Aboriginal Specialist Worker (Identified)

• Fixed-term: Full time – 35 hours per week

Service description

Wirringa Baiya is a state-wide community-based free legal service. The Centre is an Aboriginal specialist service that is managed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. The Centre is not-for-profit and focuses on the unique needs of economically and socially disadvantaged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, children, and youth within NSW. The Centre pays particular attention to victims-survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence.

Wirringa Baiya was established to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, children, and youth with a gender-specific legal service that is trauma-informed and sensitive to their culturally diverse needs. The Centre provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, children, and youth access to appropriate legal representation.

Services provided by the Centre include telephone advice, face-to-face legal advice, legal and non-legal casework, information and referral, advocacy, community legal education and community awareness. The Centre identifies early intervention and prevention strategies and provides training and education sessions tailored specifically to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, children, and youth.

Wirringa Baiya participates in a numerous of forums and interagency meetings with government and non-government organisations. The Centre provides services in various locations across NSW, including services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in correctional centres.

The community legal education program is delivered across NSW, including regional, rural and remote communities. The community legal education sessions focus on a range of issues such as domestic violence and Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVOs), adult sexual assault, child sexual abuse, family law, care and protection, discrimination, and the victim's support scheme (previously known as victim's compensation). These sessions may be held online and or in person.

Service delivery information and location:

• Wirringa Baiya is situated at Building 13, 142 Addison Road, Marrickville NSW 2204.
• Our geographical service delivery area is New South Wales.
• Drop-in is available; appointments are preferred.
• Our regular office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9 am – 5 pm. We are closed to the public on Wednesdays
• The telephone legal advice line operates Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 10 am - 4 pm.
• Our website: www.wirringabaiya.org.au

Funding

We are currently seeking to employ an Aboriginal Specialist Worker for 35 hours or 5 days a week. The funding for this position will be provided by the Commonwealth Government under the National Access Justice Partnership (NJP). The role will be fixed term from September/October 2026 - June 2030. The position will not be extended after this period unless funding permits.

Job Description for Aboriginal Specialist Worker

The Aboriginal Special Worker has several roles and responsibilities. These include working with the legal staff to assist clients with non – legal issues. The specialist worker will work as part of a team along with the other Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander staff and legal staff while under the supervision of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The Aboriginal Specialist Worker may be required to:

• participate on the Family Law Court - Indigenous List support roster and may be expected to attend the court proceedings in person or online. 
• attend outreach locations, when required. 
• travel, participate, and co-facilitate community legal education (CLE) sessions. This will involve overnight travel, usually 1, 2, or 3 nights away from home (Staff will be consulted before travel arrangements are made). This does not happen on a regular basis.

Accountability

The Aboriginal Specialist Worker will be directly accountable to the CEO and the Wirringa Baiya Governing Committee.

Responsibilities

• Provide prompt and efficient administrative support, information, referral, and non-legal casework.
• Take direction from the CEO.
• When directed by the CEO the specialist worker may be required to work under the supervision of the Principal Solicitor or the Executive Assistant.

Case management – role:

• Assist the Solicitors with non-legal casework for clients.
• Provide referrals to other agencies and support services such as counsellors, brokerage services, domestic violence (DV) support groups, parenting programs, accommodation, and housing providers. 
• Liaise and advocate on behalf of the client/s in a range of non-legal matters.
• Support clients at court and meetings.
• Ensure that relevant data is recorded on the Centre’s casework management system relating to the Centre's reporting obligations, including any information regarding referrals and support provided. 
• Write relevant case notes on the casework management system
• Write support letters for clients when appropriate.

Community Legal Education (CLE) and Travel Tasks (training and mentoring will be provided):

• Contribute to CLE presentations. Some training will be provided.
• Assist in arranging travel, accommodation, catering, car hire, speakers, travel and incidentals allowances, and venue hire (CLE, conferences, meetings, or any other tasks as directed by the CEO).
• Organise, consult, attend, facilitate, and co-facilitate CLE sessions held within NSW.
• Attend and participate at events and stalls, as required (occasionally, on weekdays and weekends).
• Participate in community legal education and community development.
• Advertise and promote community legal education events.
• Assist in packing resources for events and meetings.

