The Organisation

Westjustice is a leading community legal centre providing free services to vulnerable and disadvantaged people. From our offices in Footscray, Werribee and Sunshine and through outreach services, we provide advice on a broad range of issues including employment, discrimination, consumer disputes, tenancy, credit and debt, family disputes, family violence, criminal law and more. We operate a multidisciplinary service, providing holistic legal, financial counselling and social worker support to people in Melbourne’s west which provides a comprehensive wrap-around service for those who need support within our community.

We believe in a just and fair society where the law and its processes do not discriminate against people or cause them vulnerability. We provide free legal education, undertake law reform activities and work in partnership with their local communities to deliver projects that improve access to justice.

Westjustice’s purpose is to service the legal needs in the West in a way that addresses the systemic nature of disadvantage.

Be part of the organisation that provides high-impact services and outcomes delivering best practice services and working on systemic reform of complex, widespread issues.

Benefits & Culture

• Be a part of an organisation that 98% of our team are proud to work for
• We pay 3% above the SCHADs award
• Salary packaging
• Up to 5 hours study leave per week
• Flexible working conditions
• 17.5% annual leave loading
• Passionate, professional and dedicated team
• Gifted additional paid leave over the summer holiday period
• Strong focus on wellbeing
• Ongoing commitment to being a diverse and inclusive organisation
• With 90% of our team recommending WEstjustice as a great place to work we can provide a culture of a values driven, inclusive, feedback oriented workplace

The Role

Westjustice is seeking to employ a full-time Program Manager on an ongoing basis for its Financial Safety Team. This role will lead a team of lawyers and financial counsellors, you will be responsible for legal supervision and program management regarding civil law advice, education, and casework to women and gender-diverse people experiencing and recovering from economic and financial abuse. The client base also involves a significant cohort of recently arrived and culturally and linguistically diverse people, youth and other groups who may be experiencing disadvantage.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage, supervise, mentor and support your team to provide expert legal advice and casework.
• Lead and manage projects including monitoring, evaluating and continuously improving legal services being delivered.
• Identify opportunities to contribute to policy issues and law reform submissions.
• Coordinate and deliver legal education, information and outreach services to the community.
• Develop and maintain strong stakeholder relationships to support referral pathways.
• Work closely with pro-bono partners to scale assistance and help more people.

Applicants must be eligible to hold an unrestricted legal practising certificate in Victoria and have the proven ability to engage with and provide holistic legal assistance to at risk and/or disadvantaged clients in civil law matters, and provide guidance and leadership to other lawyers working in that space.

The Lawyer will be primarily based at our Werribee office but will be required to work at our other offices and/or clinic sites, as need arises.

Remuneration

Salary range – $118,517 - $123,468 per annum (depending on experience), plus employer funded superannuation in accordance with Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth). In addition, generous salary packaging is available (including access to Accommodation and Meal Entertainment packaging).

For more information about WEstjustice, please visit our website (www.westjustice.org.au)

Please call Joseph Nunweek, Legal Director, Economic Justice on 03 9749 7720 for a confidential discussion.

Late applications will not be considered.

The successful applicant will require a current Working with Children’s Check and a Police Check or be prepared to apply for both. A police check result does not automatically disqualify an application which in each case will be individually assessed for the relevant role. Applicants must possess the right to work in Australia.

Westjustice is committed to building a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people living with a disability, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, mature age workers and LGBTIQA+-identifying people. People with lived experience of the justice system are encouraged to apply. A police check result does not automatically disqualify an application which in each case will be individually assessed for the relevant role.

If you require any adjustments throughout the application or recruitment process please contact [email protected] using the subject line: Program Manager enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Please ensure that you let us know, in advance, of any reasonable adjustment you may require during any part of the recruitment process including application and interview by contacting Theresa via [email protected]. Any information disclosed will be held in the strictest of confidence.

A position description is attached.