• Work Type: Full time (38 hours per week), 12-month fixed term contract
• Classification: Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 – Social and Community Services Employee, Level 6
• Total Remuneration: $106,389.92 - $111,092.80 per year (pro rata where applicable), plus 11.5% Superannuation, 17.5% leave loading, with the option to salary sacrifice up to $15,900 to increase your take home pay
• Location: 338 Turbot Street, Spring Hill, Brisbane. 66 Bowen Street, Spring Hill, Brisbane.

About QDN

QDN has been making a difference to the lives of people with disability for over 20 years. We are a human rights based, membership representative body of over 2500 people with a disability and their supporters. Our vision is that people with disability are active and valued citizens of Queensland. Our mission is to empower people with disability to be fully included as citizens in the social and economic life of the community. Our motto is ‘Nothing about us, Without us’.

QDN’s work is centred around a strong state-wide network of people with disability across Queensland, to inform, connect, lead, and influence change to deliver an inclusive Queensland community.

QDN is the peak body for people with disability and is also the executive peak organisation that provides the state coordination of peak bodies in Queensland.

About the role

QDN actively works to influence change around key issues of inclusion for people with disability and their communities. To do this effectively, this role leads on delivering the qualitative and quantitative evidence required to underpin QDN’s policy and systemic big picture advocacy work. This is a hands-on role actively engaging with people with disability and your work will have considerable impact. You can expect to be consulting with our members on a wide range of issues to inform our policy statements and positions based on the best available research, producing accessible and inclusive information based upon reports, data, legislation and developing key strategic pieces such as budget and election statements.

What will you bring to the role?

• High level of knowledge and awareness of issues, policy and legislation that is important in the lives of people with disability
• High level analytical skills
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically; using data to drive policy positions or activities to influence change
• Excellent writing skills: the ability to turn complex information into succinct, easy-to-understand and engaging material; and the knowledge and experience to produce high quality literature reviews.
• The successful applicant will work closely with members of the leadership team and have supervisory responsibility for staff in policy team and work effectively with colleagues in other teams across the Organisation.
• The ability to co-ordinate under the direction of the Manager – Policy, the workflow for the policy team, and exercise appropriate initiative and judgement to solve problems and seek guidance where appropriate
• Demonstrated supervisory skills
• Effective engagements skills across a broad range of consumer, community and government stakeholders; with engagement experience in the disability, health or human services areas that enable you to build relationships and communicate with influence
• Experience working with Microsoft 365 and other software applications
• The ability to comply with relevant State and Commonwealth legislation and frameworks including Work Health and Safety requirements, QDN’s processes, NDIS Quality and Safeguards and Queensland Human Rights Act.
• We deeply value lived experience. People with disability, or family connections of people with disability are strongly encouraged to apply.

What will you do in the role?

1. Undertake effective engagement with people with disability, families/carers and other key stakeholders to inform QDN’s policy work and activities.
2. Undertake complex independent analysis, anticipate and identify policy issues, and report on trends across multiple intersecting content or thematic areas to provide the evidence and knowledge base that will inform our policy and advocacy agenda with a key focus on diverse issues impacting people with disability.
3. Produce content for and provide expert advice on QDN’s policy work, including media statements, briefings, reports, submissions, presentations, newsletters, website content, publications, communication material and other sources of information.
4. Establish and maintain strong and effective working relationships with relevant government, private and not-for-profit organisations, to influence state and national policy and represent the position and views of QDN to all relevant internal and external stakeholders in a way that enhances the reputation of the organisation.
5. Lead QDN’s work as the executive peak to deliver our contractual obligations as outlined in the workplan.
6. Lead the day-to-day functions of the policy team including prioritising workflow and staff supervision.
7. Lead on member engagement strategies to inform policy and harvest key themes, such as the design, delivery and evaluation of workshops and events, both in person and virtually.
8. Participate actively in QDN culture of a safe and inclusive work environment.
9. Other duties as directed by your line manager.

What can you expect from working at QDN?

QDN has a rich history as a unique and diverse disability membership organisation. Every day you’ll have the opportunity to learn from and work alongside people with disability to work together towards creating a more inclusive community.

We are a small, supportive, and friendly team with strong belief in human rights and working to make change happen. We are a supportive organisation and we want you to grow and develop whilst working here.

Key Relationships

Under the supervision and direction of the Manager – Policy, this position, works as part of a team where interdependencies and collaboration with colleagues, QDN members and internal and external stakeholders are critical to the successful delivery of research and advocacy. The position has one direct report.

Key Job Requirements

• Relevant tertiary qualifications (or demonstrated equivalent experience) or relevant experience in the areas of disability, human services and/or policy experience would be highly desirable.
• Some screening and/or licences are required to fulfil the role as per the list below:
• Positive Exemption Notice (Yellow Card) - Essential
• Police Check - Essential
• Drivers Licence - Desirable

A position description is attached.