we can offer you

• Salary and conditions are in accordance with the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010, National Employment Standards and Flat Out Inc Policy and Procedure
• 0.8 EFT 60.8 hours (8 days) per fortnight.
• SCHADS Award SACS Level 5 (pay point negotiable dependent upon experience) plus superannuation
• Salary packaging of up to $15,900.00 available.
• 5 weeks annual leave pro rata
• Flexible working arrangements including working from home as negotiated
• The position reports to the Senior Social Worker

ABOUT FLAT OUT

Flat Out is an independent, not-for-profit, community organisation that supports and advocates for women, trans and gender diverse people to get out and stay out of prison and live free from violence including state violence. We provide outreach to Victorian prisons and work with people who have experienced incarceration, homelessness, family violence, mental health and alcohol and other drug use.

We are a intersectional feminist organisation that strives to be accessible and accountable to women, trans and gender diverse people with lived experience of criminalisation and incarceration. A volunteer Board provides strategic oversight and governance. We maintain a strong voice in the prison abolition movement in Australia and work in coalitions and networks committed to creating socially and economically viable alternatives to prisons and police.

Outreach support and advocacy team

The Outreach Support & Advocacy Worker works in a small, multidisciplinary team, providing in-reach and outreach support and advocacy to women, trans, and gender diverse people in Victoria’s criminal legal system and particularly in prison. Supports include navigating systems such as; housing, family violence, mental health, drug and alcohol, family reunification, criminal legal system, and other domains identified by the person we are working with.

Core funding for Flat Out’s Outreach Support and Advocacy Program is specialist homelessness funding from the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing supplemented by public donations and philanthropic grants.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Service Delivery

• Support and advocate for access to housing, drug and alcohol treatment, community services, material aid, financial aid, legal services, counselling services, health and wellbeing, education/employment and training and other relevant services and supports. Identify and assess effective and appropriate referral pathways
• Work within legal, regulatory and funding requirements at the highest professional level, and contribute to reports for the Flat Out Board, members, stakeholders and funders.

Accountability

• Work collaboratively with Flat Out employees and external stakeholders in accordance with Flat Out’s values and professional standards of behaviour.
• Actively participate in initiatives to maintain, build and promote a positive and collaborative workplace including identifying opportunities to integrate and work collaboratively across projects.
• Participate in and contribute to practice review meetings, team meetings, supervision, reflective practice, and performance reviews.

Systemic and Structural Advocacy and Activism

• Identify structural and systemic issues arising from individual support work and work with others, inside and outside Flat Out, to address them.
• Actively contribute to Flat Out’s systemic advocacy and social change work including in partnerships, networks and peaks and participate in the development and building of community/sector networks and partnerships that align with Flat Out’s decarceral mission and vision.

ABOUT YOU

We’re looking for an experienced, passionate and driven worker with a strong commitment to social justice and decarceral practice. You should have a solid background in delivering support services to individuals impacted by criminalisation, homelessness, and systemic marginalisation.

You’ll bring a sound understanding of service domains like housing/homelessness, family violence, substance use, mental health, and trauma, and be skilled in working alongside people experiencing complex challenges. You’ll be a strong advocate, ready to navigate relationships in complex systems and services, with a person-centred, intersectional approach.

Women, trans and gender diverse people with lived experience of criminalisation, who are First Nations or from CALD communities (including refugee and asylum seekers and those from emerging and established communities), are encouraged to apply.O

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

At Flat Out, we offer a range of benefits designed to support our team’s wellbeing and professional development. These include 5 weeks of annual leave (over award), flexible work hours, hybrid WFH-office location, professional development opportunities, and external supervision. Our team values collaboration and personal growth, and you’ll have the chance to work in a supportive, dynamic environment with a focus on continuous learning. Additionally, we offer salary packaging options and the opportunity to work on meaningful, systemic change through our advocacy and support programs.

Queries relating to the role can be emailed to the attention of Adriana Mackay, Manager Outreach Support and Advocacy, Flat Out via [email protected] using the subject line: Outreach Support and Advocacy Worker enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.