OUR ORGANISATION

We are the national representative body for a network of advocacy organisations throughout Australia.

Our vision is to provide a collective voice on the value of independent advocacy to support and promote the rights of people living with disability.

Our purpose is to strengthen and support disability advocacy organisations across Australia by:

• Promoting the role and value of independent advocacy
• Giving our members a collective voice
• Supporting communication and the sharing of information between advocacy organisations
• Providing support and development for members, staff, and volunteers of advocacy organisations
• Promoting or starting research that support our vision and purpose
• Promoting the human rights, needs and value of people with disabilities

We recognise the rich diversity of people across Australia. We are committed to ensuring that our team is reflective of the diverse community we serve and to supporting a culture of equity, inclusion and diversity. People with disability are actively encouraged to apply.

ABOUT THE SECRETARIAT

Under this initiative regarding systemic advocacy, the Coordinator will be:

• Facilitating a program for national representative organisations in the disability sector on systemic advocacy
• Playing the secretariat role for the program 
• Working with national representative organisations to establish the program, its priorities, protocols and work plan for engagement on systemic advocacy 
• Supporting national representative organisations to deliver systemic advocacy under the program
• Helping national representative organisations strategically manage their workload under the program 
• Facilitating collaboration between national representative organisations
• Providing reports on program outcomes

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Coordinator, Secretariat on National Systemic Advocacy will work with national representative organisations in the disability sector to drive and facilitate a program of work on systemic advocacy. 

The Coordinator will work closely with the Executive and the sector to establish the program, its priorities, protocols and work program.

The Coordinator reports to the CEO. 

KEY OUTCOMES

• Improved collaboration between national representative organisations under the program 
• Identified policy priorities, coordinated effort and input, and clear strategic advice to government
• Coordinated reporting to government on the outcomes of the work of national representative organisations in the disability sector

KEY ACTIVITIES 

• Maintaining a work program on behalf of national representative organisations
• Supporting and coordinating joint submissions on systemic advocacy
• Supporting appropriate representation at forums 
• Identifying and managing risks and opportunities to the group and to the work program
• Report regularly to the national representative organisations and funder on activities completed, program outcomes and upcoming activities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinating the program on behalf of representative organisations to achieve the outcomes required
• Providing progress reports to funders 
• Providing operational and other reports to the Board and CEO as required

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• Chief Executive Officer
• National representative organisations in the disability sector
• DSS

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Tertiary qualifications in a discipline which supports the duties of the position
• Extensive experience and expertise in project management 
• Extensive experience in the development of advocacy and policy processes and products 
• High level strategic thinking and problem-solving skills with the ability to analyse complex issues 
• Demonstrated ability to drive advocacy outcomes and maintain long-term relationships with government and other stakeholders
• Demonstrated high level of interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills
• Sound organisational and planning skills including the ability to prioritise work and work independently
• High level experience and expertise in monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and measuring impact

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

• Experience working in peak body or representative organisations
• Understanding of disability issues

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Employment is subject to a satisfactory National Police Check, Child Related Employment Screening Check 

DUTY STATEMENT 

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Establish the program, its priorities, protocols and work program
• Provide strategic and day-to-day management of the program
• Provide timely and quality reporting to funders in accordance with requirements 
• Act as focal point for information sharing with among national representative organisations on systemic advocacy issues 
• Develop and maintain a thorough understanding of systemic advocacy issues affecting national representative organisations
• Provide a conduit for government agencies to communicate and coordinate with national representative organisations
• Facilitate and enhance engagement of, and input from, representative organisations

COORDINATION 

• Schedule program meetings, draft agendas, invite attendees and follow up on relevant action points 
• Ensure transparent coordination mechanisms and regular information-sharing between national representative organisations, government and other stakeholders.
• Identify gaps in research and analysis that could be used by national representative organisations
• Create feedback mechanisms and open learning channels to ensure information flow
• Ensure systemic advocacy issues are shared and activities and communications are coordinated and consistent

COLLABORATION AND COMMUNICATIONS

• Work to ensure effective collaboration between national representative organisations
• Provide an accessible first point of contact for general inquiries regarding the program
• Provide information, briefings, presentations on the function and structure of the program to promote the work of DANA and the national representative organisations
• Maintain and/or develop productive relationships with key individuals in DSS, other relevant government agencies, civil society, NGOs and industry

FINANCIAL

• Manage the Secretariat budget within defined limits
• Distribute additional funding for consultations that impact all national representative organisations

GENERAL

• Represent DANA in a professional manner at all times, and in accordance with our purpose and values
• Comply with all relevant WH&S requirements
• Complete required tasks – such as budget input, Operational Reports - in an effective and timely manner 
• Undertake other duties, as required