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Campaigner

Better Renting
  • Classification: Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award. Classification 3.1 to 4.1, depending on experience. Hourly pay rate of $30.49 to $35.02 per hour.This award includes leave loading of 17.5%
  • Primary location: We are based in Canberra, ACT, and have a preference for applicants who can work from Canberra
  • Time commitment: Part Time, 0.8 FTE (30 hours). Weekly workload can be flexible according to your needs
  • Position length: Initial contract of twelve months, beginning July 2020, with opportunity for extension to 18 months total

About Better Renting

Better Renting is a community of renters working together for stable, affordable, and healthy homes. With more Australians locked out of homeownership, more of us are renting, and renting for longer. But renters are denied the rights and protections of homeowners. We can't all own a house — but we should all be able to rent a home. Renting can be a genuine alternative to homeownership — and Better Renting exists to make it happen.

Currently, Better Renting is working on a number of projects:

  • “Healthy Homes”, pushing for minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties;
  • Supporting renters through coronavirus and pushing for more government support; &
  • “Reimagine Renting”, developing a big-picture positive vision for the rental sector in Australia.

We are looking for a Campaigner to increase our capacity across all projects and to step into leading on the first two projects above. However, given the disruption due to coronavirus, the focus of the work may evolve over time.

About Healthy Homes

We are looking for a Campaigner to lead on “Healthy Homes” with the support of Better Renting’s Executive Director.

“Healthy Homes” is a Better Renting advocacy project for minimum health and safety standards for rental properties. This focuses on energy efficiency interventions to ensure that rental homes have safe indoor temperatures in summer and winter. Over the last two years, this has involved:

  • Developing and launching research reports
  • Lobbying and engagement with politicians and public servants
  • Policy research and making submissions
  • Media engagement to promote this issue
  • Using campaign tactics to put pressure on decision-makers
  • Collaborating with organisations in the ACT and elsewhere
  • Engaging with renters to document and share their experiences

In 2020, we will campaign for the introduction of strong minimum standards in the ACT. We are also active in a collaboration of organisations across Australia to help advance this issue in every state and territory, and through the Commonwealth Government.

Renting and Coronavirus

Recently, we have also begun working on issues of renting and coronavirus. This work has involved:

  • Advocating for support measures for renters, especially stopping evictions and preventing rental debt;
  • Capturing the stories and experiences of renters to understand what’s going on and develop an alternative narrative about the needs of people who rent; &
  • Growing communities of renters that we engage online, primarily through email and Facebook.

The Campaigner will coordinate this work, including collaborating with other organisations in this space.

The role will involve

Across both projects, you will be supported to use various tactics to pursue our goals. The particular choice of tactics will depend upon the strategic context. However, it is likely that the following will be involved:

  • Conducting research and developing reports. Particularly for “Healthy Homes”, we will use this to explore the issue, earn media, and build public support. You can see previous examples of our work here
  • Engaging with journalists for proactive or reactive media coverage. This includes writing media releases, pitching stories to journalists, and speaking with the media. You will also support people who rent to share their stories through the media
  • Lobbying decision-makers. You will liaise with politicians or public servants to pursue our campaign objectives
  • Stakeholder engagement. Building relationships with other individuals and organisations in order to generate new resources and demonstrate broad community support
  • Strategy and analysis. Developing an understanding of the political situation and using this to identify the key interventions for the projects to succeed
  • Managing Better Renting social media. Curating content and engaging with followers on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
  • Developing Better Renting Facebook Groups. Growing groups through recruitment and organic growth; encouraging participation and engagement within these communities

Selection criteria

We’re looking for someone who is:

  • A skilled written and verbal communicator with the ability to express themselves clearly to diverse audiences
  • Capable of independently taking ownership of projects, holding yourself accountable and prioritising work for effective outcomes
  • Proficient in stakeholder engagement, good at building organisational relationships and collaborating for mutual benefit
  • A fast learner with initiative, adaptable, willing to take risks and try new things

It is also desirable for the candidate to:

  • Be able to manage social media platforms to build an engaged community.
  • Be competent in writing media releases and engaging with journalists to earn media coverage.
  • Have practical and theoretical knowledge of political campaigning.
  • Be as comfortable doing detailed work or quick and ‘good enough’ work.
  • Be able to relate to and connect with people who rent.

We encourage you to apply even if you don’t have all of the above characteristics. A passion for the work and willingness to learn is the most important thing.

A position description is attached.

How to apply

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