Whittlesea Community Connections (WCC) is a place based community agency that strives for the empowerment of individuals and groups within the local community who face disadvantage, isolation and obstacles to effective social and economic participation. The agency is committed to developing responsive approaches to meet the challenges posed by Whittlesea's changing and emerging communities.

We have a clear role in advocating to both services and different levels of government through both direct service and policy input. Our services and programs are free, confidential and impartial.

We have broad range of integrated services including legal, social work, community information, community transport, settlement support, volunteer resources, community engagement, and strong partnerships with mental health, housing and family violence specialists.

Whittlesea Community Connections core objectives are to:

• Identify and address information and service needs of residents in City of Whittlesea
• Advocate for and with the community for increased participation in decision making
• Support formal and informal volunteer roles in the Whittlesea community
• Collaborate with agencies and Government to develop and sustain services that serve local community needs
• Continue to develop and improve the quality, efficiency and accessibility of our services
• Identify opportunities for greater community involvement and leadership so that community residents can contribute to decisions that affect their lives.

Position Rationale

This two (2) year role has been established to strengthen and expand our ability to meet the needs of clients experiencing family violence through the provision of legal advice, casework and advocacy in family law, family violence and migration law in the context of new funding for our thriving Health Justice Partnerships. This is a fixed two (2) year full-time role from commencement (part-time will also be considered).

The Community Lawyer will work in a dynamic intersectional environment within the Gender Equity & Family Violence Team and work closely with our Health Justice Partners to deliver advice, casework, advocacy and community legal education. This role is primarily based at our Epping office however, you may also be required to undertake outreach legal services at our Heath Justice partner sites in the City of Whittlesea.

Like all WCC employees, the Community Lawyer is expected to participate in the life of the organisation, promote the objectives of WCC and adhere to articulated values, policies and procedures.

Skills Required

• Tertiary qualifications, qualifying law degree or equivalent and admitted to practice
• Experience in the provision of legal advice, advocacy, casework in the Family Violence sphere and/or court work, of 1-3 years
• Experience responding to people experiencing family violence in a specialist or non-specialist setting;
• Good working knowledge of the family law, family violence and migration systems in Victoria;
• Experience working in cross-cultural settings and with clients from diverse backgrounds;

• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, including effective communication, negotiation, verbal and written presentation skills;
• Ability to build and strengthen relationships with a diverse range of key partners, stakeholders, and specialist services to benefit clients and the organisation more broadly;
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and an understanding of the legal and other issues that impact on people’s access to justice.

Desirable

• Experience working as part of multi or inter-disciplinary teams or organisations;
• Proficiency in a community language

Please click Apply Now to submit your application.

A position description is attached.