• 3 month assignment
• Modest allowance provided

The Australian Volunteers Program is an Australian government funded initiative that has placed skilled volunteers overseas for over 60 years. Our volunteer assignments are driven by local objectives and needs of our partner organisations, located in 26 countries across Indo-Pacific.

Apply your technical skills and unique experiences to make a significant contribution to countries and communities overseas, all while working and living in Australia. Remote volunteering is flexible. Volunteer at a time and location that suits your needs while still making an impact overseas.

Support is available every step of the way, with training and resources, and advice from our in-country teams who are here to help you navigate your volunteer journey. A small allowance is provided to help with costs of working remotely. You will also join a network of thousands of current and past Australian volunteers.

ABOUT THE ASSIGNMENT

The Office of the Public Legal Service (OPLS) is a legal aid office mandated to provide free accessible quality and timely legal aid to those that are disadvantage in Kiribati. OPLS was established in 1980 as a branch of the Judiciary but in 2014 it separated and runs independently with support from Government. When the Ministry of Justice was later established in 2016 OPLS was then incorporated as one of the divisions of the Ministry. As a division of the Ministry of Justice, OPLS is responsible for providing free legal advice and court representations on all areas of the law at all levels of courts in Kiribati. Part of its mandate is to conduct non-judicial programs to raise public legal understandings on human rights and the rule of law. With a population of more than 110,000 people scattered all over 21 islands OPLS has a huge responsibility to provide free legal aid to the people across the country.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) or Mediation is a new concept in the Office. It is highly regarded as very important in the delivery of legal service that also contributes to obtaining justice between the parties. OPLS is seeking to develop the capacity of its staff in mediation, set the internal framework (policy and processes) regarding how it will be offered to the public and lobbying to set the national scale framework for its regulation and the protection of the mediators. OPLS requires the support of a remote volunteer to assist with developing informed guidelines and policies on how ADR would be best handled and implemented internally, develop capacity building materials for staff training on ADR with emphasis on analytical, problem solving and implementational skills, and strengthen professional ADR trainings and participation of OPLS staff in the mediation field in the region or overseas.

• In addition to supporting OPLS with implementing ADR/mediation practices, you will support the development of a monitoring and evaluation scheme on OPLS Strategic Plan, Divisional Plan and other plans. You will also provide support to the Director and Senior Management Team on policy matters and strengthen OPLS partnership with legal aid organisations for legal practice matters, capacity developments and other initiatives.
• To be successful for the role you will need a Bachelor of Laws, at least three years of experience in mediation services and as a practicing lawyer/solicitor with court room experience in criminal/family law.
• Gain the opportunity to support and strengthen the organisational capacity of OPLS to deliver the best practice for legal aid to the people of Kiribati.