An exciting short term contract to work with Friends of the Earth to build the resistance to coastal gas developments in South West VIC has come up. Applications close 5th January.
Employer: Friends of the Earth (FoE) Melbourne
Work Type/s: Contract, Part Time at 0.3 FTE (or 1.5 days a week) for 12 weeks.
Classification/s: Advocacy and campaigns
Sector/s: Not for Profit
Location: Surf Coast/South West Victoria
Applications Close: 5th January, 2021 at 5PM AEDT
To apply - please send a Resume and cover letter (1 page) outlining an example of an action, event, or other tactic you might use to raise awareness of the South West VIC coastal gas issue with the beach going, or surfing community, send to [email protected] by 5pm, January 5th, 2021.
About the Role:
In 2018, the Andrews Government released five new oil and gas exploration blocks offshore exploration blocks in the Otway basin, stretching west from the Otways to the South Australian border.
The Otway Basin is home to world renowned environmental landscapes and protected ecosystems. These areas and their marine inhabitants; including the endangered Southern Right Whale, Australia's largest colony of fur seals, and a host of endangered migratory birds are at risk. Beginning at the end of Victoria’s world famous Great Ocean Road, the Otway Basin lies below the Twelve Apostles Marine National Park and, further west, the Discovery Bay Marine National Park.
Western Victoria’s agricultural and tourism industries contribute much to the local and regional economy, and rely on a healthy environment to thrive. After initial exploration, drilling could take place within 5km of shore, putting communities, climate and wildlife at risk.
With the federal government pushing for a fossil-fuel-led boost to the economy in the wake of COVID 19, we need to raise awareness about this imminent threat to Victoria’s coastline now.
The Great Ocean Resistance Outreach Coordinator will ensure that communities, businesses and environment groups along the south west coast of Victoria are informed about the risks of coastal gas exploration, and work to build an alliance of groups in opposition gas extraction in the Otway Basin.
The Great Ocean Resistance Outreach Coordinator will work to:
- Coordinate stalls and awareness raising events at markets and popular events along the coast.
- Create unique and interesting ways to draw attention to and raise awareness of the threats of coastal gas drilling.
- Distribute campaign tools provided by Friends of the Earth for use in frontline communities.
- Coordinate with Friends of the Earth Melbourne to deliver provided materials and information to local tourism businesses.
Specific objectives and a detailed work plan will be set on employment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Researching stall and outreach opportunities and coordinating bookings for surf events, markets, community festivals and public events.
- Be the public face of the campaign at stalls and coordinate volunteer support.
- Manage materials for distribution via stalls, at markets and other public events
- Self organise unique and interesting ways to draw attention to and raise awareness of the threats of coastal gas drilling.
- Coordinate with the Friends of the Earth No New Gas working group to deliver materials and information to local tourism businesses, and attend monthly Strategy Collective meetings (via zoom);
- Identify key leaders in the community who can be assisted to form local action groups that join a network of established groups representing the entire stretch of coastline.
- Maintaining a budget.
Accountability:
The ‘Great Ocean Resistance’’ Stall and Outreach Coordinator will be accountable to the Friends of the Earth Melbourne No New Gas Working Group and Operations Collective.
Salary & Conditions:
This is a short term contract, Part Time at 0.3 FTE (or 1.5 days a week) for 12 weeks.
The coordinator would be employed under the Friends of the Earth Melbourne workers agreement. Friends of the Earth Melbourne has a policy of wage equity and as such all workers are paid at the same hourly rate.
This position will require a willingness to travel to events and organise stalls and other awareness raising tactics along the south west and surf coasts of Victoria and the employee must have access own transport.
The current commencing pay rate for this position is $35.50 per hour, or $73,840.00 per annum, pro rata, plus superannuation and entitlements.
Part Time at 0.3 FTE (or 1.5 days a week) for 12 weeks would be $5,112 plus super and entitlements. Some travel costs to and from stalls and events will also be reimbursed.
Hours of work:
This is a 12 week contract for 1.5 day a week position (0.3 EFT). At Friends of the Earth Melbourne we consider a working day to be 8 hours, with the option of flexi time within a working day.
Selection Criteria:
Essential:
- Demonstrated commitment to social and environmental justice
- Strong interpersonal skills – proven ability to build relationships and communicate with a diverse range of people
- Experience organising events or activist actions and activities
- Drivers license and access to a car
Desirable:
- Commitment to grassroots community activism and working as part of an anti-hierarchical collective.
- Experience coordinating stalls
- Experience with online databases (particularly NationBuilder) and website maintenance.
- Knowledge of issues relating to gas and climate change.
To apply - please send a Resume and cover letter (1 page) outlining an example of an action, event, or other tactic you might use to raise awareness of the South West VIC coastal gas issue with the beach going, or surfing community, send to [email protected] by 5pm, January 5th, 2021.