- Full time maximum term position up to 30 June 2024
- Salary based on experience, range: $119,990 - $152,713 plus super
- Attractive employee benefits including salary packaging
This role is responsible for managing the Independent Family Advocacy and Support (IFAS) service, which provides high quality non-legal advocacy services to families in the early (pre-court) phase of child protection involvement.
Reporting to the Associate Director, Child Protection, this Manager role will be based at the Melbourne Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) office and will lead a team comprising Advocates, a Senior Advocate and Lived Experience consultant across the Melbourne, Bendigo, Ballarat and Dandenong offices. You will build the team's capability to deliver high quality advocacy services, provide supervision and debriefing as required, and support continuous improvement of the service, including through the ongoing integration of lived experience into the IFAS service.
The Manager will develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and work collaboratively with colleagues in the Child Protection program to identify and advocate in relation to issues impacting upon clients involved in the child protection system as well as facilitate the ongoing integration of lived experience into IFAS.
For more information on IFAS, visit:
About you:
As our ideal candidate, you will possess:
- Leadership experience in the provision of advocacy services in health, community service, social work or other similar sectors.
- Experience in service design, implementation and evaluation.
- People management experience including a demonstrated ability to lead a high performing team, and excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Understanding of and commitment to use of a representational (client-led) advocacy model, and to work with lived experience experts to inform service design and delivery.
- Demonstrated knowledge of the child protection and child and family services systems, the legal and policy context of these systems, and the challenges experienced by families involved with child protection.
- Experience working with First Nations Australians, adults with intellectual disabilities and/or people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, particularly within the child protection system.
- A tertiary qualification in a relevant field such as social work, health, community development.
About Victoria Legal Aid:
We provide legal representation to those who need it most. With over 1000 staff employed in 15 offices across Victoria, we help people with their legal problems by providing information, advice and education with a focus on the prevention and early resolution of legal problems.
Our clients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds and foster a work culture that's inclusive as well as diverse. Your unique ideas and perspectives are valued so that we best represent the people we serve.
Employee benefits:
- Family friendly, flexible hybrid work from home & office model
- Training and professional development opportunities
- Supportive team environment in modern offices
How to apply:
To be considered for this role, please submit a current resume and completed candidate application form (listed within the file attachments).
If you require adjustment to the recruitment and selection process or need an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with .
For further information review the attached position description or contact Jackie Anders, Acting Associate Director, Child Protection on (03) 9269 0435.
No agency applications will be accepted.
Applications close by 11.59pm on Monday 13 February 2023.
Other relevant information:
VLA employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. It is also a requirement that staff attend for office-based days at their primary work location. In line with this requirement, interstate applications will be considered only where the candidate is able and willing to relocate to Victoria, unless part of a border community.
VLA is committed to putting the safety and wellbeing of children first.