Western Sydney Community Legal Centre

Western Sydney Community Legal Centre (WSCLC) operates from a number of locations in Western Sydney including Parramatta, Harris Park, Rooty Hill and Windsor. The Centre was formed to improve the delivery of free legal services to people who have the greatest legal and community needs. In addition to a generalist legal practice, the Centre has programs that deliver tenancy advice, support for those experiencing domestic violence, court assistance for young people, and assistance for Aboriginal people in accessing the justice system.

The client catchment area includes all or part of the Local Government areas of Auburn, Penrith, the Hills Shire, Ryde, Strathfield, Hornsby, Hawkesbury, Holroyd, Parramatta and Blacktown.

Purpose of the Position

Western Sydney Community Legal Centre’s Tenants’ Advice and Advocacy Program (TAAP) known as Western Sydney Tenants’ Service (WESTS) provides information, support and advocacy for tenants in the WESTS region, including representation in relevant Tribunals when necessary.

Accountability

The Tenants’ Advocate of WESTS is employed by WSCLC and is accountable to the Coordinator on a day-to-day basis.

About the Role

Location: Parramatta Head Office and Penrith Outreach Office.

Duration: Full time, 35 hours per week. Immediate start until 30 June 2022 with the possibility of extension, subject to funding.

Remuneration: Social, Community, Home Care & Disability Services (SCHCADS) Industry Award 2010; Level 5.

Key Responsibilities

1. Advice and casework assistance to tenants,
2. Files, data entry and reporting
3. Liaison and external relationships
4. Policy and Law reform
5. Community Education Sessions
6. General duties
7. Tribunal duty advocacy
8. Comply with all WSCLC policies

Work Performed

Advice and casework

• Provide telephone and face-to-face advice and referrals.
• As directed to take incoming calls, telephone messages, email and provide a reception service for other TAAP team members.
• Maintain knowledge of relevant, applicable legislation such as the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW), Residential (Land Lease) Communities Act 2013 (NSW), Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013(NSW), Boarding Houses Act 2013(NSW), relevant Social Housing Policies and all other relevant policies and legislation.
• Advocate on behalf of clients e.g. with landlords, real estate agents, and other agencies.
• Provide information and referrals to other services as necessary.
• Maintain confidentiality of client work in accordance with WSCLC policy.
• Organise interpreters as required.
• Represent clients in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT), including preparation of the evidence, written submissions, conciliation and complete carriage of clients’ cases in formal hearings of the Tribunal.
• Support and resource clients to represent themselves at NCAT
• Provide duty advocacy services at NCAT.
• Provide guidance and assistance to IRO and volunteers when required.

Files, data entry and reporting

• Open and maintain clients files in accordance with Western Sydney Tenants’ Service file handling practices.
• Enter client information daily into CDS and other relevant databases.
• Conduct conflict checks.

Liaison and external relationships

• Work cooperatively with other organisations and services in the area to ensure the best outcomes for clients.
• Develop and maintain strategic links with external bodies relevant to the service.
• Attend TAAP Network meetings and other relevant conferences and forums as required.

Policy and law reform

• Contribute to policy and law reform.

Community Education Sessions

• Assist staff to develop and deliver community education sessions.
• As directed, to promote Western Sydney Tenants’ Service through the attendance of community engagements.

General Duties

• Adopt and promote the philosophy, constitution and programs of Western Sydney Community Legal Centre
• Participate with other staff in the day to day running of Western Sydney Community Legal Centre, under the direction of the Coordinator.
• Participate in staff development and training activities relevant to Western Sydney Community Legal Centre and Western Sydney Tenants’ Service.
• Identify and participate in training to assist and improve service delivery.
• Maintain an awareness of and apply Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) guidelines where necessary.
• Attend staff meetings.
• Participate in regular casework meetings, group and individual supervision.

Tribunal duty advocacy

• Provide advocacy on behalf of the client at NCAT as required.
• Represent clients at NCAT, including preparation of evidence, written submissions, conciliation and complete carriage of clients’ cases in formal hearings of the Tribunal as required

Comply with all WSCLC policies

• Comply with all WSCLC policies.
• Comply with all Funding Guidance policies.
• Comply with all relevant legislation.

Selection Criteria

Essential Skills and Experience

The following are essential criteria that the candidate must satisfy in order to perform the role:

• Demonstrated experience in advocacy, mediation and negotiation
• Experience working in tenancy, housing, community legal sector or other community organisation.
• Knowledge of and commitment to the rights of tenants and other vulnerable renters in NSW.
• Demonstrated high level oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of team, to take initiative and accept responsibility.
• Experience working with, and an understanding of, the needs of people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people from Aboriginal and Torres Straight Island, people with disabilities or other groups who face disadvantage in access to legal or other services.
• A strong commitment to social justice.

Desirable

• Demonstrated experience in the provision of advice and representation in a legal or non-legal setting.
• Demonstrated experience in supervising staff.
• Demonstrated understanding of the needs of people within Western Sydney demographics.

If you have any questions, please email to [email protected], using the subject line: Tenants' Advocate enquiry via EthicalJobs.