Sexual Assault LegAL Service WA

We have an amazing opportunity for a lawyer to work with WLSWA and partners to deliver legal services for victim-survivors of sexual violence.

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.

Women's Legal Service WA

WLSWA is an accredited and specialist gender-specific community legal centre, providing trauma-informed services to women around Western Australia who are financially disadvantaged, prioritising assisting women who have or are experiencing family violence.

In addition to poverty and family violence, WLSWA clients live with multiple vulnerabilities and complex unmet social and legal needs that creates additional barriers to accessing justice.

WLSWA practice areas include family law, child protection and care matters, family and domestic violence and criminal injuries compensation. The specialised legal services provided by WLSWA ensure that clients access a single legal service, that is responsive to their different legal needs. Assistance is tailored to ensure continuity in support and mitigate re-traumatising clients with a high complexity of legal and social issues.

WLSWA aims to empower WA women to make informed legal choices and participate fully in legal processes that greatly impact on their lives and the lives of their children.

WLSWA also promotes and advocates for women’s human rights to be upheld and fosters legal and social change through a range of strategic activities, including community legal education and policy reform.

WLSWA provides socio-legal assistance to women in collaboration with our sector partners.

Position

WLSWA is looking for a lawyer who shares our passion for women’s education and empowerment within the legal system.

The SALSWA lawyer is a member of the SALSWA team who will deliver socio-legal assistance to women eligible for the pilot service, and which will be overseen by the Management Group, comprising Executive members of each of the partner agencies.

Taking initiative, problem solving and a ‘can do, will do’ attitude will ensure the position holder is empowered to work autonomously.

This position is funded to 30 June 2026, with potential extension.

Whilst this position is full-time, there is also provision to configure part-time arrangements between successful applicants too.

Conditions

In addition to the opportunity to join a great team, WLSWA offers flexible working arrangements, employee assistance program, targeted professional development, opportunity to salary sacrifice, and additional paid leave between Christmas and new year.

Based in the Perth office, lawyers may be required to undertake some travel around WA.

For a confidential discussion about the position, please contact senior SALSWA lawyer Olivia Tan at [email protected], using the subject line: Lawyer - Sexual Assault Legal Service enquiry via EthicalJobs, 0400 679 542.

A position description is attached.

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