Economic Justice Australia (EJA) is a peak national organisation in the area of Social Security and Family Assistance law, policy and administration. Our members are community legal services across the country which provide specialist legal services in this area.

There is more information about EJA on our website: www.ejaustralia.org.au.

This Law Reform Officer role will lead EJA’s Automation in Social Security project which will leverage the experience of EJA’s member organisations, assisting people to navigate the social security system and challenge unfair decisions, to make evidence-based recommendations to Government. This project has been developed in partnership with Ed Santow, the Director of the Human Technology Institute at UTS and former Human Rights Commissioner, and Paul Henman from the Centre of Excellence for Automation in Society at UQ.

In the aftermath of Robodebt, this project will be aimed at learning lessons to ensure ethical and responsible use of automation in the future, not just from Robodebt but the automated decision-making which continues in the social security system.

The position will also support the work of the CEO and senior Law Reform Officer in other areas of reform the organisation is working to influence.

EJA is a small organisation and therefore the ability to work flexibly and independently is essential. It is not the intention of the position description to limit the scope or accountabilities of the position but to highlight the most important aspects of the position. The responsibilities below may be altered in accordance with the changing requirements of the role.

The position is a 3 day per week contracted position to 30 June 2024.

Depending on the experience level of the successful candidate, the salary will be set between Levels 6.1 and 7.1 of the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010.

A three-month probationary period applies.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties and responsibilities of the position include:

• Driving the research, development and drafting of EJA’s policy positions on automation in social security
• Working with the internal EJA team and external stakeholders to translate evidence and policy positions into external communications, such as research reports and training
• Consulting with EJA member centres and partner organisations, and managing relationships with these stakeholders to build the evidence base and support for EJA’s law reform and policy recommendations
• Participating in government inquiries, consultations and other fora to contribute EJA’s thought leadership on the development and implementation of automation in social security, including drafting of submissions and briefs
• Identifying and using opportunities to raise the visibility of EJA’s work and its policy positions and recommendations, including media opportunities for EJA and its members
• Contributing content to EJA’s website, social media, Rights Review newsletter and the generation of content for these other external communications channels
• Other duties as required, including all the above for law reform projects other than the automation in social security project.

ESSENTIAL SELECTION CRITERIA

• Knowledge of social security and family assistance law, policy and administration.
• High quality written and verbal communication skills, including a demonstrated capacity to provide clear, well-structured and plain English analysis of complex legislation and policy measures or changes.
• Ability to provide detailed analysis of complex legislative, policy and administrative measures and processes.
• Understanding of legal service delivery access issues affecting vulnerable people.
• Strong interpersonal and time management skills, and the ability to work both collaboratively and independently in a small team with many stakeholders.

DESIRABLE SELECTION CRITERIA

• Experience in an organisation delivering legal services, particularly in the legal assistance sector at a community legal centre or legal aid.
•  Experience acting as a media contact, with confidence in public speaking
• Experience in managing websites and social media for law reform advocacy purposes. (EJA currently uses Wordpress, Buffer, Canva and has a presence on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.)

To submit your application, click Apply Now.

A position description is attached.