• Part Time – Three days per week
• Fixed Term, until 31 December 2025
• $81,466 to $88,716 pro rata + 17% superannuation
• Occasional travel between La Trobe University campuses.

The role can be based in either La Trobe University’s Melbourne Bundoora or Bendigo campus, with hybrid options available for the successful candidate.

Interviews to take place on Friday 12 April 2024.

Enquiries about the role to [email protected] using the subject line: Advocate - Melbourne / Bendigo enquiry via EthicalJobs.

About La Trobe Student Union

La Trobe Student Union (LTSU) is the peak representative body for La Trobe University students at the Melbourne Bundoora campus. We are an independent organisation. Our representation is led by and for students and also incorporates the International Students Collective and Mature Age Students Organisation.

About the position

La Trobe Student Union Advocates champion students across La Trobe University’s six Victorian campuses. Advocates support students in dealing with La Trobe University staff on academic, wellbeing and wider personal issues. Advocates will also offer advice and guidance to students, so they are enabled, knowledgeable and confident to engage with La Trobe University.

Advocates will prioritise listening and understanding La Trobe University students’ concerns and challenges and finding solutions. This will include guiding and advising undergraduate and postgraduate students with submissions, appeals, disciplinary matters and complaints to the university.

Organisational relationships

Reports to: Student Engagement and Advocacy Manager, La Trobe Student Union

Key Internal Relationships: LTSU General Manager, LTSU Advocacy Manager and Team, LTSU Office Bearers, LTSU staff and volunteers

External Liaison: Students, La Trobe University academic and administrative staff, government, NGO and community agencies, professional bodies, trade unions, peer groups, education sector.

Position responsibilities

• To understand and champion the issues faced by La Trobe University students
• To continually update learning and awareness of the challenges and solutions for La Trobe University students
• To maintain and continually update knowledge and understanding of La Trobe University’s policies and procedures relating to students’ education and wellbeing
• To co-ordinate casework on student issues and university engagement across multiple stakeholders
• To ensure La Trobe University students facing formal university processes have access to independent, effective and appropriate means of resolution and redress
• To contribute to the advocacy service’s information programme, materials and events
• To ensure thorough and up-to-date monitoring criteria on case work and contribute to the evaluation of the LTSU’s advocacy service

Skills and experience

To be considered for this position, you will have:

• Experience as an Advocate, or professional in dispute resolution and/or, consumer or client representation in a professional environment
• Well-developed and emotionally intelligent skills demonstrable in a professional environment
• Excellent listening and empathetic skills delivered in roles in a professional environment
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to be able to advocate, negotiate, influence, mediate and develop effective workplace relationships with students, university professionals and other stakeholders
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage a complex workload, competing priorities and multiple stakeholders
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills in a professional environment

Desirable:

• Tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline; or an equivalent alternate combination of relevant knowledge, training and/or experience
• Experience advocating for students and or young people