Our participants, Our people, Our purpose

Currently, there are around 5.5 million Australians with a disability. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) implements the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which is one of the biggest social reforms in the country since Medicare. As an Agency, we support more than 717,000 participants with a significant and permanent disability, and the families and carers of those living with disability. For many Australians, this will be the first time they receive the disability support they need. The NDIA is designed to enhance the quality of life and increase economic and social participation for people with disability and will mean a peace of mind for every Australian.

A new role awaits

We’re looking for lawyers who are passionate about working with people, engaging in dispute resolution, administrative law, and achieving the correct and preferable outcomes for participants in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The Dispute Resolutions and Litigation (DR&L) Branch is a place where your experience in administrative law, statutory interpretation, principles of good administrative decision-making, litigation and alternate dispute resolution will change lives, and your passion for social impact can flourish. The team provide high quality litigation advice, support and services, and aims to improve the experience of current and prospective participants in the NDIS by resolving applications for review in a timely and consistent manner. This makes every day at work both challenging and rewarding.

We currently are looking for APS6 Lawyers to support the DR&L Branch to fill multiple new vacancies and create a merit list for future opportunities. Bring your knowledge of the NDIS Act, the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024 (ART Act), alternative dispute resolution practices, as well as your skills in leadership and mentoring junior staff to these exciting opportunities at the NDIA.

Mandatory qualifications:
This position is within the Legal stream and the officer must possess relevant academic qualifications having been admitted as a legal practitioner, however described, of the High Court or the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory; and hold, or be able to obtain, a practising certificate.

Where you can add value

The role of an APS6 Lawyer is to provide detailed technical, professional, operational support and advice in relation to complex problems and has a considerable level of public contact in relation to complex, difficult or sensitive issues. It is required to liaise with a range of internal and external stakeholders in a representational role on behalf of the Branch, Division, and Agency.

Duties of this role can include but are not limited to:

• Providing legal advice to the Agency executive and business areas.
• Conducting litigation in the Administrative Review Tribunal on behalf of the CEO of the Agency, including:

o appearing in the Tribunal at case conferences, conciliations and directions hearings;
o providing legal advice;
o conducting relevant research;
o drafting submissions and other documents for the purposes of litigation;
o briefing Counsel; and
o liaising with external legal service providers on outsourced matters, as applicable.

• Establishing and maintaining excellent working relationships with clients and other stakeholders including courts and tribunals, other government agencies, states and territories, the legal profession, and people with disability and their representatives.
• Preparing and undertaking initial research and advice on medium level risk matters to contribute to a range of material including briefing material for Ministers, board papers, media releases, reports to Parliamentary committees and for Agency purposes regarding intranet and website content and correspondence.
• Drafting advice on less complex legal matters, managing a caseload of matters and advising with the support of senior lawyers including Principal Legal officers, Deputy Chief Counsel and Chief Counsel.
• Undertaking preliminary work to support senior lawyers including Principal Legal Officers, Deputy Chief Counsel and Chief Counsel in advising on more complex NDIS litigation matters.
• Applying alternate dispute resolution methods and advocacy skills to resolve applications/ reviews, in keeping with the Commonwealth’s model litigant obligations.

Enough about us, let’s talk about you

You will be experienced in administrative law, statutory interpretation, understand principles of good administrative decision making and possess excellent litigation skills. Previous experience within the Public Service will be highly desirable.

Your NDIA Experience

We work as one team. We are accepting, diverse and driven. We take a shared approach to making progress. We welcome and support each other and encourage different ideas, insights and opinions. We empower and enable each other to be our best. We collaborate, connect and work together to create a workplace that makes us proud. And while we're based far and wide across the country, we make sure nobody feels they are out on their own.

• You will work for a socially inclusive and culturally diverse workplace, that is making a meaningful impact to the lives of more than 600,000 Australians.
• Access to higher superannuation and above market leave entitlements
• Competitive remuneration and working conditions that support a positive work life balance
• Access to ongoing professional development and learning

While this role is ideally performed from ACT - Deakin, NSW - Surry Hills, NSW - Parramatta, QLD - Brisbane, SA - Adelaide, VIC - Richmond and VIC - Geelong, remote working arrangements may be considered. We intend to fill this role in an ongoing capacity, however non-ongoing roles up to 12 months with the possibility of extension up to 2 years may be offered.

Successful candidates will be required to undergo a pre-employment National Police History check, Worker Screening check and/or Working with Children Check (where required) and provide evidence of Australian Citizenship.

Applications for this role close on Sunday 6 July 2025 at 11:30pm AEST.

If you have any questions, please contact Chris Healy on n/a or email [email protected]

With the exception of personal details, applications can NOT be edited or updated once submitted for consideration. Please make sure you are completely satisfied with your entire application before submitting.

NDIA is committed to supporting an inclusive and diverse workforce and welcomes and encourages applications from People with Disability (PwD), First Nations peoples, LGBTIQA+ people, people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds, Mature age workers, as well as young workers and supporting an inter-generational workforce and supporting gender equity and families. NDIA will provide reasonable adjustments for candidates to participate equitably in the recruitment process and discuss workplace adjustments to fulfil the inherent requirements of the role. If you require an adjustment to be made during the recruitment process (including alternate formats of the application form) or have an enquiry about the support provided, please contact Hoban on 1300 550 388 [email protected].

RecruitAbility applies to this position: The RecruitAbility scheme supports people with disability applying for jobs in the Australian Public Service (APS) by giving you a better opportunity to put forward your skills and experience during the selection process.

There are certain roles within the National Disability Insurance Agency that may require mandatory vaccination, subject to government order or directive. Evidence may be required prior to commencement.