ABOUT PWDA

People with Disability Australia (PWDA) is a national disability rights organisation. Its membership is made up of people with disability and organisations primarily constituted by people with disability.

PWDA was founded in 1981, the International Year of Disabled Persons, to provide people with disability with a voice of our own. PWDA has a cross disability focus – we represent the interests of people with all kinds of disability. PWDA is a non-profit, non-government organisation. We employ over 50 staff with 25% working in regional areas.

ABOUT TALK UP

The Talk Up project is a joint project of PWDA, First Peoples Disability Network (FPDN) and Australian Centre for Disability Law (ACDL). This project utilises a cultural liaison overseen by FPDN, a specialist trainer and disability advocate overseen by PWDA, peer educators from the local communities and a solicitor with specialist expertise in disability discrimination, as well as general areas of law, from ACDL to:

1. Develop and deliver culturally appropriate education/training on legal rights to First Nations people with disability and their communities. It will necessarily include education and support to overcome a cultural blindness to disability and shame associated with some disabilities (e.g. Foetal Alcohol Syndrome) which discourage some First Nations people even identifying as a person with disability. It will focus on intersectional discrimination (where racial and disability discrimination overlap).
2. Self-advocacy skills will be taught in small, targeted groups to First Nations people with disability and their supporters. Culturally appropriate resources and training material will be developed.
3. Develop and deliver culturally appropriate education/training to First Nations people with disability and their communities on what external assistance is available, including NDIS supports, how to know when it is required and how it can be accessed.

All three activities will include development of culturally appropriate resources and training material.

The Talk Up Project Manager will work at PWDA, and with key project staff at ACDL and FDPN, as well with external stakeholders.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Talk Up Project Manager is responsible for coordinating the planning, implementation and delivery of all aspects of the Talk Up project including:

• Proactive engagement strategy
• Community consultation
• Resource production
• Project administration
• Coordination among project partners and other key stakeholders

The Talk Up Project Manager will also be responsible for the planning and development of a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for PWDA. RAPs enable organisations to sustainably and strategically take meaningful action to advance reconciliation with First Nations people and communities.

RESPONSIBILITIES & MAIN ROLE

Talk Up Project

• Project manage all aspects of the Talk Up project, including coordination, reporting, budgeting and liaison with key stakeholders.
• Coordinate a proactive engagement strategy, to identify and connect with First Nations people with disability to assess different community legal needs.
• Facilitate a project advisory group of First Nations people with disability to guide the project and provide expertise on resource need and development.
• Collaborate with FPDN and ACDL in all aspects of the project.
• Development of project internal cross-organisational workplan and actions, delineated responsibilities, including monitoring and evaluation plans for different phases of the project.
• Work with FPDN to identify locations where project partners can undertake outreach and stakeholder engagement due to existing networks and where need for legal and rights education is required, including with a focus on justice issues being exacerbated, or emerging, in the current pandemic. Includes mapping of stakeholders in selected project locations.
• Desk top research with ACDL and FPDN to investigate current and emerging legal issues for First Nations people with disability specific to project locations; other similar projects and initiatives (key findings and learnings); issues unique to demographics (gender, age, disability etc.); literature on legal issues that arise and where and how people currently seek support and assistance and current partnerships.
• Identify locations for initial project outreach and prepare for community connection and collaboration.
• Coordinate and deliver reports to the funding body.
• Provide secretariat support to the advisory and leadership groups as needed.
• Establish and maintain mechanisms for project partner and group communication, sharing of information and other resources.
• Continue to network and build positive relationships with relevant project stakeholders and other decision makers.

Reconciliation Action Plan

• Research and develop framework for development of PWDA’s RAP.
• Develop and facilitate RAP advisory committee of relevant First Nations people and stakeholder representatives.
• Implement agreed activities for development of RAP.

Organisational Participation

• Role model key organisational values and behaviour.
• Participate in PWDA general staff meetings, team meetings, PWDA committee meetings and organisational development activities such as strategic planning and policy development.
• Participate in relevant professional development activities including training.
• Other contract, financial and administrative management duties as required.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential

• Demonstrated project management skills, including delivering projects on time and budget, managing risks, monitoring, and using measurement tools.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating and facilitating programs, events and activities within a community setting.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement and evaluate community programs.
• Experience producing detailed project workplans with KPI’s, aligning deliverables to specified project outcomes.
• Excellent presentation skills and adept at conducting presentations to all levels of staff and stakeholders.
• Excellent written communications skills and able to write detailed reports and present findings in an appropriate format.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to liaise with a wide range of people such as their families, friends, services providers and government departments.
• Demonstrated capacity to manage time frames and competing priorities.
• Demonstrated computer literacy, preferably Excel, Word and Outlook.

Desirable

• Demonstrated understanding of and practical commitment to the human rights and interests of people with disability, particularly First Nations people with disability.
• First Nations cultural background.
• Personal or family experience of disability.
• Previous experience in the health, community or legal services sector.

OTHER JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Working with Children Check

PWDA is a registered employer under the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act, 2012. The successful applicant must be approved under the Working with Children Check prior to taking up appointment.

• NSW Police Check

PWDA receives funding from Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC), NSW Department of Families and Community Services (FACS) under the Disability Inclusion Act 2014. The successful applicant must be approved under the NSW Police Check prior to taking up appointment.

• Australian Government Covid 19 Vaccination Certificate or medical exemption
• Six-month probationary period

RENUMERATION

This is a part time role of 21 hours per week. It will be a maximum term contract role for 12 months, with a view to renew annually based on performance and funding. Award Classification is Level 6 under the Social, Community, Home Care & Disability Services Award 2010. PWDA pays above Award, and the salary on offer is 94,964 per annum (pro rata $56,978 for 0.6FTE) plus salary packaging and superannuation.

PWDA is a proud employer of people with disability, and people with disability are strongly encouraged to apply for these positions. We are an EEO employer, and we embrace the diversity of our people, such as diversity in disability, race, cultural background, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation or intersex status.

For more information about this role, please contact:

• Michael Badorrek, PWDA Marketing & Communications Manager
• Phone: 0431 594 007 | Email: [email protected] using the subject line: Talk Up Project Manager enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.