About FPDN

First Peoples Disability Network Australia (FPDN) is a national organisation of and for Australia's First Peoples with disability, their families and communities. Our purpose is to promote respect for human rights, secure social justice, and empower First Peoples with disability to participate in Australian society on an equal basis with others.

• Contract Opportunity – 5 Months (February to June 2026)
• Potential for a permanent agreement after 30 June 2026
  

Workplace Benefits

• Employee base committed to the self-determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with disability, their families and communities
• Flexible working WFH.
• Option for Salary Packaging to increase take home pay
• Working 35 hours per week.

About the Role

FPDN is seeking a passionate and dedicated Individual Advocate to join our team on a fixed-term 5 month contract commencing immediately. There is potential for the role to transition into a permanent agreement after 30 June 2026, subject to funding and organisational needs.

This position offers a unique opportunity to work closely with First Peoples with disability, their families, and communities to promote, uphold, and defend their human, legal, and service user rights.

As an Individual Advocate, you will provide culturally safe, client-led, short to medium-term, issue-based individual advocacy, supporting people to understand and exercise their human rights. Through active listening, community engagement, and collaboration with service providers, you will help empower individuals to advocate for themselves while ensuring their will and preference are at the centre of all advocacy efforts.

Key responsibilities include:

• Primarily focused on supporting individual advocacy for specific issues that upholds the rights of Aboriginal people living with disability by working on discrimination, abuse and neglect and to uphold the rights of Aboriginal people living with disability.
• Conducting intake assessments.
• Identify and highlight systemic issues.
• Providing accurate information and referrals.
• Supporting clients in meetings and complaint processes.
• Build and maintain meaningful partnerships with other agencies.

This role is based in NSW and will require travel across NSW. Location can be flexible depending on the right candidate.

About You

To succeed in this role, you will be a compassionate, culturally aware individual with a deep commitment to social justice and the rights of First Peoples with disability. FPDN strongly encourages Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people to apply.

Australian work rights are required at the time of application.

You will bring:

• Experience in providing individual advocacy or support services, ideally within the disability, legal, health, or community sectors.
• 1-2 years of individual advocacy experience is required.
• A strong understanding of the human rights framework, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage respectfully and effectively with First Peoples with disability, their families, and communities.
• The ability to manage boundaries, navigate complex situations, and develop collaborative solutions with other providers to meet the needs of clients.
• Strong organisational and record-keeping skills, with experience maintaining accurate client information and tracking advocacy actions.
• A commitment to culturally safe practices, continuous learning, and contributing to the collective advocacy work that shapes FPDN's policy and systemic advocacy efforts.

If you are passionate about walking alongside mob to listen, learn, honour their stories, and improve the lives of First Nations people with disability, we would love to hear from you. Join us in creating meaningful change and advocating for justice and equality.

Please advise if you have a current Working with Children check or Federal Police Check.

If you are available to start immediately or what your notice period will be.

Applications are reviewed and progressed as they're received. Please be sure to apply ASAP if you're interested.

First Peoples Disability Network Australia is a proud employer of First Nations people with disability, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with a lived experience of disability are strongly encouraged to apply. We are an EEO employer and embrace the diversity of our people, including diversity in disability, race, cultural background, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation and intersex status.