• Legal service providing free services to the Melbourne West community
• Work with a small team on the development of policy & systemic impact work 

The Organisation

WEstjustice is a leading community legal centre providing free services to vulnerable and disadvantaged people. From our offices in Footscray, Werribee and Sunshine and through our outreach services we provide advice, representation and education on a broad range of issues including employment, discrimination, consumer disputes, tenancy, credit and debt, family disputes, family violence, criminal law, infringements, children’s law and more.

WEstjustice believe in a just and fair society where the law and its processes do not discriminate against vulnerable people. We provide free legal education, undertake law reform activities and work in partnership with their local communities to deliver projects that improve access to justice.

Our purpose is to service the legal needs in the West in a way that addresses the systemic nature of disadvantage

WEstjustice is committed to building a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people living with a disability, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, mature age workers and LGBTIQ-identifying people.

Benefits & Culture

• Competitive salary with salary packaging
• Up to 5 hours study leave per week (pro rata)
• Flexible working conditions
• Passionate, professional and dedicated team
• Focus on career development
• Sunshine-based location
• Part time or full time option
• 12-month fixed term contract

The Role

The Senior Policy Officer is responsible for coordinating and actively contributing to the organisation’s policy, advocacy and systematic impact work, under general direction from the Director of Policy and Innovation.

This includes campaigning, policy, advocacy and law reform work in relation to a wide range of legal and life issues affecting people who live or work in Melbourne’s Western suburbs. These include, for example, advocating for legislative changes to prevent migrant worker exploitation, working with business and government to develop new policies to respond to family violence victim-survivors, identifying and campaigning for changes to regulatory responses to housing and consumer issues and working to address the over-representation of marginalised young people in the criminal legal system.

You will be a part of a small team providing support and assisting to develop, maintain, monitor and evaluate innovative programs that seek to address the paradigm of disadvantage and unmet legal need through client centred services, programs and reform agendas. You will also build and maintain relationships with a range of stakeholders including community and project partners, government contacts and current and potential funders.

Skills Required

You may have an unrestricted practising certificate with substantial experience in working in relevant areas of legal practice. Your background may be in working in social service organisations, community legal services, government or potentially from the corporate sector.

You will also have:

• Demonstrated experience, as a subject matter expert and the ability to coordinate WEstjustice’s systemic impact work.
• Demonstrated ability to work strategically and collaboratively to build strong stakeholder relationships and partnerships across sectors, to assist our clients.
• Ability to coordinate and supervise the work of pro bono lawyers, volunteers and students.
• Strong commitment to social justice, community education and engagement, including a demonstrated understanding of the social context of law and the issues faced by vulnerable and/or disadvantaged communities.
• Highly developed ability to listen to, engage with, and assist vulnerable and/or disadvantaged clients.
• Excellent organisation, communication and administrative skills.
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to WEstjustice’s Vision, Purpose, Strategic Plan and Impact Areas.

A position description is attached.