Policy Officer

People With Disability Australia; Sydney; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Above-award rates (SCHADS)

Salary packaging up to $15,900

Fringe Benefits Tax benefits

Job summary

People With Disability Australia in Surry Hills NSW is seeking a dedicated Policy Officer for a full-time, 1-year fixed-term contract. The role focuses on policy analysis, development, and systemic advocacy to advance rights for people with disability.

Responsibilities include policy guidance across NSW, national and international levels, and collaboration with advocacy teams to address priority issues and reforms. Bachelor-level qualifications are required.

Qualifications

• Degree in Social Science, Law, or related discipline.
• Commitment to the rights and interests of people with disability, and demonstrated capability in policy analysis, development, and systemic advocacy.
• Experience in supporting and contributing to projects.
• Demonstrated capability in policy analysis, development, and systemic advocacy.
• Demonstrated strategic, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including experience writing submissions and reports.
• Support with fundraising and/or grant seeking.

Responsibilities

• Policy Analysis and Development
• Projects and Teamwork
• Systemic Advocacy, Representation and Government Relations
• Media and Communications
• Income Generation

Skills

Policy analysis

Policy development

Project support

Negotiation

Verbal communication

Written communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Social Science, Law, or related discipline

Job description

People With Disability Australia – Surry Hills NSW

PWDA is seeking a full-time (35 hours) experienced Policy Officer for a fixed term 1 year contract.

• Use your bachelor’s degree in law, policy, social sciences, social work or a related discipline to protect and enhance the human rights and interests of people with disability.
• Join a passionate and dynamic systemic advocacy team.

About Us

We are Australia’s national peak rights and advocacy organisation for people with disability, advancing and protecting the rights, health and wellbeing of the people and communities we serve. Our vision is of a socially just, accessible and inclusive community, in which the human rights, belonging, contribution, potential and diversity of all people with disability are recognised, respected and celebrated with pride.

About the role

PWDA's systemic advocacy function aims to influence positive change in those structural, legislative, or systemic issues that adversely affect the interests of people with disability. This includes engagement in law reform, policy analysis and advice; sector representation and coordination; training; legal advocacy; research; and capacity building programs aimed at increasing the self-representation of identified groups of people with disability. The program is conducted within NSW, nationally and internationally.

The Policy Officer will provide policy analysis and development, policy advice and representation across a range of social policy and advocacy areas in NSW, nationally and internationally. Knowledge of policy frameworks such as Australia’s Disability Strategy, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the boarder disability supports system is critical.

Additionally, it will provide policy guidance to the individual advocacy team, identifying emerging issues, and ensuring our policy analysis is inclusive and responsive to the needs of priority population groups.

Key Responsibilities

• Policy Analysis and Development
• Projects and Teamwork
• Systemic Advocacy, Representation and Government Relations
• Media and Communications
• Income Generation

About you

You are a passionate and skilled in policy analysis and development. You will also bring:

• Degree in Social Science, Law, or related discipline.
• A commitment to the rights and interests of people with disability, and have demonstrated capability in policy analysis, development, and systemic advocacy.
• Experience in supporting and contributing to projects
• Demonstrated capability in policy analysis, development, and systemic advocacy.
• Demonstrated strategic, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills including experience writing submissions and reports.
• Support with fundraising and/or grant seeking.

Remuneration and Benefits

• Award Classification: Level 5 Social, Community, Home Care & Disability Services (SCHADS) Award 2010
• PWDA pays above-award rates as per our Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.
• Fringe Benefits Tax benefits provides you with the option to salary package up to $15,900.

Applications will close on 5 October 2026.

PWDA is a proud employer of people with disability, and people with disability are strongly encouraged to apply for these positions.

We are an EEO employer and we embrace the diversity of our people, such as diversity in disability, race, cultural background, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, or intersex status.