Sexual violence is one of the most underreported crimes in Australia. Coupled with high attrition rates, sexual violence also has one of the lowest prosecution rates. Many victim-survivors who choose to report find the process traumatic, have limited support to protect their legal rights, and rarely see perpetrators held to account.

In response, the federal government is funding three locations across Australia to provide victim-survivors with greater access to specialised and trauma-informed legal services to support their recovery and safe participation in the criminal justice system. WA is one of these locations.

The Sexual Assault Legal Service WA pilot is a partnership between Women’s Legal Service WA, Aboriginal Family Legal Services and Ruah Legal Services, all specialist community legal services.

SALSWA will deliver state-wide, integrated, culturally appropriate and trauma-informed socio-legal assistance to victims-survivors in Western Australia.

The aim of the SALSWA is for clients to understand their legal rights, make informed decisions, have better engagement with the justice system, and have improved justice outcomes. Services will be provided from as early and close to the place of disclosure as possible and tailored to meet the unique needs of each client and include legal and community services. Wherever possible, assistance will be ongoing. Services will be targeted at known points of victim-survivor disengagement or departure from the system.

As the lead agency, WLSWA will be the primary point of contact, establish an administrative services hub and provide central coordination, but there will be ‘no wrong door’ for clients.

WLSWA is the only gender specific community legal centre in WA, delivering services to women who are financially disadvantaged, and who live with multiple vulnerabilities that creates other barriers to accessing justice. AFLS is a Family Violence Prevention Legal Service, delivering specialist legal assistance and social supports to Aboriginal victims of family violence, including sexual assault. Ruah incorporates the Mental Health Law Centre and is a state-wide specialist CLC, providing legal assistance to people experiencing severe mental illness.

The SALSWA senior lawyer will be responsible for assisting with the establishment of the pilot, with directions from the Management Group, comprising Executive members of each of the partner agencies. The senior lawyer will also be responsible for overall operational coordination of the service and the delivery of socio-legal assistance to clients. In addition to being a member of the SALSWA team, the senior lawyer will join the WLSWA team and report to the WLSWA PLO for day-to-day matters. Based in the Perth office, the senior lawyer will be required to undertake some travel around regional WA.

For a confidential discussion about the position, please contact Dr Jennie Gray on 0427 017 467.

We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, culturally and / or linguistically diverse backgrounds.

A position description is attached.