If you are a young person with lived experience of sexual abuse or violence between the ages of 13 and 18, living in the north or north-west of Tasmania, and want to make a difference for other children and young people and help stop sexual violence? We would love to hear from you.

ABOUT THE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL

Laurel House is seeking to establish a Youth Advisory Council to engage children and young people with lived experience to provide feedback and established ideas about how Laurel House, and the broader community can help stop sexual violence. This Council will be supported to advocate for policy and community change.

Laurel House recognises the importance of child and youth voice, and is committed to upholding best-practice safeguarding, trauma and engagement practices to enable Council members to engage in a safe, accessible and sustainable manner.

YOUR ROLE WOULD INCLUDE:

• To provide feedback, share ideas and work with members to understand children and young people’s experiences and priorities.
• To treat all members, support people and Laurel House people with respect and dignity, including their privacy.
• To agree that all meetings are safe spaces and not to share other members stories. Even if you have friends in common, it’s important you don’t share their story.
• Recognise that everyone has a different experience, and that each person may be triggered or impacted by different things. To ensure everyone feels safe, you agree not to share explicit details of abuse.
• To input as you feel comfortable, and to raise concerns and/or ask for help as needed.
• Meetings will be held online every few months after school hours, but some additional consultation may be held depending on need.

The Council will be coordinated by a Youth Engagement Lead who has extensive experience in supporting the voice of lived experience of violence and in addition Laurel House will provide the following support:

• Access to counselling support from Laurel House Staff. A counsellor will be available at the end of each meeting.
• Check-in and follow up calls before and after each meeting to talk through how you feel about what is/has been discussed
• A nominated support person to attend meetings and provide you with support as needed
• Debriefing for family members
• Professional development and training opportunities including:
  • Understanding Trauma
  • Telling your own story, in your own words and advocating for change
  • Problem solving
  • Public speaking
  • Art based workshops
  • Other fun and team building activities

Members will be paid an honorarium of $30 per hour.

The first meeting will be held in early May 2023. 4-6 meetings will be held per year (mostly online but possibly some in person).

Laurel House is inclusive and welcomes people from all identities, backgrounds and experiences to apply. We are inclusive of people with disability, neurodivergent people, people who are culturally and linguistically diverse, LGBTIQA+ people, people from low socio-economic backgrounds, First Nations people and other forms of diversity. We welcome you to tell us what you need to be part of the Council.

HOW TO APPLY

1. Download a copy of the Terms of Reference below and read them before you apply.    We can also email or post a copy to you if required.
2. Apply below using the online form, download a form below and return it to us, or contact Tess email tess.moodie@laurelhouse.org.au or phone/SMS 0490 213 158 and we can send you an application form.

In your application process you will have the option to upload any range of media resources that enables you to best showcase your interest and experience if you would prefer. This may include a video, drawing, music, photograph, or any other format. Otherwise you will be invited to tell us in writing why you want to join.

FURTHER ENQUIRIES

Contact Tess Moodie, Youth Engagement Lead email tess.moodie@laurelhouse.org.au or 0490 213 158  or CEO, Kathryn Fordyce, at Laurel House on 0427 739 397 or email kathryn.fordyce@laurelhouse.org.au