• Position Title: Regional DFSV Collaborator
• Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer (TEWLS); Director of Nursing (NT Health)
• Classification: A05 – A06 (base level SCHADS Level 4 – 5 – $88,297.00 - $107,721.00), plus 11.5% superannuation
• Position basis: Full-time or 0.8 FTE preferred
• Duration: Fixed Term to 30 June 2026

ABOUT TEWLS

The Top End Women’s Legal Service (‘TEWLS’) is a not-for-profit, specialist women’s legal service focused on the advancement of women’s rights. We provide integrated, holistic, trauma-informed, and culturally secure free legal and support services to women and non-binary people living in the Top End of the Northern Territory (primarily, the Greater Darwin region). We are an accredited community legal centre and a member of Women’s Legal Services Australia.

TEWLS provides legal and support services in the areas of family, migration and civil law, with specific expertise held in respect of domestic, family and sexual violence (‘DFSV’). As a specialist DFSV legal service, our multidisciplinary team provides legal advice, casework and representation (litigation), legal information and referral, and wraparound support services to our clients, with expertise in assisting clients with intersectional vulnerabilities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, culturally and linguistically diverse women, migrant women, women experiencing DFSV, women with a disability, and women experiencing financial disadvantage. Our client-centred practice model maintains a significant DFSV and family law legal practice, as well as migration law and an extensive civil law practice including in areas of tenancy and public housing, discrimination, sexual harassment, consumer law, complaints, child protection, and employment law.

TEWLS also provides community legal education and input on law and policy development to build government and community capacity to work towards deeper legal and cultural change to redress power imbalances and address violence and gender inequality.

In 2024, TEWLS partnered with NT Health for a two-year grant to deliver workforce capacity building to Top End Region hospital and health centres on culturally safe responses to DFSV.

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the supervision of the TEWLS Chief Executive Officer and NT Health Director of Nursing, the Regional DFSV Collaborator will work to achieve objectives as follows:

• Support the implementation of the NT Health Clinical Guidelines for culturally safe DFSV practice (the “DFSV Clinical Guideline”), including through co-location at Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospital sites.
• Build the capacity of NT Health DFSV interventions by delivering side-by-side training with NT Health subject matter experts and supporting NT Health staff, including, but not limited to, Doctors, Nurses, Midwives, Aboriginal Liaison and Aboriginal Health Practitioners, Allied Health and translator staff.
• Provide guidance and support to embed the principles underpinning the Northern Territory Government Risk Assessment and Management Framework (“RAMF”) into health practice at Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospitals.
• Support Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospitals to improve patient transitions in and out of hospital, including through strengthening NT Health referral pathways and processes
• Provide mentoring, guidance, and support to the East Arnhem and Big Rivers Regional DFSV Collaborators to ensure the quality and consistency of training and capacity building for the Top End region.

The Regional DFSV Collaborator will co-deliver training and education focusing on the identification of DFSV, the provision of culturally safe responses, connecting patients to increased support and assistance, and accurately complying with mandatory reporting obligations. Over the two-year grant, the Regional DFSV Collaborator will train NT Health staff and provide guidance and support to embed system-wide improvements to sustain practice change under the strategic direction of the NT Health Improving responses to DFSV Initiative (“the DFSV Initiative”).

The Regional DFSV Collaborator will have connectivity with TEWLS staff, including TEWLS’ Health Justice Partnership team based at Royal Darwin Hospital and TEWLS’ Client Support Practice, as well as NT Health staff.

As part of TEWLS’ growing structure, the Regional DFSV Collaborator will receive support and training to aid their development whilst working towards the service’s purpose of facilitating access to justice for women. Organisational and administrative responsibilities are also a component of this position.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Specialist DFSV knowledge, including training

• Contributing specialist DFSV knowledge to the design and co-delivery of NT Health workforce training based on the DFSV Clinical Guideline.
• Collaboration with NT Health Clinical Learning Education and Research Services (“CLEaRS”) and Clinical Excellence (“CEPS”) to support readiness preparations and implementation of the DFSV Clinical Guideline.
• Working with NT Health Clinical Champions to share practice learning and support community of practice reflection forums and bespoke training.

Culturally safe practice

• Role modelling culturally safe practice and be available to provide practice reflection and leadership to clinicians responding to DFSV, including ad hoc “walk the floor” feedback for health work units that have actioned a Regional Implementation Plan activity.
• Assisting to expand responses that meet the needs of patients from collective cultures with focus on increasing early intervention and family safety.

