Senior Disability Advocate

Parramatta, Newcastle or Valley Heights

• Full-time (38 hours per week) position available
• Permanent position
• Excellent benefits, flexible work options, additional paid wellbeing days
• Meaningful work advocating for people with disability

About us

Disability Advocacy NSW (DA) provides high quality social advocacy for people with disability, with a commitment to servicing regional and remote communities. Our multi-disciplinary team includes social workers, community workers, health professionals, disability workers, and lawyers. We pride ourselves on being Courageous, Caring, Creative and Connected in our work with people, offering a family friendly and inclusive workplace, where diversity is celebrated.

Are you interested in more meaningful work and supporting people with disability?

We have a Senior Disability Advocate position available at our Parramatta, Newcastle or Valley Heights office as part of The Disability Advocacy Support Helpline (The Helpline) team—an initiative under Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031 designed to improve access to individual advocacy. The Helpline provides time-limited remote advocacy support to people with disability experiencing unfair treatment, helping them understand and assert their rights.

This role will be based in either Parramatta, Newcastle or Valley Heights, depending on the successful applicant.

Benefits include:

• True job satisfaction in making a difference to people’s lives
• Family friendly culture
• Full-time (38 hours per week) Monday to Friday role
• Flexible working hours, hybrid work options
• Up to 6 weeks annual leave, plus 5 paid wellbeing days leave
• Full training and support if you are transitioning into advocacy for the first time
• Full salary packaging options available
• Regular team conferences and get-togethers
• Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services (SCHADS), Level 5.1 ($110, 037.26 pa full-time package inc. superannuation)

About the role

In this role you will work with people with disability to address issues of unfairness occurring across various social systems including the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Education, Health, Centrelink, Housing, Discrimination and other areas that impact on their lives.

Your day-to-day duties will include:

• Apply a human rights approach to advocacy
• Provide individual advocacy and guidance
• Identify advocacy issues, goals, and options available
• Encourage self-advocacy where possible
• Research and interpret complex information
• Participate in intake and assessment processes
• Maintain professional, timely and accurate records
• Contribute to DA's systemic advocacy work

About you

You will collaborate with colleagues and network with other agencies while also being able to work independently. The successful candidate will be able to identify goals, problem solve and be tenacious in their work.

In your application, you must address the following Selection Criteria:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications (examples only: social work, psychology, social science, law, legal studies, welfare studies, community services)
• Demonstrated experience and skills in advocating for people from disadvantaged backgrounds including people with disability
• Proven knowledge and understanding of legal and social systems that impact the lives of people with disability
• Advanced skills in oral and written communication, research and problem solving, with a track record of effective application
• Ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced environment, demonstrating adaptability and resilience

How to apply

If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit your covering letter including your response to each of the selection criteria, and your resume via SEEK. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible, and we will start to conduct preliminary interviews immediately.

If you require any assistance with your application, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

People with disability or from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Applications will close midnight Sunday 9 March 2025

Enquiries regarding the position can be directed to Charlotte Rider via [email protected]

Submission Checklist

Have you got?

1. A cover letter including contact details and addressing each of the selection criteria
2. Current resume