Family Support and Advocacy Officer - Preston, Australia - Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service

Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service

Verified Company

Preston, Australia

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Olivia Brown

beBee Recruiter

Description

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Salary Offering:
$72, $77,817.74 plus 11% Superannuation_

Office Location 273 High Street Preston, Vic, 3072

This role is a fulltime fixed term role until 30 June 2025

This is an Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander identified position (special provisions of S12(1) of the Equal Opportunity Act)
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Additional Benefits:_

17.5% Leave Loading
5 extra days leave on top of 20 days annual leave
Only required to work 35 hours per week, any extra hours worked will be calculated as your Time In Lieu (TOIL) which you may use as additional leave hours
Access to company vehicles for any workrelated trips
Salary packaging of up to $15,900+ per FBT available via Maxxia

The primary responsibility of the Family Support and Advocacy Officer (Coronial Inquests) is to provide support, assistance and advocacy support to bereaved families throughout the Coronial Inquest process.

This includes supporting families to engage with Court processes, to gain access to other support services, and to engage in media and advocacy.

Dependant on capacity, the role may also work to support other clients of the Wirraway Police and Prison Accountability Practice.

Key Responsibilities

Provide a range of culturally appropriate support services and guidance to families throughout the Coronial Inquest, police and prison accountability process.
Communicate with and effectively support, Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander clients who may present as distressed and will be grieving the loss of their loved ones.
Assist clients and VALS with advocacy and law reform work arising out of coronial inquests.
Liaison and highlevel negotiation with the Coroner's Court, Victoria Police, Corrections Victoria, legal assistance providers and wideranging services, including related to corrections and community health, child protection, drug and alcohol and family violence.
Work closely with the Policy, Communications and Strategy team to prepare advice and support policy and law reform work in areas relating to police and prison accountability.
Work closely with the Community Justice Program team to develop and deliver community legal education across Victoria.
Undertake related administrative requirements, including maintaining files in an orderly and professional manner, including the recording of all data for statistical purposes.
Increase professional development outcomes through internal training and development opportunities, working with relevant legal teams and stakeholders.
Establish effective and productive partnerships with Aboriginal and mainstream services and other support organisations.

Desirable

An understanding of mental health and grieving issues and an ability to engage with people experiencing grief and mental health crises.
An understanding of the protective benefit of culture for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Victorians.
Experience working with and providing culturally safe support to people experiencing mental health crises.
A commitment to understanding VALS's work and the social, legal and justice issues faced by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria.
Demonstrated commitment and capacity to promote the rights interests and aspirations of Aboriginal people.
Excellent interpersonal and oral communication skills with the ability to build effective relationships with Aboriginal peoples and communities and to collaborate to achieve their objectives.
Effective administration and project management skills with welldeveloped time management skills to plan workload, prioritise and meet deadlines.
Good working knowledge of technology, such as Microsoft Office and databases.
Demonstrable personal drive, integrity, and capacity to work in a team.
A willingness and ability to travel to regional, metropolitan, and interstate locations for work purposes.

Desirable

A relevant qualification in Social Work, mental health, community work and/or community development
Knowledge and understanding of the Coronial Inquest process.
Experience of work within Aboriginal legal services, Victorian Legal Aid, community legal centres and / or other support services
Experience in legal policy development and commitment to driving and influencing change on relevant policy priorities and emerging issues.

On offer of this position, you must provide:

Copy of your current
Employee Working with Children Card.
You will be required to complete a current
Criminal History Police Check.
Up to date
vaccination certificate or
valid medical exemption:
Proof of rights to work in Australia, i.e., a copy of an Australian Passport, Birth Certificate, or Immigration VISA documentation

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Current valid Australian Driver's Licence

HOW TO APPLY:

A
covering letter outlining who you are and why you are suited to this position.
Your
resume detailing your education and professional experience and