About Disability Justice Australia Inc (DJA)

DJA is a well-known Not for Profit national organisation with its office in Melbourne and is registered with ASIC under Commonwealth Corporations Law. It reports annually to the Australian Charities Not for Profit Commission (ACNC).  

We advocate for people with continuing needs associated with disability.  Our service is a mobile outreach one; that is, we travel to meet our clients, they rarely ever come to our office. We specialise in legal advocacy.

Our services are funded by the Commonwealth Government Department of Social Services (DSS) to provide disability advocacy, and NDIS Appeals for Participants. 

DJA is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity and supports diversity and inclusion at all levels of our organisation. You must be over 18 and an Australian citizen or permanent resident and agree to become a member of DJA to apply for this role. (Membership is free)

We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders with disability to apply.   

The Role

Casual vacancy positions on the Board that were not filled at the last AGM have arisen for persons with disability to join the Board at a time of strategic realignment, including the creation of a new 5 year Strategic Plan and overseeing the updating of key policy & procedural documents.  As a result, we are looking to maintain and further enhance the mix of skills and diversity within the Board.

A Position Description is attached.

As a Board member, you will join a team responsible for the governance of DJA and overseeing the creation and subsequent implementation of our Strategic Plan. You will assist in ensuring our statutory and legal obligations are met, approving, and monitoring the annual budget and monitoring the performance of the organisationand CEO. This position is a unique opportunity for you to make a valuable contribution to the governance of DJA.

The person we are looking for will have all or many of the following skills, ​knowledge, and experience: 

Desirable

• Experience in governance at board level or as a member of a Committee of Management
• Governance related risk management and compliance experience
• Long-term strategic planning and goal setting capabilities
• Accounting and financial management expertise
• Experience in the disability advocacy sector
• Understanding of or experience working with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
• Human resources management – understanding the obligations of a board member and how to support operations.
• Knowledge of the relevant federal government legislation including
  • Disability Services Act  1986
  • Privacy Act 1988
  • Disability Discrimination Act 1992

“Nice to have”

• Understanding of federal government, policy making and legislative processes
• Understanding of relevant state government, policy making and legislative processes
• Fundraising, grant writing, sales and product or services branding
• Media training or experience in working with the media
• Strategic Relationships experience with mergers, partnerships, MOU’s, and acquisitions 

Meetings 

Board meetings are held for 1.5 hours on the 3rd Thursday of each month from 5.30-7.00 pm (except January) using Microsoft Teams. This is a voluntary role, but all expenses incurred in the role are paid for or reimbursed by DJA.

Child safety and protection of people with disability

DJA is committed to child safety. We also have zero tolerance for violence, abuse, neglect, or exploitation of people with disability of any age. Applicants should notethat we will carry out working with children, police records and reference checks at our expense for the successful Applicants. 

Need more information?

Go to our website at www.dja.org.au. 

If you have any questions, please contact Trevor Carroll, CEO preferably  by email at [email protected] using the subject line: Board Members (Voluntary) - Lived Experience as a Person with Disability enquiry via EthicalJobs, or SMS to 0418 513 304 for follow up by video conference citing your interest in this Board position in the subject line. 

Notice to Applicants

Please click 'Apply Now' to submit your application.