Do you want to be part of a team championing health rights for all West Australians?

The Health Consumers' Council WA are seeking to fill two full-time positions within our Individual Advocacy Team.

• Position Title: Advocate
• Location: Mount Lawley, WA
• Work Type: Full-Time/12-month contract with possibility of extension
• Level: SCHADS L5
• Salary: $50.00-$53.31/hour + Superannuation

ABOUT us

We are the Health Consumers’ Council WA (HCCWA). We work to make sure that the voices of West Australians are heard and acknowledged in healthcare system matters. We fight for an equitable system that is shaped for the people of WA.

This role exists to provide individual advocacy support to health consumers who need assistance navigating issues within the WA health system. Advocates play an important role in upholding consumer rights and ensuring consumers are heard, informed and supported to pursue outcomes that reflect their needs, rights, and goals.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As an Advocate, you will provide individual advocacy support to health consumers who seek support to resolve issues within the WA health system. This role is grounded in HCCWA’s consumer-led, pure-advocacy framework and involves working in a strengths-based, non-judgmental way to provide a safe, trauma-informed service.

You will often be the first point of contact for consumers accessing the service, undertaking intake and triage and responding to enquiries by telephone, email and walk-in enquiries. You will manage an individual advocacy caseload, working alongside consumers to identify their needs, rights, priorities and goals, assess barriers and options, and progress advocacy actions in line with agreed priorities.

Using your knowledge of the health system, you will advocate alongside or on behalf of consumers and provide information about rights, responsibilities and available options. You will also liaise with health service providers and other stakeholders, and support referrals where issues fall outside HCCWA’s scope. On occasion, and where appropriate, this may include supporting consumers in meetings or appointments. In addition, you will maintain accurate case notes and contribute to a high standard of professional practice while building positive working relationships with consumers, colleagues and external stakeholders.

ABOUT YOU

• Demonstrated experience support people to navigate complex systems, address barriers, and work towards outcomes that reflect their needs, rights and goals
• Experience undertaking intake and triage, including identifying needs, rights, barriers, urgency, risk, goals and prropriate referral pathways
• Knowledge of the WA health system, community services and referral pathways, with the ability to use this knowledge to support people to understand their options and progress their goals
• Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to advocate, negotiate, influence, mediate and de-escalate while building positive working relationships with a wide range of people
• A strengths-based, non-judgmental and trauma-informed approach, with an understanding of the social determinants of health, systemic barriers and the value of lived experience in navigating the health system

The Role Offers you

• The opportunity to be part of a workplace that is driven by championing West Australian consumer health rights
• A welcoming, inclusive and supportive workplace, where everyone is encouraged to bring all of themselves
• A competitive not-for-profit annual base salary with salary packaging benefits
• Flexible working arrangements including the opportunity to work from home occasionally
• Additional leave entitlements

Diversity and inclusion

At Health Consumers’ Council WA we know that strength comes from diverse perspectives being at the table. We particularly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally diverse backgrounds and identities, people with disability and LGBTIQA+ community members.

Selection Criteria

Essential

1. Experience undertaking intake and triage, including identifying consumer needs, rights, barriers, urgency, risk, goals and appropriate referral pathways.
2. Substantial demonstrated experience in a similar advocacy, case-management, or community sector role (or equivalent combination of relevant experience and education) with an understanding of the value of advocacy and the mechanisms for change in the WA health system.
3. Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills to confidently advocate, negotiate, influence, mediate, and de-escalate with people at all levels while maintaining productive relationships with individuals and organisations.
4. An understanding of the social determinants of health, systemic barriers and complex trauma when working with people experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage, and the ability to work in a trauma-informed way.
5. Ability to work autonomously with strong organisational skills to manage competing priorities simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
6. Demonstrated ability to manage an individual advocacy caseload, including identifying consumer issues and priorities, progressing matters effectively, maintaining accurate records, and reviewing outcomes and follow-up actions.
7. Good working knowledge of the WA health system, community service organisations and referral pathways
8. Tertiary qualification in social or behavioural science (e.g., social work, psychology, sociology), or previous advocacy or lived experience in navigating the health system

Desirable

1. Understanding of policy and legislation within the health and mental health systems.

How to Apply

To submit your application, please click 'Apply Now' by 8 am (AWST) on the closing date.

Provide a cover letter of no more than two (2) pages addressing the selection criteria points 1, 2, 4, & 6, along with a current resume outlining your work experience, skills and any relevant education or training to Sam Arbon, Advocacy Manager at [email protected] using the subject line: Advocates x2 enquiry via EthicalJobs clearly stating which role you’re applying for. Applications that do not address the selection criteria may not be considered.

Appointment is subject to a National Police Clearance, Working With Children Check, and right to work in Australia.

Interview dates will be held on Monday, 29 June and Tuesday, 30 June 2026.

If you require any adjustments to submit your application or would like to have a confidential discussion about the role, please contact Sam Arbon, Advocacy Manager on (08) 9221 3422 (ext 1).

A position description is attached.