IMHA First Nations Advocate

Victoria Legal Aid; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 89,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging up to $15,900

Hybrid work model

Flexible working arrangements

Annual salary progression

Job summary

Victoria Legal Aid seeks a First Nations Advocate to provide representational advocacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients on compulsory treatment orders. You will help clients understand rights and participate in decisions about their care and recovery.

The role involves advising staff on engaging with First Nations communities and working with Aboriginal officers and partners to deliver culturally safe services across Geelong and beyond.

Qualifications

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to liaise with First Nations consumers and stakeholders.
• Knowledge of issues affecting First Nations communities and experience in advocacy.
• Able to work collaboratively and foster team relationships.
• Able to understand situations and negotiate for effective solutions.
• Willingness to learn policy and legal frameworks relevant to practice.

Responsibilities

• Provide representational advocacy to First Nations people at risk of or on compulsory treatment orders.
• Assist clients to understand and exercise their rights and participate in decisions about treatment.
• Offer expert advice to staff on engaging with First Nations communities.
• Work with Aboriginal Community Engagement Officers and related staff to coordinate services.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to promote culturally safe practice.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Stakeholder liaison

First Nations knowledge

Collaborative mindset

Negotiation ability

Policy framework awareness

Community advocacy experience

Job description

• Salary range: $89,029 - $104,924 plus super
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging, flexible hybrid work arrangement

About the role

Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) is a non-legal advocacy program.

The First Nations Advocate role provides representational advocacy to First Nations people at risk of or on compulsory treatment orders, assists people to understand and exercise their rights and to enable them to participate in decisions about their treatment, care, and recovery. It also provides expert advice to staff regarding engaging and working with First Nations communities and works closely with internal stakeholders as well as Aboriginal Community Engagement Officers, Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service staff, as well as Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officers, Social and Emotional Wellbeing officers and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.

This role is based in Geelong on Wadawurrung Country.

About you

As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and demonstrated ability to liaise and communicate effectively with First Nations consumers, various First Nations stakeholders and organisations as well as mental health services.
• Sound knowledge of the issues affecting First Nations consumers and experience in supported decision making and representational advocacy.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with others and foster cooperative and supportive work relationships and team environment.
• An ability to understand individual situations and environments, and to negotiate and influence as required to create effective solutions.
• Openness to learn about relevant policy and legal frameworks including the Mental Health Act 2022 (Vic), Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic) and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities and how they inform practice.
• Experience and/or qualifications in community development, consumer advocacy, mental health advocacy, community sector advocacy, social work, mental health service provision or other similar fields (desirable).
• A knowledge of the general business of VLA and a commitment to our vision and values.

Don't meet every requirement? At VLA, we understand that your work and life experiences can be just as valuable. If your CV doesn't align perfectly with our job description, we strongly encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate.

About VLA

We offer legal representation, family dispute resolution and non-legal advocacy to those who need it most. With over 1400 staff employed in 16 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

• A focus on work-life balance, including flexibleworking arrangements
• Hybridwork fromhome& office model
• Generous leave benefits, including:
  • Three days paid seasonal leave (to be taken between Boxing Day and New Year's Day public holidays)
  • Paid gender affirmation leave
  • Five days both paid reproductive and fertility leave per calendar year
• Annual 3% salary increase each December plus performance-related salary incentives
• Attractive salary packaging options including General Expenses up to $15,900, Meals & Entertainment up to $2,650 PLUS Novated Leasing
• Discounted annualMyki public transport passes
• Individual learning and professional development opportunities, tailored to your role and career goals
• Free annual flu vaccinations
• Access to gym and end-of-trip facilities at our CBD office
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program, including confidential counselling and access to a range of mental health and wellbeing resources.

Applications close by 11.59pm on Tuesday 27 October 2026.

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.