Guide Dogs Victoria (GDV) has received a grant from the National Disability

Insurance Agency (NDIA) to produce a working prototype for a Peer Support

Platform that will improve the social participation and independence of people with
low vision and blindness by connecting them with each other as well as useful
information and services.

Central to this project is the recruitment of people with Lived Experience and their
carers to represent the low vision & blind community, and help co-design and test
this platform. Volunteers will receive a reimbursement to cover expenses and
inconvenience. This rate will be communicated prior to participation.

About the positions:

There are 3 types of positions available with various levels of input and time
commitment. All sessions will take place at Swinburne University in Hawthorn,
except the initial Discovery interview which could be either at Hawthorn or more local
to you. All sessions will be in business hours.

1) Lived Experience Consultants: 1 hour initial Discovery interview to allow the

project group to identify key themes and needs that the Peer Support Platform could
address, and then attending regular ideation and project design sessions and 2
prototype test sessions. Equivalent of 12 days’ work Nov 2018-March 2019,
approximately as follows:

 November & December 2018: 1 hour discovery interview and 2x3hr ideation
workshops
 January & February 2019: 5.5 days co-design spread over 2 months
 March 2019: 5 days co-design spread over the month
 April 2019: Half day testing session

2) Lived Experience Advisors: 1 hour initial Discovery interview to allow the project
group to identify key themes and needs that the Peer Support Platform could
address and then required to attend 2 half day prototype test sessions.Equivalent of
1-2 days’ work Nov 2018-March 2019, approximately as follows:

 November 2018: 1 hour discovery interview

 February 2019: Half day testing session at the end of February
 April 2019: Half day testing session
3) Prototype Testers - half a day session in April only.

The Consultants, Advisors and Testers will receive a reimbursement to cover their
expenses and the inconvenience. This rate will be communicated prior to
participation.

About you:
You need to:

 Be able to commit to the time requirements of the position you apply for
 Have an interest in helping others understand the issues that are important to
you
 Be comfortable working in a group
 Be comfortable giving your feedback
 Live in Victoria

Applicants can have any level of permanent, uncorrectable low vision or blindness
and must be comfortable to work in a group environment. Applicants can also be the
sighted main carer of someone with low vision or blindness. Applicants can be any
age over 15 years old (applicants aged 15-18 must provide permission from a parent
or guardian). Applicants do not need any specific technology expertise or
experience. You do not need to be a client of Guide Dogs Victoria.

How to apply

Applicants can apply online by sending an email to info@guidedogsvictoria.com.au,

or calling 1800 804 805.

If you are applying by email, please provide the following details in your email:

1. Name
2. Position applying for, or ‘don’t mind/any’
3. Level of vision loss (and cause if known)
4. Period of time with vision loss
5. If you are a carer, period of time caring for the person with vision loss &
your relationship to them
6. Address/phone/email
7. Rate yourself on your expertise & confidence with technology on a scale
from 1-5 where 1 is not very much at all and 5 is expert.
8. What is your top issue or concern accessing services/information at the
moment?