First Nations Advocates, Independent Mental Health Advocacy

• 2 x Full time ongoing positions 
• Opportunities are based at Bendigo, Shepparton, Geelong, Melbourne and Dandenong office locations
• Salary based on experience, range: $74,920 – $96,952 plus super
• Attractive employee benefits including salary packaging and hybrid working

About the role:
Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) is a non-legal advocacy program that is staffed and led by professionals with mental health consumer experience and/or backgrounds in community development, consumer advocacy, mental health advocacy, community sector advocacy, social work, mental health service provision and similar fields.

In this role you will provide representational advocacy to First Nations people at risk of or on compulsory treatment orders, help people understand and exercise their rights to assist in treatment, care and recovery. You will also provide expert advice to staff regarding engaging and working with First Nations communities.

This role works closely with IMHA and Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) staff, Aboriginal Community Engagement Officers, Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service staff, as well as Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officers, Emotional and Social Wellbeing officers and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.

About you:
As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and an ability to liaise and communicate effectively with First Nations consumers, stakeholders and mental health services.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others and foster cooperative and supportive work relationships and team environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in supported decision making and representational advocacy.
• This position is only open to First Nations Australians (mandatory).

Don’t meet every requirement? At VLA, we understand that your work and life experiences can be just as valuable. If you’re excited about this role but your CV doesn’t align perfectly with our job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or one of our many other opportunities.

About Victoria Legal Aid:
We provide legal representation to those who need it most. With over 1000 staff employed in 15 offices across Victoria, we help people with their legal problems by providing information, advice and education with a focus on the prevention and early resolution of legal problems.

Our clients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds and foster a work culture that’s inclusive as well as diverse. Your unique ideas and perspectives are valued so that we best represent the people we serve.

Employee benefits:

• Family friendly, flexible hybrid work from home & office model
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Supportive team environment in modern offices
• Salary packaging which allows up to $15,900 of your salary each year to be tax free
• Culturally-aligned support with Cultural and Ceremonial leave, First Nations Staff Network, and VLA’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment
• Salary packaging which allows up to $15,900 of your salary each year to be tax-free
• Opportunity to join Myki Commuter Club (and salary package the cost)
• A structured Supervision Model and ongoing training and professional development opportunities.

How to apply:
To be considered for this role, please submit a current resume and cover letter.

If you require adjustment to the recruitment and selection process or need an alternative format to any of the application material, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.

For further information review the attached position description or contact Helen Makregiorgos, Porgram Manager on (03) 9280 3708.

Applications close by 11.59pm on Sunday 8 October 2023

No agency applications will be accepted.

Other relevant information:
It is a requirement that staff attend for office-based days at their primary work location. In line with this requirement, interstate applications will be considered only where the candidate is able and willing to relocate to Victoria, unless part of a border community.

VLA is committed to putting the safety and wellbeing of children first.