Michele Elkington Email and Phone Number

• Established new Disability Volunteer Services program area after my role being vacant for two years, and suspension in volunteering organisation-wide during COVID-19 pandemic, causing an extended lapse in volunteer engagement• Developing vision and mission for Disability Volunteer Services, and producing Strategic Directions annual report, allocating resources while setting direction for program development in 2020-2021• Undertook community needs assessment and survey of NDIS department, to determine best model for effective program development and consumer engagement with severely limited capacity during COVID-19 lockdown• Taking initiative to seek advice from DHHS funding bodies on how best to implement funding requirements in new program, and best practice establishing procedures for database management, recording volunteer activity, and client data collection • Established program plan for new volunteer service called Merri Mates, developing model for volunteer outreach through 1:1 social support based on mutual interest • Undertook full Risk Assessment to participant and volunteer safety, maintain privacy and confidentiality, establish sustainable training and administrative processes; and created COVID-19 Risk Assessment to demonstrate viability of model • Developing person-centred and individualised training program schedule for volunteers, accounting for range of prior learning for specialist knowledge in disability and community health among cohort, and collaborating with NDIS department staff in developing and delivering specialist training• Developed and implemented NDIS Volunteer marketing campaign strategies within Merri Health, and with community engagement initiatives across Melbourne’s North West region• Spearheaded Merri Health volunteer re-engagement by planning events calendar for key events such as National Volunteer Week and National Reconciliation Week, applying for funding grant awards for events and initiatives

• Managed full-time caseload of outreach clients, working across CALD communities and with complex clients presenting with both physical and mental disabilities• Mentoring students on placement for Diploma of Community Services and Certificate IV in Mental Health• Increased clients’ NDIS funding packages using my expert knowledge of the NDIS system, representing and advocating for clients during plan reviews• Adopting a strengths-based approach to support clients through community outreach• Independently maintaining caseload, maintaining documentation for organisation database• Supported clients in times of crisis and stress, de-escalating conflict• Developing individualised care plans, identifying and meeting gaps in service delivery• Liaising with care team and developing relationships with internal and external stakeholders

• Key founding team member for flagship drop-in centre• Developed group activity calendar and facilitated programs• Brief interventions and one-on-one support for clients in crisis, doing risk assessments• Assisted with intake and assessment, and developing the organisation’s client database• Planned and facilitated Hub program and special eventsAchievements• Written organisational guidelines and developed program schedules• Collaborated with participants in co-designing and facilitating activity groups• Grew client base by 75% across six months through designing Hub program schedule and developing activity groups