• Full time ongoing position with career progression 

• Salary range: $98,902 - $123,624 plus super plus salary packaging  

• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging and hybrid WFH & office model 

About the role

Our Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) team is a non-legal advocacy program that is staffed and led by professionals with mental health consumer experience and/or backgrounds in community development, consumer advocacy, mental health advocacy, community sector advocacy, social work, mental health service provision or other similar fields.   

You will provide advocacy services in complex matters and empower your consumers to know and exercise their rights within the mental health system, allowing them to participate in decisions relating to their own assessment, treatment and recovery.  

As a senior team member, you will provide supervision and mentoring to the team, monitor and manage caseload issues and ensure that effective debriefing practices are upheld to support the health and wellbeing of your team members. 

This role is based at our Frankston office on Bunurong Country, however regular travel to Latrobe Health services is required.

About you

As our ideal candidate, you will possess: 

• Strong communication and negotiation skills, with an ability to quickly build trust and rapport with a diverse range of consumers and internal and external stakeholders.  

• A deep understanding of the challenges impacting Victorians when accessing mental health support services, and an ability to ‘stand up' on behalf of consumers.  

• A flexible, patient and supportive approach while remaining transparent. You will be a creative problem solver with either mental health support and/or advocacy or consumer advocacy experience.  

Experience in one or more areas including: community development, consumer advocacy, mental health advocacy, community sector advocacy, social work, mental health service provision or other similar fields. If you bring mental health consumer experience, we would love to hear from you.  

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 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 of legal problems.  

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 - minimum 2 days office/designated mental health services. 

• 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) 

• Access to discounted Private Health Insurance 

How to apply 

To be considered for this role, please click Apply Now to submit your current resume and the candidate application form addressing the Key Selection Criteria (listed with the attached forms) 

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 using the subject line: Senior Advocate - Independent Mental Health Advocacy enquiry via EthicalJobs.  

For further information, please review the attached position description or contact Jenny Bretnall, Manager - IMHA (03) 9093 3701 or email [email protected] using the subject line: Senior Advocate - Independent Mental Health Advocacy enquiry via EthicalJobs. 

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.