• Full-time, fixed term 12 month position
• Primary location in Melton/ Abbotsford with outreach to Dame Phyllis Frost Centre (as required)

About the Organisation

Djirra is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation with over 20 years’ experience accompanying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, and their children, on their individual journeys. We find solutions through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women sharing their stories, journeys, and experiences. Djirra celebrates women’s strength and resilience. We are committed to a future without family violence.

We deliver holistic, culturally safe, specialist family violence support, legal services and case management, alongside cultural and wellbeing workshops, and programs. Our services have state-wide reach, touching every part of Victoria to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. Self-determination is the foundation of everything we do.

Djirra amplifies the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. We advocate for system-wide change to improve access to justice, eliminate systemic violence, and strengthen women’s resilience.

We are an active member of the National Family Violence Prevention and Legal Services Forum, the peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are experiencing or at risk of family violence.

About the Role

The Aboriginal Family Violence Legal Service (AFVLS) is a program of Djirra. AFVLS provides legal and non-legal assistance and facilitates access to justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have experienced family violence or sexual assault. AFVLS’s legal services include advice, representation and advocacy in the areas of:

• child protection
• family violence intervention orders
• family law; and
• victims of crime assistance.

AFVLS operates a culturally safe, trauma informed, holistic and intensive client service model. Clients are assisted by Lawyers and Paralegal Support Workers to access a variety of legal, social, psychological, cultural, health and other support services to address their complex needs and issues.

Paralegal Support Workers provide wrap-around support within this model, including: emotional support; court support; direct financial support; support in interactions with police; support with access to legal aid; support accessing transport; and connecting clients with culturally safe counselling and support services to address the underlying social issues giving rise to the client’s experience of family violence and associated legal issues.

• National Police Check
• Working with Children’s Check
• Drivers Licence

Desirable

• Qualification in community service or paralegal studies

• Attractive salary packaging options (including meals and entertainment)
• Generous leave provisions apply
• Employee Assistance Program with supportive, confidential counselling for personal and work concern
• Cultural awareness training in both formal and informal settings is provided