Community Advocate

**Introduction**:
Position

Community Advocate ( 3 days per week) 14 mth contract position

Position Objective

The Community Lawyer/Advocate will work within the Tenancy Assistance & Advocacy Program (TAAP) to assist vulnerable and disadvantaged community members to identify and resolve their tenancy issues through the delivery of high quality advice, casework and advocacy services

The Community Lawyer/Advocate will provide representation services in the Residential Tenancies List of the Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal.

The position also contributes to other aspects of the Program operations, such as networking, community engagement and education, delivery of outreach services, identification of systemic issues, reporting and administration.

Organisational Context
Peninsula Community Legal Centre (PCLC) is one of 49 community legal centres in Victoria. It operates across six local government area in the south east of Melbourne - Cardinia, Casey, Frankston, Glen Eira, Kingston and Mornington Peninsula. PCLC is headquartered in Frankston and has branch offices in Bentleigh, Cranbourne, Frankston North and Rosebud.

PCLC works to empower and support disadvantaged community members of the South Eastern and Westernport region to use the law and legal system to protect and advance their rights and broaden their awareness of their responsibilities. PCLC offers general legal advice and casework services, specialist family law, tenancy, family violence, rooming house and social work programs, and is active in community legal education and law reform work.

PCLC Vision & Values
Vision
Delivering justice for our community - Promoting and protecting human rights and equality before the law

Values
- Fairness
- Empowerment
- Accessibility
- Respect
- Integrity
- Independence
- Quality

Mission

**PCLC will**:

- Empower and support disadvantaged and vulnerable people in our community to address their legal needs
- Engage and build an ever strengthening and capable legal practice
- Foster and maintain a network of support for the vulnerable and disadvantaged within our community
- Support families in the provision of services that champion child welfare and safety in the eyes of the law
- Deliver a legal service that builds our community toward building one free from violence

Objectives
- Deliver high quality and holistic community legal services, ensuring equity, fairness and justice for all
- Actively engage in systemic advocacy, to promote and enhance human rights and ensure access to justice
- Proactively develop the organisation and its employees to effectively respond to changing community needs
- Innovatively and responsively address increasingly complex legal and social issues impacting upon our community
- Demonstrate leadership within our community and the legal assistance sector

**Description**:
Position Duties

Deliver high quality legal advice and casework, advocacy and representation services in accordance with the PCLC Advice and Casework Guidelines and TAAP Program requirements
Provide representation/duty advocate services in accordance with the Centre’s Advice and Casework & TAAP Program Guidelines.
Conduct ongoing casework in accordance with the Centre’s Advice and Casework Guidelines and within the caseload/file limit directed from time to time
Work closely and collaboratively with the Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal, Consumer Affairs Victoria and relevant staff.
Maintain an appropriate case management system, including undertaking regular file reviews
Maintain accurate and up-to-date records, including file notes, service delivery, quarterly client and casework statistics and prepare accurate information and case studies for six-monthly narrative reports.
Develop and maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, procedures and practices relevant to the position.
Develop and maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant information, resources and referral options for clients.
Participate in regular supervision and caseworkers’ meetings.
Ensure that all work is conducted within the requirements of the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014, the Centre’s professional indemnity insurance and the Centre’s policies and procedures.
Liaise with relevant organisations and workers.
Represent Peninsula Community Legal Centre at relevant community, government and other forums.
Participate in community legal education activities as directed.
Identify trends and issues arising from legal advice and casework practice.
Participate in activities which seek to ensure greater legislative and practical protection for PCLC clients, such as submission writing and participation in campaigns.
Liaise with and report to the Practice Manager, General on a regular basis.
Assist with collection of data and preparation of reports and other accountability documentation as required.

**Skills and Experiences**:
Key Selection Criteria

Tertiary qualifications in a relevant field suc