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Advocacy Officer

STAR Victoria

Are you a disability advocate looking for a new challenge? This might be the opportunity you've been looking for. This role supports the individual advocacy work of STAR Victoria. Our team of volunteer advocates help people with intellectual disability and their families, and this position will contribute to and coordinate their work, building their capacity and engaging new volunteers to increase our capacity. It's a diverse job, including managing records, assisting with reports to funders and advising on emerging and systemic issues arising from the advocacy work.

REPORTING TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER YOU WILL:

  • Provide information, advice and referral to individuals with an intellectual disability, their families and others
  • Respond to and assess individual advocacy requests, making appropriate external referrals and allocation to STAR volunteers
  • Provide individual advocacy in a coordinated way on issues that align with the priorities of STAR Victoria: Inclusive Education, Parents with a Disability, and Empowering People with intellectual disability. [NB: these may change based on systemic needs]
  • Provide administrative support to the Individual Advocacy Program, including responding to phone and email enquiries, coordination of intake, referrals and wait lists, analysis of wait times and prioritisation of presenting issues according to STAR policies and procedures
  • Identify systemic issues for STAR’s advocacy to government, peak bodies and service providers
  • Network with partner agencies to strengthen external relationships, share resources and skill sharing within the sector
  • Engage new advocacy volunteers and build their capacity, whilst also supporting and coordinating existing volunteers in their efforts to meet user needs
  • Conduct user satisfaction surveys, ensuring consent is provided and all service users have an opportunity to respond
  • With the Executive Officer, ensure ongoing compliance to the Department of Health and Human Services Standard (Human Services Standard) 2011 and the National Standards for Disability Services 2013
  • Under the guidance of the Executive Officer, monitor recording and reporting of program and service user outcomes, collating and reviewing quarterly data statistics and producing qualitative case studies to support reporting and systemic advocacy

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

  • Experience of individual advocacy in a disability context, preferably for people with an intellectual disability
  • Practical knowledge of the disability sector, relevant legislation, and enforcement processes
  • Demonstrated understanding of the challenges faced by people with intellectual disability and their families
  • Commitment to the rights and empowerment of people with intellectual disability and their families
  • Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills, both verbal and written
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently, with minimum supervision and to be self-motivated
  • Skilled in the use of Microsoft Office and other standard software applications
  • Ability to travel throughout the Melbourne metropolitan area
  • A relevant qualification would be an advantage

SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

  • Experience working within the disability sector with a demonstrated commitment to inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities
  • Understanding of Disability Service Standards and appropriate legislation impacting community organisations
  • Experienced in working with volunteers
  • Proven capacity to advocate for the needs and rights of others, preferably people with an intellectual disability
  • An understanding of inclusion barriers faced by people with intellectual disabilities in settings such as employment, education and accommodation

OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

  • The position description is indicative of the initial expectation of the role and subject to changes to STAR Victoria's goals and priorities
  • Part time (0.6 FTE)
  • 6 month contract

Questions about this role should be directed to Denise Boyd at [email protected], using the subject line: Advocacy Officer enquiry via EthicalJobs or call 03 9650 2730.

A position description is attached.

How to apply

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