• Full time, 18-month contract to end 31/12/2025
• Salary Range:  $75,000 - $85,000 per annum (35 hours per week full time) (+ salary packaging + superannuation). Part-time would be considered for the right applicant
• This is an Aboriginal / Torres Strait Islander identified position

BACKGROUND & ROLE WITHIN THE ORGANISATION

Arts Law is Australia’s independent national community legal centre for the arts.  Our purpose is to empower artists through the law. We provide free or low cost specialised legal advice, education and resources to Australian artists and arts organisations across all art forms, on a wide range of arts related legal and business matters.

Arts Law’s Artists in the Black (AITB) service delivers targeted services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, and arts and cultural organisations nationally.

The Artists in the Black Engagement Officer will be based in Victoria and will work closely with the AITB team, including the AITB Coordinator and the Director AITB Legal, to develop Arts Law’s service delivery to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and arts communities in Victoria. The AITB Engagement Officer will provide information about artists rights, fair commercial art practices, and the benefits of having a will. The AITB Engagement Officer will connect artists to Arts Law's legal advice services or other services as needed. The AITB Engagement Officer will be required to participate in developing and nurturing relationships and partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, organisations and individuals as required.

STATEMENT OF DUTIES

Community and cultural engagement:

• Promote and represent Arts Law and its Artists in the Black service to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, organisations and communities in Victoria.
• Identify needs and provide support for independent artists who sit outside of a support organisation.
• In collaboration with AITB Co-ordinator develop and deliver an AITB engagement program with Victorian First Nations’ artists and communities.
• Assist Arts Law to develop partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other arts, cultural and community organisations, government and non-government agencies (eg Creative Victoria, community legal centres) to maximise outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.

Legal Information, education and access to legal services:

• Work in cooperation with AITBC and Arts Law leadership (CEO, Head of Legal and Operations, Head of Innovation Growth and Engagement and Director AITB Legal) to ensure effective information, legal advice and community education program is provided to Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and organisations.
• Assist Head of Innovation Growth and Engagement and Director AITB Legal in the planning, preparation and delivery of education and information sessions for Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, organisations and communities including assisting in presentation of quality educational workshops for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.
• Work in collaboration with Director AITB Legal and AITB Coordinator to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and arts organisations receive timely legal advice services.

Administration and organisational responsibilities:

• Support Arts Law staff in building their capacity to engage with and understand the needs of Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including artists and their organisations.
• Prepare and maintain appropriate records and reports as required, including undertaking client feedback and data collection for the purpose of program development and program evaluation as requested.
• Be responsible for own administration and organisational tasks, including word processing.
• Assist, when appropriate, with office administrationand attend Board, committee and staff meetings as requested.
• Perform any other duties needed to assist Arts Law to meet organisational goals and deliver our mission.
• Work remotely from Victoria with Arts Law staff based in the Sydney office and other Arts Law staff who work remotely.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential:

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in dealing with the challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and/or communities, including (but not limited to) artists and arts organisations.
• Experience in working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, organisations and networks and a robust network within this sector.
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written), including presentation skills and in particular, the ability to explain complex issues in a clear and simple way.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with a diverse range of people and organisations, including artists, arts organisations, lawyers, representatives of government and community organisations.
• Well-developed administration, organisational and self-management skills, including word processing, email and other general computer skills and excellent attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a small office team, including reporting to management team and communicating effectively within that team.
• Ability to work remotely and to travel to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients and communities throughout Victoria, and to participate in the delivery of the AITB program’s outreach work.
• Ability to travel to Sydney to work in the Arts Law office, if required.
• Current Australian drivers’ licence.

Desirable:

• Understanding of Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts communities is highly desirable.
• Tertiary or other qualifications relevant to provision of Arts Law services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Understanding and appreciation of the role of community-based organisations, and, of community legal centres, in particular.