Disability Advocate

DISABILITY ADVOCATE 

• Full-time (38 hours per week) position available
• Fixed term position to 30 June 2025
• Join a dynamic team
• Excellent benefits and flexible work options 
• Armidale location, diverse role, additional holidays

Are you interested in more meaningful work and supporting people with a disability?

Then consider being a Disability Advocate and work side-by-side with people every day to support them through their journey of navigating legal and social systems to achieve fairer outcomes.

About the opportunity

Disability Advocacy NSW provides advocacy for people with a disability. Our multi-disciplinary team includes social workers, community workers, health professionals, disability workers, and lawyers. We pride ourselves on being courageous, caring, creative and connected in our work with people, offering a family friendly and inclusive workplace, where diversity is celebrated. 

We are seeking an experienced and passionate person to join our team!

Benefits include:

• Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services (SCHADS), Level 4.1 ($95.761.93 pa full-time package inc. superannuation) - 4.4 ($103,030.77 pa full-time package inc. superannuation) depending on qualifications and experience
• Flexible working hours, with the option of working up to half the week at home
• Employment is offered for a full-time fixed term contract until 30 June 2025 with options for renewal by us
• Up to 6 weeks annual leave, plus 5 paid wellbeing days leave
• Job satisfaction in making a difference to people’s lives
• Full training and support if you are transitioning into advocacy for the first time
• Salary packaging options - tax free salary packaging options can increase ‘take home’ pay
• A supportive work environment in a values-driven organisation that is committed to continuous improvement

About the role

In this role you will work with people with disability to address issues of unfairness occurring across various social systems including the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Education, Health, Centrelink, Housing, Discrimination and other areas that impact on their lives.

You will collaborate with colleagues and network with other agencies while also being able to work independently. The successful candidate will be able to identify goals, problem solve and be tenacious in their work.  

You will:

• Apply a human rights approach to advocacy
• Capture and record accurate information
• Develop networks with local organisations
• Provide individual advocacy and advice 
• Identify advocacy issues and options available
• Encourage self-advocacy where possible
• Research and interpret complex information
• Maintain professional, timely and accurate records
• Contribute to DANSW’s systemic advocacy work

The successful candidate will have (selection criteria):

• Relevant tertiary qualifications (examples only: law, legal studies, social work, psychology, social science, welfare studies, community services)
• Experience and skills relevant to advocating for people from disadvantaged backgrounds including people with disability
• Knowledge or understanding of legal and social systems that impact on lives of people with a disability
• Proven skills in the following areas: oral and written communication, research, problem solving and negotiation

How to apply

If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit your covering letter, CV and response to the selection criteria via SEEK. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible, and we will start to conduct preliminary interviews immediately. 

If you require any assistance with your application, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

People with disability or from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Applications will close midnight 15 July 2024

Enquiries regarding the position can be directed to Danielle Heazlewood via ***************@da.org.au

Submission Checklist

Have you got? 

1. A cover letter including contact details
2. Current resume
3. A document that addresses each of the selection criteria listed above (include this with your cover letter or resume document for ease of submission via Seek)