WWC Australia – National Body

The South Australian Working Women's Centre (WWCSA) has recently been funded to establish the National Body of the Working Women’s Centre (WWC). The National Body, WWC Australia, is funded by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) and its functions are:

• Facilitate coordination and collaboration between working women's centres across Australia, including sharing best practice for delivering services to working women and developing shared resources such as factsheets or training resources.
• Collaborate with and provide guidance to the existing and new working women's centres to ensure consistent and recognizable branding and imagery for working women's centres;
• Lead advocacy and industry initiatives to prevent workplace sexual harassment;
• Research and analysis on systemic issues affecting working women; and
• Contribute to policy debates about working women's rights and entitlements.

The QLD, NT and SA Centres are established and the WA, NSW, VIC, TAS and ACT centres are to be established.

The successful applicant will be a feminist, have a passion for social justice, workers’ rights and focused on building and maintaining relationships.

Working Women's Centres are government funded not for profit organisations that offer the following services.

• Legal Service – WWCs provide legal advice and representation to vulnerable workers who contact the Centre with work issues through one-to-one clinic appointments.
• Advocacy – WWWs conduct advocacy to resolve systemic issues that affect women and other vulnerable workers, such as sexual harassment and precarious work. WWC advocacy programs are informed by our legal and education service.
• Education – WWCs 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.

Mission

The Advocacy and Policy Officer will be a key member of the team, contributing to advocacy initiatives, research, law reform submissions, policy debates, and collaboration among working women's centres. This role is essential in leading efforts to prevent workplace sexual harassment and addressing systemic issues affecting working women. This role requires creative and courageous leadership to help build a strong and sustainable peak for the benefit of all working women.

Employment conditions are specified in the Working Women’s Centre SA Inc Enterprise Agreement 2021 however bargaining has commenced for a new agreement.

Essential Criteria:

1. Commitment to Feminist and Social Justice Principles:

   • Demonstrated commitment to feminist principles and social justice, with a passion for advocating for workers’ rights and gender equality.

2. Experience in Advocacy and Policy Development:

   • Proven experience in advocacy, policy analysis, and development, particularly in areas related to workplace rights and gender equity.

3. Research and Analytical Skills:

   • Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to conduct thorough research on systemic issues affecting working women, analyse data, and develop evidence-based advocacy strategies.

4. Communication and Collaboration Skills:

   • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to create engaging content for various platforms, including social media, and facilitate effective collaboration and communication among diverse stakeholders.

5. Project Management and Organisational Skills:

   • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and tasks efficiently, including organising events, coordinating campaigns, and meeting deadlines in a dynamic work environment.

6. Understanding of Workplace Sexual Harassment Prevention:

   • In-depth understanding of issues related to workplace sexual harassment and the ability to design and implement initiatives aimed at preventing such harassment.

Desirable Criteria:

1. Experience with Non-profit Organisations and Community Legal Centres:

   • Experience working in or with non-profit organisations and/or Community Legal Centres, particularly those focused on women's rights and workplace issues.
2. Networking and Stakeholder Engagement:
   • Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including community leaders, policymakers, and partner organisations.

3. Digital Advocacy Proficiency:

   • Proficiency in creating and managing digital advocacy campaigns, including social media content creation and website management.

4. Knowledge of Union Partnerships:

   • Understanding of the role of unions in advocating for workers' rights and experience in establishing partnerships or collaborations with unions.

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

A position description is attached.

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 Premises is wheelchair accessible and sensory needs will be accommodated.

We encourage LGBTIQ+ applicants.

We encourage applications from survivors of gender violence.