Co-Director, Children and Young People’s Rights Program

The Organisation

Westjustice is a community organisation that provides free legal help to people in the Western suburbs of Melbourne.

Westjustice can help with a broad range of everyday legal problems including consumer disputes, credit and debt, family law and family violence, fines, motor vehicle accidents, tenancy, youth criminal law and more.

Westjustice’s purpose is to deliver targeted services and drive meaningful change to achieve fairness, safety and justice for Melbourne’s West. 

Benefits & Culture

• Be a part of an organisation that 98% of our team are proud to work for
• We pay 3% above the SCHADs award
• Not for profit salary packaging up to $15,900 per annum
• Flexible working conditions
• 17.5% annual leave loading
• Passionate, professional and dedicated team
• Gifted additional paid leave over the Christmas holiday period
• Strong focus on collaboration, wellbeing, inclusion and diversity

The Role

Due to the growth of our Children’s and Young People’s Rights (CYPR) program, Westjustice is seeking to employ a full-time Co-Director on a 12month maximum term contract to join our Senior Leadership Team.

The Co-Director, Children and Young People’s Rights is responsible for:

• Leading the delivery of CYPR Program and Services
• Managing CYPRP’s legal and integrated practice, including providing Civil and Criminal Law Expertise.
• Provide strategic, expert legal and practice management advice to the CEO and Senior Leadership Team in collaboration with the Co-Director.
• Collaborating with the Co-Director to integrate TARGET ZER0 and Smart Justice for Young People (SJ4YP) related work into the CYPR programs and services.

Role Requirements:

• Qualified lawyer with a current (or eligible to hold a) principal practicing certificate.
• 10 years+ legal practice expertise in Civil and Criminal Law and representing children and young people.
• Experienced leader with a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and confidently to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders and to build strong partnerships and effectively lead change through influence
• Ability to set and deliver high quality work outcomes.
• Strong commitment to social justice

This position will work from our offices in Sunshine and Werribee.

For more information about Westjustice and a copy of the position description, please visit our website (www.westjustice.org.au)

For further information or a confidential discussion, please call Ellen on 0419 617 754. Apply by sending your cover letter and resume to ellen@westjustice.org.au by no later than close of business Friday 5 September. Please note, applications will be shortlisted for interview as they are received.

The successful applicant will require a current Working with Children’s Check and a Police Check or be prepared to apply for both. Applicants must possess the right to work in Australia.

Westjustice is committed to building a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people living with a disability, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, mature age workers and LGBTIQA+-identifying people.   People with lived experience of the justice system are encouraged to apply. A police check result does not automatically disqualify an application but will be individually assessed for the relevant role.

Please ensure that you let us know, in advance, of any reasonable adjustment you may require during any part of the recruitment process including application and interview by contacting Ellen via ellen@westjustice.org.au Any information disclosed will be held in the strictest of confidence.