Sonder Responder - Queensland

Sonder.io; Cairns Regional; On-site; AUD 34,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Sonder.io is expanding its 24/7 safety and wellbeing support network in Cairns. Join a casual, on-call team of responders who provide in-person and remote support to members during critical incidents.

You’ll collaborate with the Response Centre and help grow the network across Australia, prioritising empathy, swift decision-making and cultural competence. You will also assist the Network Manager with recruiting, training and engaging stakeholders to strengthen operational procedures and response

Qualifications

• Experience in welfare checks and crisis response is valued.
• Ability to deliver psychological first aid under pressure.
• High emotional intelligence and cultural competence are essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide 24/7 on-call safety and wellbeing support in the Cairns region.
• Assist the Response Network Manager with recruitment, training and network management.
• Conduct stakeholder engagement to support operations and partnerships.
• Deliver emergency and non-emergency responses as required.

Skills

Empathy

Situational awareness

Emotional intelligence

Autonomous work

Decision making

Job description

At Sonder, we believe that every person deserves to feel safe, supported, and empowered to be at their best - wherever they are. That's why we're redefining workplace health, safety, and wellbeing through a seamless blend of technology and human expertise. Sonder's mobile platform provides 24/7, real-time support from a dedicated team of safety, medical, and mental health professionals - ensuring that our members receive immediate care when they need it most. In critical situations, we go beyond digital support, offering on-the-ground assistance to manage time-sensitive incidents.

By harnessing real-time insights, we enable organisations to take proactive steps toward a healthier, safer future, which leads directly to tangible bottom-line business outcomes.

An Exciting Time to Join Sonder!

Since our founding in 2017, Sonder has experienced rapid growth, expanding operations across Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. Backed by Australia's leading venture capital firms, Seek and Blackbird, we are well-capitalised and on a mission to scale globally, partnering with corporations, educational institutions, and government agencies to transform workplace wellbeing at scale.

Our impact and scale:

• 1,000,000+ members across multiple countries
• 200+ team members, plus an extensive network of on-the-ground responders

If you're passionate about using technology and human expertise to drive meaningful change, join us in shaping the future of workplace wellbeing!

The role:

Sonder is a 24/7 safety and wellbeing service provider. At the heart of our operation is our Response Network of Sonder Responders, who provide in-person support to members when they need it, in coordination with our Support Centre. Serving and former workers from the identified industries are eligible to apply.

Based in or around Cairns, you'll join the Sonder Responders Network in a casual capacity, working a flexible 24-hour on-call roster with hours you nominate yourself. This is a ground-floor opportunity to help build and expand the network across Australia. Your experience in decision making, response, and empathy - paired with a genuine drive to help others, will be essential to your success in the role. You'll be generously remunerated for both on-call availability and incident response.

You will also, when required, assist the Response Network Manager to:

• Recruit, train and manage Sonder's critical incident response capability within your area
• Conduct stakeholder engagement to support Sonder's business and operational outputs as directed, and nurture partnership relations, engagement and training
• Provide input to operational procedures and network management
• Conduct emergency and non-emergency support responses as required to support the network of responders in your area

Who are we looking for?

This work asks a lot of a person. You'll need empathy, sharp situational awareness, and the confidence to conduct welfare checks and deliver psychological first aid (PFA) in the aftermath of a critical incident. That means high emotional intelligence, calm under pressure, strict professional boundaries to guard against compassion fatigue, and cultural competence across diverse backgrounds - plus the ability to work autonomously and read a situation fast.

People who thrive in this role tend to come from backgrounds like:

• Social Workers - skilled at assessing living conditions, recognising crisis indicators, and connecting people to community resources
• Crisis Counsellors & Hotline Responders - experts in de-escalation, active listening, and delivering PFA over the phone or in person
• First Responders (Paramedics, Police, Firefighters) - experienced in welfare checks and securing dangerous scenes, backed by strong interpersonal skills
• Defence Force Personnel - process-driven, autonomous, with the situational awareness and composure to secure a scene under pressure
• Community Health Workers - trusted local liaisons with strong situational awareness and a track record checking on at-risk populations
• Disaster Relief/NGO Volunteers - specialised PFA training to provide emotional grounding during emergencies or large-scale crises
• Flight Attendants - a rare mix of interpersonal polish and high-stress situation management, from crisis response to cross-cultural communication
• WHS/Workplace Wellbeing Specialists - technical safety compliance paired with psychosocial hazard expertise and stakeholder engagement
• Chaplains - deep interpersonal and spiritual skills spanning crisis intervention, boundary setting, and grief support

Additional to aligning with one of these profiles, you will have:

• High self-awareness, motivation, and self-management - you'll often be making calls solo, with no one checking in on how you're doing
• Sound judgement under pressure - able to set priorities, act on key issues, and make quick decisions, all while staying interpersonally sensitive to the person in front of you
• Availability for a flexible, 24-hour on-call roster - you nominate your own hours, but need to be ready to respond within them, day or night, including weekends

Please note: due to the nature of our work, all successful candidates are required to complete a National Police Check and Working with Children's Check. If you have recently obtained these clearances, please indicate this in your application.

Check out our life page for more info - https://www.linkedin.com/company/sondersafe/life/

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