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Systemic Advocacy Advisory Board (voluntary) - Flexible Location

Disability Advocacy NSW

Want to make a difference for people with disability?

DANSW’s systemic advocacy contributes to long-term and positive change for people with disability. Unlike individual advocacy that works on behalf of a person, systemic advocacy looks at addressing issues that impact large groups of people. It does this by challenging and working toward changing social systems, such as policy, service practices and legislation that disadvantage people with disability.

To do this work effectively, we need to work with, and be, guided by people with disability – the very people whom we wish to represent.

We are looking for people with disability and/or their families to join our new systemic advisory board to help us pave the way. If you have an interest in working towards long-term change for people with disability, then this may be a great opportunity for you.

Is systemic advocacy a good fit for you?

Systemic advocacy at DANSW would ideally suit people who have:

  • An interest in shaping policy
  • A ‘big picture’ perspective
  • Knowledge of current issues affecting people with disability
  • An understanding of the political landscape (but not essential).
  • Experience and/or an understanding of regional and rural issues.
  • A passion for disability justice, rights, and inclusion.

This will allow you to contribute to your role as an advisor, which will include essential duties such as:

  • Providing feedback and guidance on systemic advocacy projects.
  • Attend quarterly meetings every three months, virtually and/or in person.
  • Participate/attend DANSW and/or ALA annual conference.
  • Regularly participate in online discussions (via teams and email)

There will also be opportunities to participate in optional tasks and duties, depending on your interests and skillset, which include:

  • Assisting in research development including research design, data collection and analysis.
  • Reviewing reports and submissions.

How many hours per week will it involve?

Your contribution to this role can be flexible ranging from anything between 5 – 30 hours per year. We will meet to review projects every 3-months in one-hour meetings. In between these meetings we communicate online via email and Microsoft Teams. There is also an optional annual DANSW and/or ALA conference that you are invited to attend (transport and accommodation is provided).

Your participation in projects and events on top of these quarterly meetings is dependent on your needs and circumstances. You will work with the policy officer to establish your contribution at the start of your role, but this is not locked in - it can be flexible as we understand that your needs and circumstances can change.

This will then be reviewed annually alongside a peer assessment of the advisory board team.

Working for an NGO

Being part of a not-for-profit advisory board might seem like a daunting task, especially when it is not a paid position. The basic requirements for being a board member is common sense and having a good sense of ethics and social justice.

The key responsibilities of the advisory board are to help set the direction for the DANSW’s systemic advocacy work, to monitor its performance and to maintain oversight, ensuring that it stays on track according to agreed priorities and planned activities.

What’s in it for you?

“Personal satisfaction” is the phrase that most commonly crops up when various Australian leaders and community organisation Board members are asked to articulate their experiences. Most agree that while outsiders may see their contribution as selfless, the benefits derived from the experience usually outweigh the sacrifices.

Making a difference. There can be few more satisfying experiences than being able to see your goals and vision – and those of the organisation you are representing – come to fruition in the form of successfully completed projects. Contributing to the achievement of something you really believe in brings a form of satisfaction that is unlikely to be equalled in other areas of your professional life. Recognising that you are making a significant difference to people’s lives and contributing to the betterment of the community is a fine reward indeed.

Gaining new knowledge. Becoming involved in a community organisation can open up whole new areas of interest, resulting in a greatly expanded appreciation for how community organisations are run and of the specific sector in which the organisation is operating. As a wise person once said, no knowledge is ever wasted.

Gaining new skills. Negotiating challenges of systemic advocacy, which involves dealing with big picture issues around policy, social disadvantage and entrenched inequality, can pose challenges quite distinct to individual advocacy. Learning how to approach these challenges can allow Board members to develop a highly useful set of skills.

Expanding your networks. Most often people are invited to sit on a Board because of their particular skills or attributes. Working with other Board members can allow you to benefit from their attributes. Making connections through the development of relationships and friendships with other Board members can have long-lasting positive personal and professional implications.

Putting yourself in context. Often in the day-to-day grind of work and personal lives, it is easy to lose sight of what skills and expertise you actually have to offer the world. Joining the Board of a community organisation, and acknowledging your contribution to its success, can lead to a more finely tuned understanding of your own worth – and a realisation that what you have to say is just as important as anyone else.

It’s not just about the bottom line. Many Board members find a passion and commitment that is unlike the search for shareholder returns in a company boardroom. The motivation to achieve a mission rather than just increase revenues can be very inspiring.

Being inspired. Most people know the buzz that can come from being part of an effective team. Working with like-minded, dedicated people, not for material gain but for the good of the cause, is another incentive for Board members.

Being included. Participating in the community that the Board represents also presents immense rewards. It can put you in contact with people you may have not have otherwise encountered. Getting to know your stakeholders, watching them live and work and participate, can be an exhilarating as any other experience you are likely to have.

If you require support to complete this application, please use this site to locate disability employment support based on your location: https://www.jobaccess.gov.au/find-a-provider.

How to apply

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