• 2024-125| Full-Time | Fixed Term till 27th June 2025| Flexible
• Directly impact Aboriginal communities by improving access to vital legal services
• Balance community engagement, legal support, and strategic partnership building
• Contribute to developing culturally safe and responsive employment law services

This is an Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander identified position which is a genuine occupational qualification and is authorised under section 14(d) of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977.

Primary Purpose of the role

This role supports the Employment Law Team under Civil Practice in engaging local communities and organisations. Team provides legal services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people facing employment issues across NSW. Services include face-to-face assistance in Sydney, Central Coast, and Newcastle/Hunter areas, plus statewide phone/video support. Team also offers legal advice on fines, debt, tenancy, and other civil law matters, with referrals as needed.

Why join the ALS team?

At the Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) you can make an impact. You will join a strong movement fighting for social justice and equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities.

Our focus is our people: the people we support and the people we employ. We offer a career you can be proud of and a place where you feel safe to be yourself. We invest in our people and appreciate the rich diversity of lived experiences, languages, and culture.
Born out of a protest movement over 50 years ago, the ALS is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation delivering high-quality, culturally safe legal and support services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in NSW and the ACT. It’s an exciting time to be joining us. We recently received additional funding to deliver a range of new programs aimed at addressing systemic issues and driving structural reforms. This is creating significant opportunities for the ALS, our staff and communities.
As well as the satisfaction of working in a job that really matters, we offer our staff benefits including:

• Not-for-profit salary packaging to reduce your tax liability and maximise take-home pay
• Annual leave loading of 17.5%
• Career and professional development opportunities
• Access to personal counselling for you and your family
• Additional paid leave of up to 6 days per year, paid parental and study leave
• Flexible work options – talk to us about how we can make this role work for you

About the role

The Community Engagement Officer is part of the Employment Law Team under Civil Practice.

The key responsibilities for Community Engagement Officer will be as below but are not limited to:

• Develop culturally safe employment law services responsive to community needs
• Build relationships with Aboriginal communities to understand and address their needs
• Raise awareness of the Employment Law Team and facilitate access to ALS services
• Foster partnerships with stakeholders to strengthen referrals and organize community legal education
• Represent ALS at community events and meetings
• Collaborate with teams to produce engagement resources and improve services
• Perform administrative tasks, adhere to ALS policies, and uphold ALS values and code of conduct
• Organise and conduct outreach in various locations across NSW including Sydney, Central Coast, Hunter and Central West regions as required

About you

KEY Competencies and Requirements

Essential

• Identify and be recognised in the community as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person
• Knowledge and appreciation of the cultural and social needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people combined with continuing respect and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural practices when considering service delivery and other support for clients, their families, communities and employees
• Demonstrated experience working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and communities in a client or community engagement focused role
• Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders
• Effective written and verbal communications skills
• Administration skills to document and record client and community interaction, answer phones, data entry etc.
• Ability to meet deadlines, work without supervision and manage a diverse workload
• Ability to adapt to change and work in a start-up environment
• Ability to travel to outreach locations as required
• Current NSW driver’s licence with the ability to travel intrastate

Desirable

• Previous experience working in an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community-based organisation; and/or

• Previous experience working in a legal practice

Pre-employment requirements:

ALS is committed to implementing safe recruitment practices. Your application may be subject to pre-employment checks such as reference checks, Working with Children (NSW) or Working with Vulnerable People (ACT) check, Right to work in Australia, COVID-19 vaccinations and National Police History check.

If you have questions about this role, please email [email protected], using the subject line: Community Engagement Officer - Civil Law Practice enquiry via EthicalJobs.