Advocate Engagement Officer

About us

Rights in Action Inc. is accredited under the National Standards for Disability Services (NSDS). RIA Advocates are agile, proactive, and equipped to vigorously defend the rights of people with disabilities on advocacy matters.

About the role

Rights in Action Inc. is seeking applications from suitable candidates to champion human rights within the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD) framework and the QLD Human Rights Act 2019. RIA Advocates are agile, proactive, and equipped to vigorously defend the rights of people with disabilities on advocacy matters.

Key responsibilities

• Being effective communicators who have a natural affinity for establishing rapport with people with disabilities, liaising with key external stakeholders, including parents, guardians, and providers, whilst influencing change for the benefit of the person with a disabilities.

• Establish facts, collate information and evidence, know who is involved, what has occurred, and what needs to be done to resolve the client's advocacy issue.

• Recognise and respond in to the safeguarding of children, young people or adults who are isolated, have limited natural or no supports available, and are at imminent risk of harm, exploitation, abuse, neglect, or discrimination.

• Conduct targeted research on relevant Acts, regulatory codes of practice, national standards, and legislation, and liaise with external stakeholders, parents/carers, or substituted decision-makers.

• Implement relevant, timely, and concise advocacy strategies through co-design, based on the client's wishes and goals, and translate them into the client's advocacy action plan.

• Provide informative, factual, rights-based education sessions to enquirers or existing clients who can self-advocate with the right information and resources.

• Identify, address, and aptly report all instances of abuse, neglect, exploitation, restrictive practices or harm to people with disabilities, chronic or episodic mental illness.

• Formulate ideas and strategically plan the practical advocacy supports requested by clients who present with complex or multiple issues.

• Prioritise cases using a dynamic caseload management style that is strengths-based and collaborative, whilst promoting client empowerment and initiating self-advocacy education.

• Work alongside and act as a support person for clients, their carers or guardians in the navigation of systems such as the NDIS, NDIS Appeals, QLD Civil and Administrative Tribunal proceedings, and QLD Mental Health Act.

About you

• Demonstrated experience or the ability to rapidly acquire competencies and skill sets required for contemporary individual advocacy for people with disabilities, its principles, the supported-decision framework, and principles.

• Provide a high-quality, ethical caseload management approach used to handle sensitive, complex issues whilst remaining conducive to the articles of the Human Rights Act and principles of social justice.

• Understanding of the social model of disability and the application of strategic interventions are required to address and advocate for improved inclusion and access, eliminating discriminatory practices and breaches of human rights.

• Demonstrated ability to analyse, plan, and implement advocacy strategies with or on behalf of people with disabilities.

• Accountable for own professional development, is self-motivated, and uses a consultative approach within a small team to guide ethical decision-making.

• Proven high-level communication (verbal and written) and problem-solving skills.

• Demonstrated competencies in quality data collation within client management systems (databases), including Office 365, in the maintenance of internal records for reporting statistical and measurable performance benchmarks.

• A working knowledge of the relevant Acts and Legislation, not limited to the Disability Services Act(s), the Disability Discrimination Act, the QLD Guardianship and Administration Act, the Right to Information, Privacy Legislation, the Mental Health Act, and the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act

• A current QLD C Class driver's licence.

• A valid Working with Children (Blue Card) and/or ability to attain a QLD Disability Worker Screening Yellow Card (Note: NDIS Worker Screening card holders are accepted; however, applicants must show evidence of a QLD Disability Worker Screening card application in process).

Desirable:

• Tertiary qualification in a related discipline or extensive vocational experience working in human services, engaging and working alongside people with disability or chronic mental illness.

• Ability to work flexibly and possibly outside usual working hours.

• Certificate in First Aid & CPR.