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SalaryAbout SMLS
Established in 1973, South-East Monash Legal Service (SMLS) is a community legal centre that provides free legal assistance to people in Southeast Melbourne. SMLS provides legal information, advice and case work including representation for people experiencing disadvantage on a range of legal matters, such as family law and family violence, employment law, debt and fines, civil litigation, wills, power of attorney, and tenancy.
SMLS aims to empower and support members of the community to understand and make use of the law and the legal system to protect their rights and to increase their awareness of their legal responsibilities. SMLS is a strong advocate of and committed to the use of integrated service models to address multifaceted challenges facing our community members.
SMLS is committed to advocacy and social change. SMLS is a leader in the provision of community and clinical legal education; advocacy through policy submissions and lobbying; outreach services; and targeted referral programs.
Our Vision
A fair and inclusive community where people can access the resources, networks and support they need to resolve legal issues and overcome barriers to social, cultural and economic inclusion and participation
Our Purpose
To help resolve people’s legal and interconnected issues and ensure that laws and legal processes are fair.
Our Values
Our core values are Respect, Community, Excellence and Courage.
The Project
Reproductive coercion and abuse (RCA) is emerging as a critical and under-researched form of family and intimate partner violence. RCA involves controlling and coercive behaviours that impede a person’s ability to make autonomous decisions about their reproductive healthcare and outcomes. This can involve tampering with contraceptives, pressuring someone to have or not have an abortion. Abusive behaviour can be physical, emotional, social, financial, sexual, spiritual/cultural, medical and digital.
Most of the research in this field is situated in health contexts. Recent research into the Australian legal system’s response to RCA has shown a dearth of RCA-literacy among legal professionals. Compounding this, a recent Senate Inquiry into universal reproductive health access highlights a pivotal need for further RCA research.
While health professionals have increasingly acknowledged RCA as a "huge, hidden problem," legal professionals lack a comprehensive understanding of this issue. The research project seeks to bridge this knowledge gap by exploring insights from health professionals who have a deeper awareness of RCA. By examining their experiences and perspectives, the study aims to identify effective strategies and interventions employed in the health sector to address RCA. In partnership with Melbourne University, the research project endeavours to enhance legal professionals' competency in addressing this critical issue.
Position Requirements
Essential Selection Criteria:
- Working knowledge of reproductive justice and politics or willingness to learn
- Demonstrated knowledge of family, intimate partner and gendered violence
- Bachelor’s degree in a social sciences field or 2+ years of relevant experience
- Experience and knowledge of qualitative research
- Highly skilled in data collection, interpretation, analysis and reporting
- High level communication skills both written and interpersonal
- High level stakeholder engagement skills
- Alignment with SMLS' values
Supporting Materials
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