Community Support

Happiness House Trust; Queenstown; On-site; NZD 44,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Happiness House Trust in Queenstown is seeking a warm, patient community support worker to provide personal support to whānau and individuals. You will help navigate services, build local connections and coordinate our Friday Produce food programme.

You will collaborate with a small team and volunteers, identify community needs, and assist in delivering diverse support initiatives throughout the year. This is a hands-on, locally focused role in a long-standing community organisation.

Qualifications

• Experience working with people in an individual, relational and respectful way.
• Willingness to learn about the Whakatipu community and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Responsibilities

• Provide warm, respectful and personal support to whānau and individuals.
• Help people navigate services, opportunities and community connections.
• Build relationships with local agencies and community organisations.
• Lead and coordinate the Friday Produce food support programme.
• Help coordinate support initiatives throughout the year.
• Identify emerging community needs and help develop appropriate responses.
• Work collaboratively with Happiness House team and volunteers.
• Provide delegated support to the Manager when required.

Skills

Empathy

Active listening

Communication

Job description

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Happiness House Trust – Queenstown, South Island

At Happiness House, we believe community supports community. People come through our doors for all kinds of reasons. We want everyone to feel welcomed and heard. We do not tell people what to do. We journey alongside them.

About the role

Provide warm, respectful and personal support to whānau and individuals

Help people navigate services, opportunities and community connections

Build relationships with local agencies and community organisations

Lead and coordinate our food support programme (Friday Produce)

Help coordinate our support initiatives throughout the year

Identify emerging community needs and help develop appropriate responses

Work collaboratively with the Happiness House team and contribute to a positive team environment

Provide delegated support to the Manager when required

Imagine your first month with us... you could be:

Having individual conversations with whānau and individuals and helping them find their own next steps

Getting to know local agencies and community organisations across Queenstown

Building relationships with the people who come through our doors

Helping lead our food support programme (Friday Produce).

Identifying needs and gaps in our community and thinking about how Happiness House could respond in line with our mission

Working alongside a small, collaborative team and our wonderful volunteers

Learning the people, stories and systems that make Happiness House what it is.

You will be joining one of Queenstown's longest standing community organisations, with a history of supporting people and whānau across the Whakatipu.

No two days are the same here. It can be a busy, energetic and dynamic environment, but that is part of what makes working at Happiness House special. Your role will be providing the calming connection within the space.

About you

We are looking for someone who:

Has experience working with people in an individual, relational and respectful way

Is warm, patient and non judgemental. We are looking for someone grounded and skilled at connecting with people.

Has strong communication and relationship building skills

Has an understanding of, or willingness to learn about, the Whakatipu community

Is open to learning and developing cultural knowledge as part of our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Can work independently, use initiative and stay connected with the wider team

Is proactive, organised and able to adapt to the changing priorities of each day

What matters most is your ability to listen, build trust, respect people's choices and walk alongside them, in line with the mission and values of Happiness House.

What we offer:

• Monday to Friday
• Full time, exact hours to be agreed with the successful candidate
• $32–$35 per hour, depending on experience
• The opportunity to work in a well established community organisation and make a genuine difference locally

Applications close at midnight on Sunday 20 September, but the role may be filled earlier if a suitable candidate is identified.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in New Zealand