The Working Women’s Centre SA Inc is a not-for-profit organisation and a community legal centre that provides a legal service to vulnerable working women and people. The Centre has three arms of work:

• Legal Service – we provide legal advice and representation to vulnerable workers who contact the Centre with work issues through one-to-one clinic appointments. Clients may require ongoing advice and if so we also provide advice outside of these clinic appointments. We provide a representation service and have the capacity to represent a client through to the conclusion of a hearing.
• Advocacy – we conduct advocacy to resolve systemic issues that affect women and other vulnerable workers, such as sexual harassment and precarious work. Our advocacy program is informed by our legal and education service.
• Education – we provide fee-for-service and free training for workers and employers about workplace rights, sexual harassment, responding to disclosures of domestic violence and other topics.

The Centre was established in 1979 and has been advising, supporting and advocating for vulnerable women for 42 years. The Centre provides support, advice, information, and representation to women who face issues in their employment in both federal and state jurisdictions. The Centre is also concerned with the structural inequalities for women in the workplace, and conducts outreach, community.

Employment conditions are specified in the Working Women’s Centre SA Inc Enterprise Agreement 2021 however a new enterprise agreement will be approved prior to the successful candidate commencing. We are currently in a 4-day week pilot project.

About the role

The Respect@Work Report and Recommendations, new State and Federal workplace legislation and subsequent additional funding have created opportunities to expand advocacy work. Sexual Harassment, discrimination, domestic and family violence awareness, prevention, industrial rights, and obligations will be central to the Education and Advocacy team’s work.

Advocating the case for systemic change in a broader social context, expressed through women’s experiences at work is critical to achieving improved economic and safety outcomes for vulnerable women.

With national funding of WWCs and the establishment of a national body, there is increased scope for national influence and leadership from the WWC SA. The Education and Advocacy arms will play a pivotal role in its strategy.

Funding

This position is funded by Federal and State governments.

Mission

The Advocacy Officer will be a member of the Education and Advocacy team working on:

• An advocacy service that, in partnership, identifies gaps in policy and law and takes appropriate action to improve the lives of working women.

Selection Criteria

We suggest that you respond to these selection criteria by using headings.

Experience in Campaigning and Advocacy:

• Demonstrated experience in campaigning, advocacy, policy reform, and/or community organising.
• Ability to identify gaps in laws and policies, conduct research, and create evidence-based proposals for reform.
• Ability to write law reform submissions to both local, state and federal government.

Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Building:

• Extensive experience in building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, including community leaders, policymakers, and partner organisations.
• Ability to facilitate collaboration and communication among stakeholders to support advocacy goals and represent the organisation in strategic networks and public forums.

Event Management and Volunteer Support:

• Proven track record in organising and promoting conferences, workshops, and events aimed at building the capacity of workers to advocate for equality.
• Experience in supporting and coordinating volunteers to undertake advocacy activities.Experience working with government organisations, unions, and like-minded organisations to advance advocacy goals.

Media Engagement and Digital Advocacy Skills:

• Strong skills in engaging with media platforms to promote the experiences of working women and proposals for reform.
• Proficiency in creating and managing social media and website content that aligns with organisational communication and strategic policies.

Understanding of Systems of Injustice and Strategies for Change:

• A strong understanding of systems of injustice and effective strategies for creating change.
• Demonstrated ability to actively contribute to team operational plans, meet grant funding requirements, and adhere to record-keeping and administrative duties.
• Commitment to maintaining professionalism, contributing to a positive workplace culture, and working in a safe and supportive manner while upholding organisational values such as integrity, accountability, and innovation.
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, concise, and compelling content for various audiences.

We know that sometimes the best people for the role may not fit the exact selection criteria.

We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

We encourage applications from people of colour.

We encourage applications from all cis and trans women, as well as non-binary people who are comfortable working on advocacy that focuses on the experiences of women.

We encourage applications from disabled applicants, please contact us about the accessibility of the workplace. Our new office is wheelchair accessible and sensory needs can be accommodated.

We encourage LGBTIQ+ applicants.

We encourage applications from survivors of gender violence.

We know that sometimes the best people for the role may not fit the exact selection criteria.

A position description is attached.