Redfern Legal Centre · Sydney, Australia
Sydney-based
Full Time
Supervision: Tenancy Practice Lead
Redfern Legal Centre is a non-profit community legal centre that promotes social justice and creates change. We provide free legal advice, legal services and education to people experiencing disadvantage in New South Wales. We drive innovation and change through policy and law reform work to address inequalities in the legal system, policies and social practices that cause disadvantage.
We provide effective and integrated free legal services that are client focussed, collaborative, non-discriminatory and responsive to changing community needs - to our local community as well as state-wide. Our specialist legal services focus on tenancy, credit, debt and consumer law, financial abuse, employment law, international students, First Nations justice, police accountability, and provide outreach services including through our health justice partnership.
Position Overview
Redfern Legal Centre’s Inner Sydney Tenancy Advice and Advocacy Service is a busy and dynamic service that works with First Nations tenants, and tenants experiencing disadvantage, in public and private housing in Inner Sydney. We work to prevent homelessness and ensure tenants have safe and affordable housing.
The Tenant Advocate provides renters with free advice, advocacy and casework on a range of housing issues including tenancy terminations, repairs, boarding and lodging arrangements, private tenancy disputes, bond disputes and social housing matters.
The Tenant Advocate will also conduct legal education, policy and law reform on systemic issues from time to time.
This role is open to both lawyers and non-lawyers.
Position Responsibilities
Provide telephone and face-to-face advice, information and referrals to residents in our catchment area, on a broad range of tenancy issues. Advocate for and provide representation to residents in our catchment area.
Represent clients in matters before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal and the Appeal Panel of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal and assist tenants as duty advocate at NCAT.
Prepare NCAT applications, written submissions, and appeals to housing providers and the Housing Appeals Committee.
Provide advice and referrals at the Centre’s outreach services, as required.
Assist in identifying the systemic needs of tenants in our catchment area and in the preparation and drafting of policy and law reform submissions.
Deliver community legal education on tenancy issues to community organisation staff, lawyers and tenants.
Assist in the drafting and preparation of legal resources, publications, case studies and articles relevant to tenants’ rights.
Assist in projects aimed at improving tenants’ rights, in consultation with the Tenancy Team Leader.
Contribute to the tenancy team through attendance at team meetings, liaison with other agencies and supervision of volunteers.
Contribute to Redfern Legal Centre through attendance at staff meetings, contribution to board and funding reports, assistance with intake including intake supervision shifts, and contribution to the effective implementation of our Reconciliation Action Plan.
Knowledge, skills and experience
Essential
Experience providing advice to tenants on a broad range of tenancy issues.
Capacity to undertake complex casework, dispute resolution and representation in tenancy matters, including representing clients at NCAT hearings.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Demonstrated experience working with people experiencing disadvantage and from diverse backgrounds.
Demonstrated understanding of issues affecting First Nations peoples and commitment to culturally safe service delivery.
Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, work independently, and contribute effectively as part of a team.
Demonstrated commitment to social justice, the objectives of community legal centres and to promoting tenants’ rights.
Desirable
Demonstrated experience developing legal resources and/or delivering community legal education.
Demonstrated ability to identify systemic issues and contribute to policy, advocacy or law reform initiatives.
Law Degree or other relevant tertiary qualifications.
Conditions
Salary and benefits: $102,285.12 - $130,632 depending on qualifications and experience.
Fixed annual salary in AUD.
Work Type: Full Time, Onsite
Language Requirement: English
Applications must be submitted in English.
Additional Notes: The role is open to both lawyers and non-lawyers. Applicants must demonstrate commitment to social justice and culturally safe service delivery. No visa sponsorship is offered.