About IDRS

Intellectual Disability Rights Service (IDRS) operates a community legal centre, disability advocacy services including support for parents with intellectual disability, those experiencing domestic family violence, and support for people with cognitive impairment in the criminal justice system. We work to ‘make rights real’ for people in NSW living with disabilities, particularly cognitive disabilities. We value and demonstrate justice, respect, and persistence in all our work.

For more information about the work of IDRS visit the website - www.idrs.org.au

About the role

This role supports IDRS to establish and maintain positive working relationships with First Nations communities and organisations across NSW. The focus is to increase awareness of IDRS services, especially to support people with cognitive impairment in the criminal justice system, to build understanding of cognitive impairment in a culturally relevant way, and to work collaboratively to support individuals and communities.

Internally, the role supports our development to ensure we focus on strategies and actions to ensure we provide culturally safe and responsive services to First Nation’s people.

• 2 year contract with option to extend dependant on funding
• Salary based on SCHADS level 6. 11.5% super + salary sacrifice tax benefits
• Option of working from Sydney or a regional location, and some hours from home.
• This position will require some travel across NSW.
• This role is an ‘Aboriginal identified role’ and as such is restricted to Aboriginal people only. This is permitted under Section 14(d) of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act 1977.

Key Responsibilities – see full position description attached below

• Build relationships with First Nations communities and community organisations relevant to IDRS work, across NSW.
• Build capacity of First Nations communities/organisations to understand and support people with cognitive impairment in the criminal justice system.
• Lead the development and implementation of an Aboriginal Employment Strategy.
• Leadership of IDRS RAP, including support to the RAP working group.
• Build capacity and skills of IDRS to ensure we provide culturally safe and responsive services to First Nation’s people.
• Contribute to IDRS communications, promotions, education/training and projects to ensure that they are culturally inclusive and communicate effectively with First Nations people. This includes delivering or co-deivering training or information sessions.
• Work collaboratively as part of the senior leadership team to support the effectiveness of IDRS.

Selection Criteria

Essential Required skills and experience:

• Experience working with, or advocating for, people with disability, particularly cognitive impairment.
• Demonstrated high level verbal and written communication skills, and ability to adjust this to a wide variety of people, for example, clients, community, legal professionals, colleagues.
• Demonstrated experience establishing positive working relationships with organisations and community, for example, government, community services, and criminal justice agencies.
• Proven experience working with and contributing to a senior team, including planning, reporting and managing projects.
• Proven skills with using Microsoft Office programs and technology.

Desirable skills and experience:

• Experience delivering training or information sessions.
• Experience working as part of a team spread across NSW.
• Qualification in disability, human services and/or relevant management qualification.

A position description is attached.