Community Engagement Officer – Defence And Veterans Legal Service

Community Engagement Officer – Defence and Veterans Legal Service

·         Temporary - Full Time – until 17 June 2024

·         Clerk Grade 7/8 (between $106,025 - $117,363 plus super and annual leave)

·         Location – Sydney CBD (Haymarket)

·         Client Services Division

About us

Legal Aid NSW helps people with their legal problems. We can help people with most areas criminal law, family law and every day civil law legal issues. We give legal advice, help at court and do family dispute resolution. We can do this over the telephone or at one of our 28 offices.

About Defence and Veterans Legal Service

The Defence and Veterans Legal Service (DAVLS) is a national service established to assist people to engage with the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide (the Royal Commission). It provides legal advice, information and assistance to members of the public wanting to engage with the Royal Commission. It is an independent, trauma-informed and culturally safe service delivered nationally using best practice standards and a human rights approach. It collaborates and consults with key stakeholders including peak organisations representing defence personnel, veterans and their families.

DAVLS is a project of National Legal Aid (NLA) and established based on a consortium of Legal Aid Commissions in all States and Territories. It incorporates a central coordinating team and legal advice team, both of which are based in Legal Aid NSW; a National Helpline based in Legal Aid Queensland and at least one solicitor in every other Australian jurisdiction.

About the role

The Community Engagement Officer is responsible for developing and managing stakeholder relationships and assisting internal staff to provide information about support services, entitlements and referrals. The Community Engagement Officer works in close collaboration with stakeholders and internal staff to meet the stated objectives of DAVLS.

About you

We are looking for a dynamic Community Engagement Officer. An understanding of defence culture or experience working with veterans is essential.  You will be responsible for encouraging stakeholder and Community Engagement with DAVLS. 

DAVLS’ ultimate goal is to ensure that the Defence and veteran community can safely share their story with the Royal Commission.

We may use this recruitment to create a talent pool for similar ongoing or temporary vacancies we have over the next 18 months.

WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN LEGAL AID NSW!

We are committed to diversity and inclusion

We are committed to creating a culturally safe and genuinely inclusive organisation and workplace for everyone who works and interacts with us. We strive to be a place where people from diverse backgrounds want to work, where voices and cultures are valued and where people feel valued, welcomed, respected and heard.

We want a workforce that reflects our clients, so we can deliver a service that meets the needs of the community. We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds — including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, the LGBTQI+ community, culturally diverse people and other diverse communities. 

We acknowledge, support and accommodate the diverse access needs of people with visible and invisible disabilities. If you need an adjustment to participate in the recruitment process, or you’d like information about what we can do to help you, please contact our team at ************@legalaid.nsw.gov.au.

Other benefits of working with us

·         You will have access to training, development and mentoring opportunities.

·         We are an accredited Flex Ready certified employer and are recognised as leaders in the area of flexible work. Most of our staff work flexibly — for example, from home some of the time or in a way that helps them balance family and work life.

The essential requirements for this role

You must:

·         be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before you start work with us

·         be willing to do a Criminal Record Check and/or Working with Children Check

·         hold Australian or NZ citizenship, Australian Permanent Residency (for ongoing vacancies) or a valid visa to work in Australia (for temporary vacancies)

How to apply

You MUST submit your application online through www.iworkfor.nsw.gov.au. If you submit your application late or by email it will NOT be accepted.

Your application must include:

·         your resume (no more than 5 pages)

·         cover letter (no more than 2 pages). In your cover letter, please address the two target questions – 

1. What barriers might Defence Members, Veterans and their supporters face when engaging with the Royal Commission? 

2. Please outline how you have used your communication skills to develop a stakeholder relationship.

Make sure your application is complete and you have answered all questions before you submit it.

Do you need help to apply?

It’s important to properly prepare before you apply for a role. Here is some other information to help you:

·         If you have questions about the role, you can contact the Hiring Manager – Jasmine Stanton on (02) 9219 5***or email: ***************@legalaid.nsw.gov.au

·        If you are an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and are thinking about applying, you can contact the Aboriginal Services Branch to arrange a confidential conversation about any questions you may have.

·         The Role Description sets out the responsibilities of the role.

·         The focus capabilities and key accountabilities in the role description indicate what is expected at that level. Being familiar with these will help you understand what the panel will be looking for in the successful candidate. 

·         Applying for a Role

·         Working at Legal Aid NSW

"Not Required"

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