Volunteer Trainee Programme Facilitator

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Volunteer Position Description

Trainee Facilitator

 

Position Summary

Position Title: Trainee Programme Facilitator

Position Type: Volunteer

Minimum Commitment: 5 hours per week

Location: Onkaparinga Hills, South Australia

Reports To: Senior Facilitator / Programme Coordinator

Commencement: By negotiation

 

About Way of the Horse Coaching

Way of the Horse Coaching Inc is a not-for-profit organisation based in the Adelaide Hills that delivers equine-assisted coaching and therapeutic programmes for young people, individuals experiencing domestic violence, and those navigating complex trauma. Our horses are partners in the therapeutic process — attuned, honest, and powerfully present — and our facilitators are skilled at holding safe space for profound personal change.

We are currently expanding our programme delivery and are seeking a motivated volunteer Trainee Facilitator with the potential top move into some paid employment

About the Role

The Trainee Facilitator is a development opportunity for an individual who is passionate about trauma-informed practice, equine-assisted approaches, and working with vulnerable young people and adults. You will shadow and assist experienced facilitators across a range of programmes, building your skills in equine-assisted facilitation.

This is a hands-on, relational role. You will work alongside both our human participants and our horses, developing your capacity to read equine communication, hold therapeutic space, and support participants experiencing complex challenges including trauma, domestic violence, and youth disengagement.

 

Key Responsibilities

Programme Support

• Shadow lead facilitator in planning and delivering equine-assisted sessions for individuals and groups

• Prepare the session environment, including yard and horse handling prior to participant arrival

• Observe and document session activities and participant responses under supervision

• Contribute to debrief discussions with the facilitation team following each session

Equine Partnership

• Develop foundational skills in horse handling, safety, and reading equine body language and communication

• Assist with the care and management of programme horses before and after sessions

• Learn to recognise how horses respond to human emotional states and how to incorporate this into facilitated reflection

Participant Support

• Maintain a calm, grounded, and non-judgmental presence with all participants

• Support participants experiencing distress with trauma-informed and culturally safe approaches

• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries at all times

• Contribute to a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment for all participants

Administration & Learning

• Participate in regular supervision and professional development provided by Way of the Horse Coaching

• Complete required induction training, including Way of the Horse Coaching’s trauma-informed practice framework and Child Safe Environment training

• Maintain confidentiality of all participant and organisational information

• Contribute to programme evaluation and continuous improvement processes

 

What We Are Looking For

Essential

• Understanding of complex trauma, its impacts, and trauma-informed approaches to care and support

• Knowledge and understanding of domestic and family violence, including its dynamics and effects on individuals and families

• Experience working with young people (adolescents and/or children) in a professional, volunteer, or lived experience capacity

• Understanding of, or genuine interest in learning, how horses communicate — including body language, herd dynamics, and equine responses to human emotion

• Ability to commit to a minimum of 5 hours per week on a consistent and reliable basis

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust with vulnerable individuals

• Personal resilience and the ability to work with distressing subject matter in a regulated, professional way

• Current or willingness to obtain a Working With Children Check (WWCC)

Highly Desirable

• Formal qualifications or study in social work, psychology, counselling, youth work, community services, or a related field

• Experience working within DV services, crisis support, mental health, or trauma recovery settings

• Experience working within DV services, crisis support, or trauma recovery settings

• First Aid Certificate (or willingness to obtain)

• Understanding of or lived experience with cultural safety and working with First Nations communities

 

What We Offer

• Structured mentorship and supervision from experienced equine-assisted facilitator

• Hands-on learning within a genuine therapeutic programme environment

• A genuine pathway to paid hours as the programme grows — we are committed to recognising and rewarding facilitators who demonstrate skill and dedication

• A deeply meaningful volunteer experience at the intersection of nature, horses, and human healing

• Reference support for professional and academic purposes

 

How to Apply

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If you have lived experience of trauma or domestic violence, we honour that experience as a strength and encourage your application.

To apply, please send a brief cover letter (no more than one page) and your CV or summary of relevant experience to:

Way of the Horse Coaching Inc

Onkaparinga Hills, South Australia

Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis.

 

Way of the Horse Coaching Inc is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all participants. All volunteers are required to hold a valid Working With Children Check.