Administration Tasks (some training will be provided):

• Answering the telephone.
• Provide client intake services.
• Record keeping and other administrative tasks, as required.
• Assist with the distribution and development of resources and promotional materials.
• To assist with seeking donations and assistance.
• Filing: maintaining casework notes and office systems.
• Work as part of the team in keeping the reception and common areas tidy.
• Record all information about with distribution of information (Fact Sheets), mail-in and out, and emails.
• Assist with programs and projects being developed and delivered by the Centre.
• Liaise with government and non-government agencies and services.
• Mail and distribute legal and non-legal information and resources, where necessary.
• Contribute to the Newsletter, where necessary.
• Participate in external meetings, conferences, and training, as directed or required.
• Contribute to law reform and policy work. (Staff will be eased into this process and will not be required to write policies or submissions. If you are concerned about this issue or would like more information, please call and speak to us about it).
• Participate in meetings including Aboriginal interagency and DV interagency meetings.
• To do any other work as directed by the CEO.

As an Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation (ACCO) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderwomen, we aim to empower other Aboriginal women by providing employment opportunities and assisting them in developing their skills and knowledge in various areas. We are willing to provide training and mentoring on issues where additional training maybe required.

Please feel free to give us a call so we can explain any of the tasks listed. We would be happy to talk you through any areas of concern. 

Required Flexibility: (e.g., Events)

The Aboriginal Specialist Worker will occasionally be required to work after hours, on weekends, and on public holidays (please note that this does not happen very often). The Specialist Worker will be required to participate in and attend community legal education sessions in rural, remote, and regional locations across NSW. Travel will be by car, train or possibly by light aircraft/plane. The Centre will endeavour to negotiate travel at a mutually convenient time for the community, the employee and the Centre.   

Any work undertaken outside of ordinary hours will be compensated by the accrual of time. Time in lieu will be accrued at the shift/penalty rate of the hours as stated in the SCHADS/ Modern Award.

Selection Criteria

Essential (some training will be provided):

• Identify as and be accepted in the Aboriginal community as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander woman.
• Case management experience.
• Ability to work effectively in a team.
• Time management skills.
• Office/administration skills.
• Good communication and negotiation skills.
• Good customer service skills.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Computer and Internet skills.
• Able to follow directions and work unsupervised.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Knowledge of issues that impact Aboriginal people, in particular, Aboriginal women, children, and youth.
• Due to our work in correctional centres and with children, the applicant must be able to obtain Criminal Check and a Working with Children Check.  
• Ability to present and speak in public forums and meetings. 

Desirable:

• Ability to operate an Apple Mac computer.
• Experience working with Aboriginal communities, women, and children.
• Knowledge of domestic violence, Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders, sexual assault, child sexual assault, family law, and care and protection (we can provide training on these issues).
• The holder of a current NSW Drivers Licence or be willing to obtain one. 

Job Status

The starting date will be September or October 2026 and will cease in June 2030. The position will end after this period unless funding permits.   

The Aboriginal Specialist Worker’s role is full time and will have a six-month probationary period.   

Rate of pay

The starting rate of pay will be Level 4 Pay point 1 – Level 4 Pay Point 4 as per the SCHADS Award. Salary ranges from $92,590.88 - $99,640.20 + 12% Superannuation. Wirringa Baiya does pay above the award rate. The Centre does offer additional workplace incentives. Salary packaging is available.  

The pay rate will depend and may be negotiated depending on the successful applicant’s skills, experienceand qualifications.    

Conditions of employment are based on the Policies of the Centre, which are in line with the SCHADS/Modern Award.

Being an Aboriginal woman is a genuine occupational qualification under sections 14 & 31 of the Anti Discrimination Act 1977 NSW.

All applicants may be required to produce proof of Aboriginality.

How to Apply

Click "Apply Now". Applicants must provide the following:

• An application addressing the relevant selection criteria
• resume
• the names of two referees (including last/current employer)

For all enquires, don't hesitate to contact Christine Robinson at (02) 9569 3847 or email Christine at: c.robinson@wirringabaiya.org.au using the subject line: Aboriginal Specialist Worker (Identified) enquiry via EthicalJobs.

PLEASE NOTE: Interviews will take place on the week beginning the 21st September 2026.

If you have any questions about the position, please email the above, or ring the office  on 02 9569 3847 and speak to Christine Robinson.