• Full-time maximum term position up to June 2027
• Salary range: $98,902 - $123,624 (pro rata) plus super plus salary packaging
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging and hybrid WFH & office model

About the role

Join a unique and innovative service supporting clients involved in the child protection system. Established in 2018, VLA's Independent Family Advocacy and Support (IFAS) provides non-legal advocacy to parents involved in the early (pre-court) stages of child protection. IFAS has a particular focus on supporting First Nations families, parents with an intellectual disability, and families from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

This full-time role will make a significant impact through supervising and supporting a small team of advocates to deliver high quality advocacy services. The role also involves some direct service delivery with clients navigating the child protection system.

The Senior Advocate will play a key role in the expansion of the IFAS services across metropolitan Melbourne. This will involve working closely with the IFAS manager to build and maintain strong relationships with VLA colleagues and agencies in the child protection and family services system, to raise awareness of IFAS and establish referral pathways for clients.

This role is based at our Melbourne CBD office on Wurundjeri Country and will involve travel across metropolitan Melbourne.

About you

As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• Extensive experience in the provision of advocacy services in community services, social work or other similar sectors.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise, mentor and train staff to develop their advocacy skills, deliver effective services to clients and manage their workload.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the child protection and child and family services systems and the challenges experienced by families involved with child protection.
• Commitment to working in a representational (client-led) advocacy model, and to working closely with people with lived experience in the delivery and continuous improvement of services.

We welcome applications from people with lived experience of the child protection system.

Don't meet every requirement? At VLA, we understand that your work and life experiences can be just as valuable. If you're excited about this role but your CV doesn't align perfectly with our job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or one of our many other opportunities.

About Victoria Legal Aid

We provide legal representation and non-legal advocacy services to those who need it most. With over 1300 staff employed in 16 offices across Victoria, we help people with their legal problems by providing information, advice and education with a focus on the prevention and early resolution.  

Our clients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds and foster a work culture that's inclusive as well as diverse. Your unique ideas and perspectives are valued so that we best represent the people we serve.

Employee benefits

• Focus on work-life balance including flexible working arrangements
• Hybrid work from home & office model
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Excellent salary packaging options including General Expenses up to $15,900, Meals & Entertainment up to $2,650 and Novated Leasing
• Opportunity to join Myki Commuter Club (and salary package the cost)
• Supportive team environment in modern offices (including free gym and end-of-trip facilities at our CBD office)
• Access to discounted Private Health Insurance

How to apply

To be considered for this role, please submit your current resume and a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process or need an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our team via [email protected] using the subject line: Senior Advocate, Independent Family Advocacy and Support enquiry via EthicalJobs.

For further information, please review the attached position description or contact Robyn Buchanan, Manager - IFAS on (03) 9093 3752 or [email protected].

No agency applications will be accepted.

Other relevant information

It is a requirement that staff attend for office-based days at their primary work location. In line with this requirement, interstate applications will be considered only where the candidate is able and willing to relocate to Victoria, unless part of a border community.

VLA is committed to putting the safety and wellbeing of children first.

A position description is attached.