The ALS

The Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT Limited (ALS) is a public company limited by guarantee and registered charity. It is primarily funded by the Australian Government Attorney-General's department and managed by an Aboriginal Board and governed by the ALS Company. The Company consists of thirty Aboriginal people from NSW and ACT and Company members are elected for three-year terms and represent their community.

The ALS is one of the largest Aboriginal legal practices delivering legal services to Aboriginal people in Australia. With over 200 staff, we provide information and referral, legal advice and court representation in criminal law, family law and care and protection law to Aboriginal men, women and children in 24 offices across urban, regional and remote NSW and ACT.

The Care and Protection/Family Law Practice provides advice, non-court assistance, duty lawyer and representation to clients in matters in the Children's Court, District Court, Supreme Court and the Administrative Decisions Tribunal. Care and Protection lawyers provide these services from metropolitan and regional offices, many of which also conduct outreach services to assist more distant clients.  

Some of the tasks you will do include:

• Attend to client inquiries and liaise with clients, their families and the community providing information as to the child protection and family law systems.
• Liaise with clients to ensure an appointment with a solicitor has been secured where appropriate.
• Assist in the recording of client information and the preparation of client statistical information.
• Assist solicitors generally in the preparation of legal representation of clients, maintain routine client liaison and ensure that clients have sufficient access to their legal representation particularly where legal advice is required and ensuring that actual legal advice concerning a particular case is only given by a qualified solicitor or barrister.
• Assist in general para-legal duties as requested.  

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander; identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander or is accepted as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander in the community in which he or she lives.
• Knowledge and understanding of issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people involved in the care and protection system and/or family law.
• In depth knowledge of support and referral services available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients involved in the Care and Protection and/or Family Law systems.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Self-motivated with ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Microsoft Suite computer skills.
• Current NSW/ACT driver’s license.
• Valid Working With Children Check or the capacity to obtain one.

This is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Identified position.

For more information, please contact Ms Brittany Tilden, Regional Administration Coordinator:

Phone: 02 8836 3444
Email: [email protected] using the subject line: Field Officer - Care and Protection / Family Law enquiry via EthicalJobs.

An application package is attached.