Indigenous Advocate

Location                                          Canberra ACT

Employment Status                 Permanent – full time

Manager                                         Team Leader

Direct Reports                            Nil

Salary                                               SCHADS Award, Level 5.1

About ADACAS

ADACAS (ACT Disability Aged and Carer Advocacy Service) is a leading advocacy service with a 30-
year history in Canberra and areas across NSW. ADACAS provides individual and systemic advocacy
to people with disability, older people, people with mental ill-health and their family carers.

We are passionate about asserting, promoting and protecting human rights and speaking up on behalf of
people who cannot speak up for themselves. Our vision is a world in which everyone can exercise
their rights and responsibilities, lead lives of value and dignity and pursue their dreams. ADACAS has
a strong reputation as a human rights organisation and participates in a range of opportunities, both
locally and nationally to influence change on behalf of our client groups.

Position Summary

An Indigenous Advocate is responsible for the provision of individual advocacy to ADACAS clients
who may include people with disability, people experiencing mental ill-health, older people, and
carers.

An Advocate will be required to exercise professional judgement and initiative in response to
moderate to complex advocacy issues whilst maintaining accountability within the organisation’s
frameworks.

This identified position within ADACAS will look to provide information and advocacy support to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in the ACT.

Key Responsibilities

Individual Advocacy

• Support and/or represent ADACAS Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients, applying a
best practice approach in individual advocacy.
• Ensure that all activities are recorded accurately in the case management system.
• Escalate any issues or concerns with the Team Leader in a prompt and timely manner.
• Help identify key trends, including potential and actual systemic advocacy issues.
• Represent ADACAS at events as delegated and at designated agency network meetings.
• Work collaboratively as a member of the team and seek to improve the quality of service
through an ethos of continuous improvement via reflective practice, training and education
provided internally and externally.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with community partners, service providers,
Government agencies and other stakeholders as required and take part in meetings with
representatives.
• Ensure all duties are undertaken within the hours allocated to the position and manage this
time to limit the requirement for overtime.

Reporting

• Ensure all activities are recorded accurately on Salesforce (CMS) and are up to date.
• Contribute to the reporting of data for their Team Leader in a timely manner.
• Provide fortnightly timesheets, which reflect actual working hours when compared with
Salesforce, to the Team Leader.

Personal and professional development

• Undertake regular supervision and performance appraisals with the Team Leader.
• Actively participate in any scheduled staff team meetings, planning, budget and other
meetings that require input from staff.
• Undertake regular professional development offered through the Older Persons Advocacy
Network.

Skills and Experience

Experience and knowledge

• A strong commitment to work within a human-rights framework and take a restorative
practice approach
• Experience working with and or advocating for people with a disability, older people, people
with mental ill health, CALD community and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and apply legislation, policies and procedures, including
the ability to identify issues and problem solve.
• An understanding of or experience with Government legislation, processes and services in
relation to aged care, disability and mental health.
• Experience working in the community service sector or similar.
• Sound knowledge and application of the MS Office suite of applications.

Skills

• Team player and self-motivated.
• Meeting facilitation.
• Networking, relationship building and collaborative working.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills (verbal and non-verbal including active listening,
liaison, awareness of non-verbal cues and written communication).
• Ability to cope with complex cases and apply stress management techniques.
• Conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
• High-level organisation skills and time management.
• Ability to write factual accounts of discussions / interactions with clients and other
stakeholders.

Values / Attributes

• Demonstrates social justice principles
• Strong professional identity and integrity
• Approachable
• Cultural awareness and sensitivity
• Flexible
• Resourceful
• Confident
• Perseverance and commitment to addressing advocacy issues
• Self-awareness
• Empathetic and compassionate
• Non-judgemental
• Patient

Qualifications

• A tertiary qualification in human services / social work / behavioural science / community
services OR an equivalent combination of relevant experience / education / training.
• Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) card
• Current police check
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccinations
• Ability to have a flu vaccination each year

Culture Charter

Social Justice – We advocate for equitable access and fair and just outcomes via individual
and systemic advocacy
Integrity – We are transparent, authentic and ethical in our work and guided by human
rights principles
Pursue Excellence – We are continuously learning and working in collaboration & innovative
ways to effect positive change & meaningful outcomes
Reflective in our Practice – We consciously work to build trust, increase self-awareness, and
improve our practices through respectful and constructive dialogue

Work Safety

ADACAS strives to provide a safe and healthy work environment for all employees, contractors and
visitors. Its aim is to eliminate any hazard that could constitute personal injury or illness and it will do
all that is reasonably practicable to ensure safe work practices are adopted and adhered to. Each
employee is asked to take reasonable care to protect their own health and safety at work and also the
health and safety of others in the workplace.

To apply

Submit your resume and cover letter addressing the selection criteria via email. ADACAS reserves the right to close this role early if suitable candidates are found. Please monitor your email regarding communication on the progress of your application.

         ADACAS is an EEO employer and we value diversity within our organisation.