ABOUT LIFESTYLE MARKETS AUSTRALIA INC
Lifestyle Markets Australia Inc. (LMA) is a registered charity and not-for-profit organisation that brings communities together through family focused fundraisers, markets and events across Victoria. All proceeds support Kinds of Happiness (KOH), a charity dedicated to empowering disadvantaged youth in regional and rural Australia through mentoring, farming programs, and skills development. Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. By joining the LMA team, you become part of a passionate, inclusive community making a real difference.
ROLE PURPOSE
The purpose of the P&C Engagement Officer volunteer position is to ensure the LMA volunteer community is connected, informed and continually engaged through its online platform (primarily Facebook group chats). The role focuses on day-to-day engagement, onboarding support, smooth integration into the team, early-stage retention for new volunteers, supporting them though the onboarding journey and beyond. The Engagement Officer will work closely with the P&C team and the relevant Team Leaders (TLs) to ensure every volunteer feels welcomed, supported and set up for long-term success in a remote environment. This role reflects LMA Inc’s commitment to community, inclusion, and care for all the volunteers.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Team Engagement - Actively engage volunteers within LMA’s Facebook group chats through regular, planned and approved activities (e.g. Friday fun Fact, polls, milestone shout-outs, volunteer cards)
- Onboarding - Coordinate onboarding “first-day” meeting for new starters with TLs for introducing LMAs values, communication channels, hand-over to TL, and first task allocation.
- Retention - Conduct check-ins with each new volunteer at the 1-week, 2-week and 30-60-90 day milestones to gather feedback, monitor engagement, and identify early support needs."
- Coordinate volunteer recognition initiatives, including appreciation certificates, shout-outs, and milestone celebrations ie Volunteer Day, R U OK Day
- Design and maintain volunteer profile cards, showcasing individual volunteers (photo, role, fun facts, time with LMA) for use on social media, newsletters, and internal communications
- Draft and distribute internal communications (newsletters, updates, team announcements) to keep volunteers informed and engaged
- Continuous Improvement - Research & support broader engagement strategies for remote roles.
- Documentation - Complete the onboarding checklist with each new volunteer, ensuring all steps, including Team Leader handover, are completed and signed off.
- Newsletter-Create and distribute a regular, engaging monthly newsletter that informs and connects the volunteer community, from gathering content through to final distribution.
- Help maintain a positive, inclusive culture aligned with LMA's community values
SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Demonstrated experience in People & Culture, volunteer coordination or community engagement, with the ability to build positive relationships and support inclusive workplace cultures.
- Strong written communication skills, with the ability to develop warm, engaging and professional communications that foster connection and engagement.
- Experience creating regular, engaging newsletters that inform and connect a wider audience.
- Confident in navigating Facebook groups/Messenger chats, as engagement tools to communicate with volunteers, share updates, encourage participation and build a connected community.
- Organised, proactive, reliable and self-motivated to work both independently and collaboratively in a remote setting.
- Empathetic, people-first approach with sound judgement in handling sensitive conversations.
- Available for the agreed weekly time commitment & team meetings, including consistent presence in group chats.
- Alignment with LMA's mission of community connection and youth support
Desirable
- Studying towards or holding a qualification in HR, Business, Communications or a related field.
- Prior experience in a volunteer, NFP or community engagement role.
- Understanding of volunteer retention principles and remote/virtual team engagement practices.
- Experience with onboarding, buddy/mentoring programs.
- Basic graphic design skills (e.g. Canva) an advantage, for creating profile cards and recognition materials
WHAT WE OFFER
- A welcoming, inclusive, and diverse volunteer community
- Meaningful work that directly supports youth in regional Australia
- Flexible volunteering — work from home or on-site at our events
- Opportunities to develop new skills and build your professional network