Community Support Assistant: Welcoming Relief & Referrals

The Salvation Army; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Salvation Army is seeking a Doorways Support Assistant in Melbourne to provide a warm welcome to visitors, assist with emergency relief distribution, and support administration and data tasks. The role blends frontline community engagement with behind-the-scenes support, ensuring clients feel safe, supported, and connected to services.

Ideal candidates will have empathy, experience in customer service or community work, and basic computer skills to handle administrative tasks and data entry.

Qualifications

• Interest in meeting new people with empathy.
• Experience in customer service or community support is desirable.
• Proficient with computers for administration tasks.

Responsibilities

• Build rapport with community members through a warm welcome and friendly interaction.
• Support site-based and behind-the-scenes activities, including distribution of relief and material aid, referrals, and administrative tasks.
• Assist with confidential data administration as needed.

Skills

Empathy

Customer service

Computer literacy

Microsoft Office

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Salvation Army ‘Doorways’ community support model engages people at their point of need in a holistic way that is missional, relational and professional. Doorways provides support to community members through financial and material emergency relief, along with casework to help them to find long-term solutions.

The Doorways Support Assistant works across all community-facing, as well as ‘behind the scenes’ aspects of the Doorways emergency relief services (excluding interviewing or casework). They are key in providing a warm welcome to community members so they feel safe and accepted, offering refreshments, as well as supporting the issuing of pre-allocated financial assistance cards, material aid and any additional connection as needed.

**Key responsibilities**

*Build rapport*

Taking a genuine interest in the community member and their wellbeing, a friendly smile and warm welcome will help community members relax and connect over a cup of tea or coffee.

*Program Support*

Doorways Support Assistants work across all site-based aspects of support which may include community connections, distribution of pre-allocated financial assistance and material assistance, referral to other services, programs, activities, and spiritual support.

Bringing a good sense of practicality and organisation, Doorways Support Assistants organise material aid items, restock and store food items, administer and distribute emergency relief.

*Administration*

With a keen eye for accuracy and consistency, the role may require confidential data administration.

**Qualifications and skills (desired/required)**

Essential for the role is an interest in meeting new people, bringing sensitivity and empathy to all interactions.

Desirable previous experience for the role is customer service or connecting with people in a community support setting.

Confidence with using computers is required for administration tasks.

**Capabilities and personal attributes**

Manage Self: Shows personal motivation and commitment to completing work activities effectively; regulates own behaviour and responds appropriately in all circumstances; receives and responds to constructive advice.

Communicates Effectively: Allows others time to speak; listens when they are speaking and asks appropriate, respectful questions; is aware of own non-verbal cues; focuses on key points and uses simple words to build mutual understanding.

Work Collaboratively: Works as a supportive and cooperative team member, shares information and acknowledges the contribution and support of others.

**Background check requirements**

Background checks play an important part in our commitment to being a safe organisation. Where an applicant has disclosable history, the selection process includes a fair assessment and a risk management approach. Collection of personal information is managed per our privacy and confidentiality policies. Below is what is required for this role:

As this role has access to personal details, sensitive information, financial and material assets, it will require a Police Check and Working with Children/Vulnerable People Check.

** Category **
Community Services

** Commitment **
Regular - more than 6 months

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