WHAT WE DO

Inner Melbourne Community Legal (IMCL) is widely known as one of Victoria’s leading, innovative community legal centres. We advance social justice to achieve our vision of a future where systemic injustice are recognised and remedied. We contribute to achieving this by building fairness and wellbeing in our local community through the legal system. We do so by delivering specialised legal services, building strategic community and integrated partnerships and advocating for change to reduce the impact of unfair laws and policies.

Since merging with Flemington Kensington Community Legal Centre in 2022, we have been assisting the most vulnerable people who live in or engage with services in the Melbourne CBD, North Melbourne, Carlton, Parkville, Docklands, West Melbourne, Flemington and Kensington.

We are a passionate and dedicated team of expert community lawyers, administrative and project staff supported by committed volunteers and pro bono corporate partners. Funded by government, community and philanthropic grants and donations, IMCL is proud to work in close partnership with other community organisations (such as hospitals and homelessness support services) to identify areas of systemic injustice, providing integrated legal help to the most disadvantaged members of the community.

The Role

Inner Melbourne Community Legal is seeking new board members who have a strong sense of social justice and believe in the importance of accessible legal services for all members of the community. We are passionate about the communities and clients we support and see the work we do as part of a broader movement for justice and equality.

The role of the board is to govern IMCL in such a way that it is able to pursue its purpose successfully and ensure it is compliant with the constitution and relevant law.

The board is responsible for and has the authority to determine all matters relating to the policies, practices, administration and operations of IMCL. This includes ensuring good corporate governance, determining and approving strategies, providing guidance and oversight to management, approving operating budgets and approving major expenditure, as well as implementing, monitoring and reviewing systems of risk management and ethical and legal compliance.

We seek board members with experience and/or formal training in board governance. The following skills and experience are also highly desirable:

• Connection to the local communities across the City of Melbourne and Kensington
• Community sector experience in social housing, community health, homelessness, family violence, police oversight and/or related sectors
• Governance issues and practices
• Strategic planning
• Legal practice experience
• Human Resources/Employment Law/Industrial Relations experience
• Communications/Media/Fundraising
• Government engagement and advocacy
• Lived and living experience relevant to IMCL’s client groups and local communities
• Accounting and financial management

Inner Melbourne Community Legal is a diverse and inclusive organisation and encourages applicants from all backgrounds to apply for this opportunity, including those who are First Nations, LGBTIQA+, under 30, and those from diverse cultural and faith backgrounds.

TIME REQUIRED

Approximately 10 hours per month.

Next steps

Click Apply Now to submit your application. 

The board will review applications in accordance with (but not limited to) the matters outlined below and may endorse a candidate for election by members:

1. the board composition and size, including diversity and skills matrix
2. the skills, experience, expertise and personal qualities that will best complement board effectiveness;
3. the capability of the candidate to devote necessary time and commitment to the role;
4. potential conflicts of interest; and
5. any suitability requirements such as satisfying itself that the candidate is not disqualified from managing a corporation.

For further details concerning this role, please contact Gail Guest at [email protected] using the subject line: Board Members (Voluntary) enquiry via EthicalJobs or call 03 93281885.

A position description is attached.