Coordination and scheduling

• Leading the regional coordination of staff training scheduling for prioritised NT Health staff (Top End Region).
• Promoting and facilitating access to DFSV-related communication materials, including the DFSV Clinical Guideline training, products, and communications tools to NT Health staff and external service providers.

Stakeholder engagement

• Establishing external partnerships with regional specialist providers to support improved patience transitions in and out of hospital and strengthen referral pathways.
• Participating in and being a member of the Top End Region DSSV Committee.
• Acquiring and/or maintaining strong working relationships and knowledge of stakeholder roles and services available to Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospital patients, including intersections with TEWLS clients.
• Collaborating with both TEWLS and NT Health staff to contribute to fit-for-purpose information and training for the Top End Region regarding DFSV.

Data, reporting, and evaluation

• Tracking and reporting regional implementation effort including progress on external partnerships, work unit readiness activities, and Regional Implementation Plans.
• Participating in evaluation activities, including facilitating staff participation in CEPS monitoring and continuous quality improvement activities, as well as evaluation data collection activities, and appropriate consumer consultation.

Quality and consistency

• Working with Gove District Hospital and the East Arnhem Regional DFSV Collaborator, as well as the Katherine Distract Hospital and the Big Rivers Regional DFSV Collaborator, to ensure the quality and consistency of training and capacity building for the Top End Region.
• Providing mentoring and support to the East Arnhem and Big Rivers Regional DFSV Collaborators, respectively, in coordinating and delivering staff training.
• Providing guidance and support to establish external partnerships for the East Arnhem and Katherine regions.
• Collaborating with CEPS team to monitor continuous quality improvement activities.

Organisational responsibilities

• Attending regular TEWLS staff meetings and planning day sessions as required.
• Undertaking ongoing professional development in accordance with TEWLS’ policies and procedures, and in consultation with allocated supervisor/s.
• Participating in regular performance discussions and development reviews.
• Ensuring compliance with TEWLS’ policies and procedures.
• Undertaking personal administrative duties within TEWLS as required.
• Such other projects, activities and duties that may be determined in collaboration with the TEWLS Chief Executive Officer and NT Health Director of Nursing.

REQUIREMENTS

A Bachelor degree in a relevant Allied Health discipline or social services or law and/or substantial experience working within the DFSV sector.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential:

• Post-graduate experience in providing contemporary and advanced clinical services responding to DFSV.
• Demonstrated and comprehensive understanding of culturally safe practice, including Aboriginal culture.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate clinical education and training activities.
• Demonstrated understanding of DFSV violence through a gendered violence lens.
• An understanding of legal issues facing women and non-binary persons in the Northern Territory, including barriers to justice, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) persons, migrant persons, and persons experiencing DFSV.
• Experience as an adult educator and/or facilitator with excellent public speaking skills, as well as high level verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability and/or capacity to communicate sensitively and effectively with a wide range of stakeholders in a confident and respectful manner including culturally and linguistically diverse persons, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons.
• Ability to perform and interact as an efficient and productive team member and use initiative whilst under the supervision of the TEWLS Chief Executive Officer, with experience working within a multidisciplinary environment.
• Proven initiative and organisational abilities, including time management skills and the ability to prioritise.
• Commitment to professional and personal development, and willingness to develop further professional skills relevant to the workplace.
• Ability to deal with confidential and sensitive issues with discretion and integrity.
• Holder of a current open driver’s licence.
• Aptitude in using Microsoft computers and Microsoft Office programs (such as Word and Excel) necessary to complete required tasks, and a willingness to perform administrative duties, as required.
• Ability to provide and/or obtain a Northern Territory Ochre Card.

Desirable:

• Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAA40104 or TAE40110) or equivalent, and/or degree.
• Post-graduate qualifications or experience in clinical education, leadership/management, or speciality DFSV practice.
• Familiarity with and/or experience implementing the RAMF.
• Experience delivering training to the health sector.
• Experience working in a DFSV specialist service.
• Demonstrated understanding of the health service and legal sectors.
• Demonstrated language skills other than English will be highly regarded

to apply

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact Rachael Hillier, Office Manager by phone on (08) 8982 3000 or email to [email protected] using the subject line: Regional DFSV Collaborator enquiry via EthicalJobs.

TEWLS is committed to working together to achieve a more inclusive community. Our workplace strives to be one that embraces and celebrates diversity and the wide range of skills, expertise and experience we can all bring to strengthen our dynamic, collaborative and responsive environment.

TEWLS encourages people from all backgrounds to apply, particularly those that identify as part of LGBTIQA+ community, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, and people with disabilities.