About the Sexual Assault Legal Service WA

The Sexual Assault Legal Service WA pilot is a partnership between Women’s Legal Service WA, Aboriginal Family Legal Services and Ruah Legal Services, all specialist community legal services. SALSWA delivers state-wide, integrated, culturally appropriate and trauma informed socio-legal assistance to victims-survivors in Western Australia.

The aim of the program is for clients to understand their legal rights, make informed decisions, have better engagement with the justice system, and have improved justice outcomes. Services are provided from as early and close to the point of disclosure as possible, tailored to meet the unique needs of each client, and include legal and community services. Wherever possible, assistance is ongoing. Services are targeted at known points of victim-survivor disengagement or departure from the system.

As the lead agency, WLSWA acts as the primary point of contact and provides central coordination and administration, but there is ‘no wrong door’ for clients to access the service.

WLSWA is the only gender specific community legal centre in WA, delivering services to women (inclusive of cis and trans women as well as non-binary people comfortable in women’s spaces) who live with multiple vulnerabilities that creates barriers to accessing justice. AFLS is a Family Violence Prevention Legal Service, delivering specialist legal assistance and social supports to Aboriginal victims of family violence, including sexual assault. Ruah incorporates the Mental Health Law Centre, providing legal assistance to people experiencing severe mental illness, and is a LGBTQIA+ rainbow-accredited service.

About the role

The SALSWA Lawyer, Special Projects will work across two new areas within the SALSWA pilot:

1. Protected Communications – delivery of socio-legal services and education with regards to the protection of victim-survivors’ counselling and other sensitive records in criminal and family law matters, including advice to agencies and individuals.
2. Restorative Justice – delivery of socio-legal services and education with regards to the experience of image-based abuse by youth aged 15-25, in partnership with the Office for the Commissioner of Victims of Crime’s Restorative Justice Unit.

 The SALSWA Lawyer, Special Projects will be responsible for establishing these new areas of practice, under the supervision and direction of the SALSWA Senior Lawyer and the SALSWA Management Team. In the case of the Restorative Justice project, the Office for the Commissioner of Victims of Crime and a specially convened Working Group will also provide oversight.

Designing policy frameworks, building networks, and creating client pathways, in collaboration with key stakeholders, will be a central aspect of this role.

About the candidate

The successful applicant will be highly professional, combining relevant experience with demonstrated empathy and understanding.

They will value effective teamwork and have a cooperative approach to working effectively with all team members. They will be able to work under pressure, multi task and be able to adapt to changing circumstances.  

Above all they will be passionate about advancing the interests of women, reducing gender inequality, and empowering women through the provision of excellent services to know and understand their legal rights. 

About the conditions 

In addition to the opportunity to join a great team, WLSWA offers flexible working arrangements, employee assistance program, targeted professional development, opportunity to salary sacrifice, additional paid leave between Christmas and new year, extra wellbeing leave and bonus payments.

Although this is a full time position, part time arrangements may be negotiable with successful applicant/s.

Based in the Perth office, the Lawyer, Special Projects may be required to undertake some travel within the metropolitan area and to regional hubs.   

We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, culturally and / or linguistically diverse backgrounds.

We make hiring decisions based on your experience, skills and passion, as well as how you can enhance our organisation. When you apply, please tell us the pronouns you use and any reasonable adjustments you may need during the interview process.

For a confidential discussion about the position, please contact SALSWA Team Leader and Senior Lawyer Eleanor Danks at  [email protected] using the subject line: Sexual Assault Legal Service WA Lawyer - Special Projects enquiry via EthicalJobs or on 0448 906 825.

A position description is attached.