. Other requests are from our Golden Hearts seniors’ program members; they may require a hospital stay and need emergency short-term care for their companion animal.

The program is supported by our invaluable volunteer team, with both foster carers and day-to-day volunteer transport and administration. The reach of the program is only limited if foster carers and transport is limited, therefore a critical component is to build a robust emergency care Volunteer Team to support the program.

• This is a hands-on role, providing information, advice, responding to and coordinating requests for assistance.
• Respond to requests for information and assistance from support workers, caseworkers, hospitals and the community.
• Provide a referral service for alternative programs and resources available for owners
• Establish and maintain effective external stakeholder relationships.
• Liaise with Rehoming Managers for suitable on-site housing for incoming emergency care animals
• Coordinate veterinary clinic appointments/treatments at AWLQ Vet Clinics as required.
• Assist with and coordinate animal collection, and return if the owner is unable to organise pet transport.
• Create and maintain files for owners and emergency care animals including behaviour and health information
• Ensure the program is effectively managed within the available budget and resources and as per the program’s guidelines.
• Our invaluable volunteer team provides excellent support; grow your dedicated team for assistance with animal transport and other duties as required.
• A well-developed team of foster carers is critical for the program to be able to respond to the needs in our community, grow and support our devoted team.

About you

We value who you are and how you achieve excellence with purpose, empathy and courage. You will have a kind heart and a very resilient nature; you will care and be able to manage your emotions to achieve what is best for pets and their people. You will be a motivated, ‘hands-on’ team player, who listens to feedback and thrives on delivering work in a collaborative environment. Your energy and innovation will be contagious; you will inspire people to assist our community. With your inspirational leadership and exceptional organisational abilities, you will be able to lead this vital program, which will change pets and peoples’ lives for the better.

• Communication: exceptional listening, written and verbal skills
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Interpersonal: skilled at building relationships, teams, trust and open communications
• Initiative: can work autonomously and make sound decisions
• Organisational skills: well-developed ability to manage competing priorities
• Outstanding customer/client service skills and experience
• Collaborative: thrives in a team environment to achieve common goals
• Experience in conflict resolution and solution focused problem solving
• Demonstrate emotional intelligence with empathy towards vulnerable people
• Proven ability to take initiative and innovate
• Animal behaviour: comfortable and confident with cats, dogs and bird handling

Key criteria

• 2+ years’ experience with welfare community groups assisting vulnerable clients
• Technology: proficient in MS Office suite and ability to learn new systems
• Availability: roster is Mon to Fri; this could be full-time or part-time (min-30-hours) over the 5 days
• Valid Driver’s License
• Valid Police Check and Vulnerable Persons Check (Blue Card) to be obtained

Desired Criteria

• Previous experience with not-for-profit organisations
• Tertiary qualification in social work, community services, or related discipline
• Mental Health First-aid qualification
• Formal companion animal behaviour experience
• ShelterBuddy software experience

Who are we?

Founded in 1959, AWLQ has become a trusted leader in animal welfare. We provide a safe haven and second chance for close to 10,000 stray and homeless animals every year. To each one of these animals we welcome through our doors, a promise is made – to never euthanise a healthy, sociable, or treatable animal in our care. We work tirelessly every day to maintain this promise.

In addition to our shelter work, we are committed to keeping pets and people together by providing lifesaving support and resources to people in need with companion animals. We are known for our grassroots and innovative community-based animal welfare work including our community vet clinics, Getting to Zero, Golden Hearts Seniors’ Support Program and the National Desexing Network.

Why should you join us?

At AWLQ we offer competitive pay and benefits, including access to an independent Employee Assistance Program, retail discounts, vet discounts. Most importantly, every day you’ll play an instrumental role in our lifesaving work.

Our mission is to unleash the potential in every team, and we know that teams perform best when they have passion. We are committed to building a culture where everyone has the opportunity to do meaningful work and is recognised for their efforts.

Equity

Diversity and inclusion are the principles guiding how we build our teams, cultivate our leaders and build a culture of belonging where differences are valued.