About us
Queensland Advocacy Incorporated (QAI) is an independent, community-based systems and legal advocacy organisation for people with disability. QAI’s mission is to promote, protect and defend, through advocacy, the fundamental needs, rights and lives of the most vulnerable people with disability in Queensland.
The organisation does this by engaging in systemic advocacy through campaigns directed at attitudinal, law and policy change, and by supporting the development of a range of advocacy initiatives in this State, in addition to individual legal and non-legal advocacy, provided through three advocacy practices.
As QAI is a social advocacy organisation, it works to uphold the principles of fundamental human rights, social justice and inclusion in community life.
Role Description
- To deliver individual advocacy support to students with disability and their parent/carer who seek advocacy for resolution of complex and escalated complaints relating to the access, participation and/or achievement of students with disability in Queensland state schools.
- To deliver individual advocacy support to people affected by the Disability Royal Commission.
Key Position Responsibilities and Accountabilities
- Providing independent, culturally appropriate professional advocacy services to families of students with disability (and students where appropriate) in Queensland state schools (or home education) who are involved in complex and protracted disputes with the Department of Education which are escalated to the internal review stage. The role includes providing advocacy in complex complaints which are escalated, protracted, and at the internal review stage of the Department’s Customer Complaints Management Framework;
- Informing people about the Disability Royal Commission and helping them participate, including through outreach to regional and remote areas and closed environments;
- Providing advice on issues/risks that may arise while engaging with the Royal Commission (noting legal issues/risks will be referred to appropriate legal advisory services);
- Comply with intake and record keeping practices consistent with obligations of a community legal service;
- Dealing with other related systemic issues faced by people engaging with the Royal Commission e.g. accessing services, finding housing, addressing discrimination or making complaints;
- Internal reporting and external reporting to the funding bodies as required;
- Referring people internally or to other agencies for support and assistance as required;
- Preservation of the mission and intent of QAI: Promotion, protection and defence of people with disability through the Human Rights Advocacy Service and provision of systemic information to the systems advocacy team, to contribute to law reform and systemic advocacy work.
Selection Criteria
Essential
- Commitment to social justice principles including the promotion and protection of the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.
- Experience working with people with disability and/or mental health impairments.
- Demonstrated attention to detail and highly developed organisational skills to balance competing priorities while maintaining best-practice service delivery within a resource-poor community-based service.
- Excellent communication skills including the ability to communicate sensitively and develop rapport with clients and other people from diverse backgrounds.
- Ability to work well independently and as part of a team.
- Computer competency.
Desirable
- Individual advocacy experience (legal or non-legal), with demonstrated ability to reason and argue assertively on important issues on behalf of people with disability.
- Legal/social work/allied health training or qualifications.
- Experience at a community legal centre and/or with CLASS and/or DEX databases.
To apply
Please send your CV and a one page cover letter telling us what interests you about the role to qai@qai.org.au before 5pm on 9 July 2021.
Please direct any questions to (07) 3844 4200 and/or email qai@qai.org.au using the subject line: Advocate – HRAP enquiry.