RDAS is looking for people who will bring their passion for social justice and advocacy skills. RDAS is partnering with Intellectual Disability Rights Service (IDRS) to deliver a new Justice Advocate positions across NSW. As a Justice Advocate you will be supporting and assisting people with cognitive impairment when they are involved with the criminal justice system as victims, defendants or witnesses.

• Opportunity to make a difference
• 2 year contract position – extension dependent on on-going funding
• Salary range $77k - $81k Pro rata – Not -For Profit salary packaging benefits

About RDAS

Regional Disability Advocacy Service (RDAS) provides independent, free and local advocacy services providing a voice and empowerment to people with all types of disability and all ages, living in North East Victoria and Southern parts of New South Wales including the Riverina. RDAS advocates, informs, trains and resources individuals and organisations in human rights to enhance community participation by a diverse range of people in support services and the wider community.

Visit our website www.rdas.org.au for more information about IDRS.

About the Justice Advocacy Service

The Justice Advocacy Service (JAS) is funded by the NSW Department of Justice. It will expand, improve and build on the work of our existing Criminal Justice Support Network. Justice Advocacy Service support volunteers who will to provide support persons for people with cognitive impairment in their interactions with police, courts and lawyers across NSW.

Justice Advocacy Service will work with people with cognitive impairments arising from intellectual disability, borderline intellectual function, acquired brain injury, alcohol and drug related brain injury, autism spectrum disorder, foetal alcohol spectrum disorder or dementia. The service will provide support persons and justice advocacy for suspects/defendants, witnesses and victims of crime. Justice Advocacy Service will also extend our network of volunteer support persons to work across NSW.

Justice Advocate Role - Key Responsibilities

• Support person for people with cognitive impairment in interactions with police if the person has been arrested or wishes to make a statement to the police as a witness or victim of crime. This will involve some after-hours on-call work at police stations.
• Support person for people with cognitive impairment at court, legal appointments or criminal justice related conferences/mediations
• Recruit, support and manage a network of local volunteer support persons
• Advocacy to assist the person to resolve problems or issues impacting their criminal justice proceedings or outcome

Personal life experience: An understanding of the needs of people with disabilities and their families/carers, ATSI, CALD, or other diverse background is an advantage, but not essential.