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.

Multiple new roles await

The Dispute Resolution & Litigation (DR&L) branch in the Chief Counsel Division, is a growing in-house legal practice servicing the NDIA with legal advice and litigation support services on merits review matters for participants in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (Tribunal), soon to be known as the Administrative Review Tribunal.

Tribunal disputes between the NDIA and participants might arise in a number of contexts, including disputes about access to the NDIS, NDIS plan supports and early intervention. These disputes primarily occur in the Tribunal but can be appealed to the Federal Court.

The DR&L branch is responsible for providing trusted high quality legal advice and litigation support services to respond to these applications by NDIS participants and prospective participants. The branch provides strategic oversight of legal risk across the Agency’s AAT program, as well as supporting continuous improvement of decision-making to improve outcomes under the Scheme.

The branch is seeking to build a team of like-minded individuals with the aim to improve the experience of current and prospective participants by resolving applications for external review in a timely and consistent manner, while pursuing the correct and preferably decision under the NDIS Act.
The Division and branch are committed to the highest levels of integrity and leadership to ensure the NDIA complies with the Legal Services Directions’ Model Litigant Obligations.

Where you can add value

We are currently seeking multiple APS4 paralegals to support the DR&L branch and create a merit list for future opportunities.

The APS4 Paralegal is a team membership position that will work within defined parameters relating to responsibilities of their role. The role will be required to apply well-established policy, principles, practices and procedures to achieve outcomes that supports and contributes to NDIA’s objectives to “build a world-leading National Disability Insurance Scheme”.

The role will be required to provide operational and administrative support that is informed and directed by sound knowledge in the NDIA’s legal risk, in-house legal practice for application in the Tribunal and may undertake some research and analysis activities.

The APS4 Paralegal will have a considerable level of contact with internal and external stakeholders and will be required to communicate with and provide advice on a range of matters to resolve less complex enquiries.

• Assisting with the provision of legal advice, support and services to the NDIA in the management and resolution of participant related reviews in the Tribunal, including administrative support and workload allocation tasks.

• Drafting legal documents such as briefs to Counsel and expert witnesses, Statements of Issues and other legal documents.

• Complying with NDIA protocols such as time recording, document management and both internal and external response times.

• Assisting lawyers with research tasks, providing information to external legal firms and other duties as required, under supervision.

• Preparing tribunal documents and lodging them with the Tribunal.

• Supporting and contributing to business improvement activities, including the development of systems, processes and practical tools, under supervision.

Enough about us, let’s talk about you

We are looking for an aspiring legal professional who can bring their developing legal skills to this important legal role.
Successful candidates will bring a human-centered approach and have the ability to thrive in a high-volume litigation environment.

What we’re looking for in our ideal candidate:

• Organised and able to work in a fast-paced work environment with competing priorities, seeking feedback from supervisor to gauge satisfaction and seeking guidance when required.

• Proficient in time management, scheduling, and maintaining data sets using various ICT programs.

• Collaborative and team-centric, and able to use high level communication in managing multiple internal and external stakeholders.

• A confident communicator, with strong interpersonal skills to develop and maintain participant, colleague and client relationships.

• Highly motivated, resilient and able to provide administrative support on ART matters to both internal and external stakeholders in an empathetic manner.

• Bringing a positive contemporary attitude to people with disability along with an understanding and knowledge of disability and its impact on individuals.

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. Whilst 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 717,000 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 Deakin - ACT, Adelaide - SA, Brisbane - QLD, Geelong - VIC, Richmond - VIC, Surry Hills - NSW and Parramatta – NSW, 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 Wednesday 5th November 2025 at 11:30pm (AEDT)

If you have any questions, please contact Chris Healy via 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 DFP Recruitment on 1300 138 337 [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.