AddressManager, Advocacy and Law Reform
knowmore is a national and independent community legal centre providing free legal assistance and support to survivors of child abuse. This national role provides key leadership to knowmore’s Advocacy team and advises the executive team on the implementation of the Advocacy and Law Reform agenda.
Through its work with survivors and knowledge of and experience within the legal system, knowmore identifies opportunities to improve laws, policies and processes, and institutional and community cultures. knowmore is an authoritative and independent voice. We make the case for change based on what survivors say they need. Working in an integrated way to leverage expertise and information across knowmore’s multidisciplinary service teams, the Advocacy team identifies relevant Advocacy and Law Reform issues and opportunities across Australia. This includes assisting knowmore to formulate submissions, proposals and recommendations for reform that benefit survivors of child abuse and the Stolen Generations, including around the implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse; the implementation and operation of the National Redress Scheme; and other pathways for justice for survivors. The role also identifies and implements advocacy campaigns to support changes within the community and across our parliaments that improve the lives of survivors and prevent child abuse for the future.
The Law Reform and Advocacy team engages and partners with the broader Community Legal Centre (CLC) sector and other partners, such as services supporting survivors, to progress common objectives and drive change. The team also works pro-actively with knowmore’s Communications roles and other internal staff to develop effective plans and gather information to advance knowmore’s aims in addressing and preventing child abuse and raising public awareness of issues impacting our clients.
The Manager has 2 direct reports and will lead and supervise the activities of the Advocacy team, contributing at a high level to knowmore’s strategic objectives of facilitating access to justice for victims and survivors of child abuse and working with survivors and their supporters to stop child abuse.
Duties and responsibilities
- Lead the daily activities of knowmore’s Law Reform and Advocacy team, managing and co-ordinating the team’s workload and priorities and managing the recruitment, induction and training of staff in the team.
- Provide consistent leadership, support and direction to the Advocacy team, maintaining a positive work environment that supports high quality outputs, productivity, and positive relationships with stakeholders.
- Work closely and effectively with knowmore’s Chief Executive Officer, Principal Lawyer and other staff to identify relevant Advocacy and Law Reform opportunities that align with knowmore’s strategic aims and to develop appropriate responses.
- Undertake research and analysis on key issues impacting on survivors’ access to justice and options for change, across all Australian jurisdictions.
- Monitor implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse by the Commonwealth and States and Territories and lead knowmore’s contributions to ongoing implementation work.
- Lead the identification, development and maintenance of productive working relationships across legal and community service sectors and government.
- Collaborate with the community legal sector and other partners to progress specific projects and affect change, including active engagement in CLC working groups and activities.
- Lead the development and fostering of collegiate working relationships across knowmore to ensure cohesive and effective contributions from relevant service delivery teams are made for all projects.
- Lead the collection of relevant case studies and other material to inform knowmore’s Law Reform and advocacy activities and lead the ongoing development of internal processes for ensuring Advocacy and Law Reform work is evidence-based.
- Draft authoritative Law Reform submissions and other materials, particularly in more complex matters, including contributing to articles for the media and legal and other publications and Community Legal Education materials.
- Represent knowmore at policy and Law Reform working group meetings and government and other stakeholder consultations and in other forums, including Parliamentary Committee hearings, in the media and community education and other engagement activities.
- Identify and facilitate opportunities for survivors to inform, contribute to and participate in knowmore’s Law Reform and advocacy activities, pursuant to knowmore’s Survivor Participation Framework.
- Lead the team’s reporting responsibilities and ensure that the outcomes of knowmore’s Law Reform and advocacy activities are recorded in a timely and reliable manner and that such activities are evaluated and improvements identified and implemented.
- Provide support and mentorship to team members and other junior staff (such as paralegals and volunteers) allocated to projects, in the conduct of their work.
- Other projects as required.
Organisational obligations
- Share our values and have a strong commitment to improving the lives of survivors of child sexual abuse in institutional care, the Stolen Generation and Forgotten Australians
- Indigenous cultural competence – an ability to recognise, and appreciate the values, traditions, belief systems, and experience of our First Nations People that may be markedly different from ones own
- Understand and appreciate our trauma informed work
- Demonstrate an active and dedicated commitment to knowmore’s Purpose, Vision and Values
- Comply with knowmore’s Policies and Procedures.
- Observe all legal and legislative requirements.
- Ensure a high level of confidentiality and integrity.
- Assist in the development of, and participate in knowmore’s initiatives, projects and events.
- Cultivate productive and collaborative working relationships and outcomes through open and inclusive planning, continuous improvement and transparent work practices.
- Take reasonable care to protect their health and safety and the health and safety of others.
- To engage in professional supervision and other reflective practice opportunities as required.
Selection Criteria
- Experience in leading and managing teams, including motivating, supervising and supporting staff and developing, implementing and co-ordinating systems, policies, procedures and resources.
- Demonstrated ability at a high level in policy analysis, development and implementation, including the capacity to identify strategic opportunities and develop ideas, plans and responses.
- High level understanding of how legal and policy frameworks impact on knowmore’s client group and their legal and support needs.
- The capacity to quickly develop a sound understanding of specific legal issues and relevant legislation across different areas of the law and multiple jurisdictions.
- Proven research and analysis skills and the ability to apply the outcomes in the development of practical solutions and recommendations.
- High level written communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear and authoritative written submissions and reports.
- High level oral communication and negotiation skills, including the ability to build and maintain effective and collaborative working internal and external relationships to deliver project outcomes, and the demonstrated ability to represent knowmore in a range of forums, including in the media and before Parliamentary hearings.
- Highly organised and able to work independently and balance competing priorities.
- Understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and how those issues impact these peoples in engaging with legal processes and receiving services.
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice.
Qualifications and other requirements
At least five or more years’ experience in legal practice and/or research and policy work after having completed a degree in law or a similar field.
Holding a satisfactory National Police Records Check and Employment Working with Children Check.
The role will involve interstate and intrastate travel to knowmore offices and to meet with stakeholders and attend events.
Benefits
A competitive salary commensurate with the not-for-profit sector is offered together with the availability of salary packaging to achieve a tax effective total salary package. In addition to being a flexible workplace, knowmore offers 11.5% superannuation (0.5% above the SGC), a 37.5 hour working week and 4 weeks annual leave, including annual leave loading.
Employees have access to a training and development opportunities as well as our Employee Assistance Program.
Additionally, knowmore offers the ability to partially work from home to facilitate a balanced work life.
Meet Aunty Glendra
Aunty Glendra Stubbs is a Wiradjuri woman and an Elder in Residence at knowmore. She has been supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients since knowmore began in 2013. In this video, Aunty Glendra shares her story about working at knowmore and supporting her clients on their journey. Video Link: https://youtu.be/Ib4Va2apySU
How to apply
Further Information about knowmore is available at www.knowmore.org.au
If this sounds like an opportunity you would be interested, please click ‘apply now’.
Your application must include:
- A cover letter outlining why you are applying for this position
- A resume with your skills, experience and qualifications
The role will be required to satisfactorily complete a National Police Records Check and an Employment Working with Children Check.
Applications close on Sunday 30th June 2024.
Agencies please note: This recruitment assignment is being managed directly by knowmore. We do not require extra assistance at this time
