VACANCIES

We have an exciting opportunity for an Adventure Therapy Facilitator to join our Christchurch team starting October 2020. 

This Adventure Therapy Facilitator role will be predominantly based in Christchurch with day trips to the wider Canterbury region working mainly with young people in the youth justice and care and protection systems. Other programmes will involve some overnight and expedition programmes working with a range of young people, groups and families with differing areas of therapeutic focus. 

Adventure Specialties Trust has over 36 years working with a wide range of client groups in the experiential education, personal development and adventure therapy fields. At times Christchurch staff assist with expedition trips in the North Island during peak times. The adventure therapy programmes typically involve sea kayaking, tramping, caving, rock climbing, mountain biking, high ropes, canyoning, surf kayaking and coasteering. Programmes involve facilitated reflection and learning and are tailored to the specific needs of a variety of client groups (such as youth development, social service and mental health agencies). 

 We are looking for applicants who will be compatible with the Trust’s vision, mission and values. 

 Applicants will have: 

• Qualifications and/or training in outdoor recreation leadership (minimum of NZOIA leader level awards or equivalent qualifications and industry experience). 
• Experience working with youth that face significant challenges in a therapeutic context e.g. youth work, or alongside social workers, counsellors, or therapists. 
• An understanding of youth development and therapeutic principles. 

• Held a drivers licence for a minimum of two years and be eligible for a P Endorsement.  
• Excellent facilitation and communication skills. 
• Initiative and problem-solving skills. 
• Good organisational skills and computer literacy. 
• A current first aid certificate (not necessary at time of application). 

 Over time you will be responsible for: 

• Leading and facilitating all aspects of programmes. 
• Developing programmes and resources specific to clients’ needs. 

 Adventure Specialties Trust is committed to the on-going training and development of its staff.  Successful applicants will be supported towards developing skills in both outdoor leadership and therapeutic roles.  This position comes with a generous professional development and annual leave package.  The ideal candidate will be willing to make a commitment of three years due to the training and investment involved. 

Applications close 11 September 2020. 

 Please note that this is a full-time role, but we may consider part time for the right applicant. 

ABOUT THE ROLE:

This role will include both the delivery of services along with the development of new services and the process and procedures that support those new services. The role is based in Christchurch and is part time (16-24 hours/week).

The successful applicants will be working in a team environment and must be willing to work within the special character of the Trust and its core values.

Key Responsibilities:

• Customer liaison/service development
• Service delivery
• Curriculum management
• Staff training and resources
• Additional projects that contribute to the growth and development of adventure therapy at AST

Key Skills and Experience:
To be successful you will have:

• A therapeutic qualification either in Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Social Work or Counselling
• Is experienced at delivering one-on-one therapeutic services to young people
• Excellent communication and written skills
• Skills and knowledge to develop new service delivery
• Experience relating to outdoor instruction and therapeutic services
• Confident working with new clients and building and maintaining existing relationships
• Time management skills and tools
• MS Word, Excel and general computer skills

Applications close 18 September 2020.

Find out more about Adventure Specialities Trust at www.adventurespecialties.co.nz.

If you would like to speak to somebody about this position please contact Amy Horn on 027 424 6596 or if you wish to apply, please email office@adventurespecialties.co.nz and include a CV, cover letter and contact details for two referees.

As a not-for-profit organisation with Christian values, we are focused on youth and community development and use Outdoor Adventures as a medium to facilitate change. We have several programmes meeting all styles and clientele across the country. However, one of our programmes uses the Central North Island as a base for a school that sends a classroom of students to camp every month. It is that contract that we need a cook for.

We require someone that’s comfortable in the kitchen cooking and baking for a group size of approximately 25. Homestyle cooking standard is acceptable, as long as it tastes good, can be presented nicely in buffet style, and have an understanding of food quantities. Cooking for teenagers (the school camp) requires simple, healthy but also enjoyable food.

With your initiative you would be making a menu that fits in with the budget, facilities available, and liaising with the programme’s oversight to check its suitability with the activities, group numbers and dietary needs. You would be required to order food to the site and stock up on what’s needed as the programme progresses. Previous work has been done to make this part easier to step into without total reinvention, but we are open to your individual creativity and passion for food.
You would cook, have meals ready on time by good planning and execution, and have a professional and friendly manner. You would need to understand different dietary needs and be able to meet these with a little adaption or make a suitable meal in a separate pan. You would also oversee students help in which they will be doing dishes, kitchen clean up, and vegetable prep.

Because the shifts are set around breakfast and evenings, your days would be mostly free to explore the area (skiing?) or work another flexible job. When the students on the programme go out on an overnight or multi-day expedition – no cooking is needed.

Police vetting is required and an expectation that you will work completely free of drug and alcohol influence. No formal cooking qualifications are required but catering experience is looked on favourably. We will look for good references, an awesome persona to join our fun team onsite, ability to communicate positively with teenagers, and a passion for cooking and kitchen work.

We could imagine this suiting someone in the local area that is looking for a second job. You may have another part time job, can work remotely, or perhaps you may be a capable student that wants some work hours. Generally speaking the 2021 contract has 1-1 ½ weeks work every month. This year (2020) we are additionally looking for someone October 21st -November 3rd.

Applications close Friday 2 October 2020.

If you think you fit this description, please send your CV and cover letter to
hanna@adventurespecialties.co.nz. We look forward to hearing from you!