• Part time (0.8FTE) maximum term position up to October 2023
• This role is a parental leave replacement position
• Salary based on experience, range: $73,444 – $95,041 (pro rata) plus super
• Attractive employee benefits including salary packaging

About the role:
The Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) team are seeking a suitably experienced individual to join their team in the role of an Advocate, providing intake services across the state and advocacy services in the South West and Western region.

You will provide intake services and advocacy services including make and receive referrals and respond to inquiries from users of the program, mental health organisations and services including, but not limited to, hospitals, peer support workers, social workers, lawyers, caseworkers and other advocates. This role will also work with mental health consumers to provide information about their rights and the mental health system, assisting to express their views and preferences, and support them to make decisions and participate in decision-making relating to their assessment, treatment, and recovery.

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

• Extensive experience working with consumers to build trust and rapport along with a deep understanding of the challenges impacting Victorians when accessing mental health support services.
• A flexible, patient and supportive approach while remaining transparent. You will be a creative problem solver with either mental health support and/or advocacy or consumer advocacy experience.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrated ability to influence and negotiate with varied internal and external stakeholders.
• Candidates should have experience in one or more areas including community development, consumer advocacy, mental health advocacy, community sector advocacy, social work, mental health service provision or other similar fields. People with mental health consumer experience are encouraged to apply

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

How to apply:
To be considered for this role, please submit a current resume and completed candidate application form (listed within the file attachments).

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 Belinda Brady, Senior Advocate, IMHA on (03) 9093 3788.

No agency applications will be accepted.

Applications close by 11.59pm on Sunday 16th October 2022.

Other relevant information:
VLA employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. It is also 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.