Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre Inc.
Program Coordinator – Aboriginal Women’s Advisory Network (AWAN)
35 hours per week, Fixed term: March 2025 – March 2026
Being an Aboriginal woman is a genuine occupational qualification under sections 14 & 31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 NSW.
The Aboriginal Women’s Advisory Network (AWAN), under the auspice of Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre (Wirringa Baiya) is looking for an experienced Program Coordinator on a full-time basis to join our team at 142 Addison Road, Marrickville, Sydney, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Wirringa Baiya. The successful applicant will be able to work from home; however, they will be required to attend face-to-face meetings and consultations where necessary and when directed.
Service Description
Wirringa Baiya is a New South Wales state-wide community legal centre; this service is a not-for-profit managed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. The service focuses on the special needs of economically and socially disadvantaged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, children, and youth within New South Wales. Wirringa Baiya was established to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, children, and youth with a genderspecific, trauma-informed service, which is sensitive to their culturally diverse needs. The focus of the Centre is to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who are victim-survivors of violence, with access to appropriate legal and non-legal representation, advice, referral, and advocacy.
Aboriginal Women’s Advisory Network
Wirringa Baiya currently auspices and manages the AWAN program. AWAN is a mechanism to drive Aboriginal-led policy solutions within NSW at a local, regional, and state level, particularly Closing the Gap Target 13. Target 13 aims to ensure the rate of all forms of family violence and abuse against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children is reduced by at least 50%. AWAN consists of a collective of Aboriginal-lived experienced experts who have come together, under the banner of AWAN, to drive Aboriginal-led policy solutions at a local, regional, and state level.
The Role of AWAN
AWAN consists of members, most of whom sit outside of Wirringa Baiya; however, its secretariat support will be employed by Wirringa Baiya and sit within the organisation. The Program Coordinator will be an employee of Wirringa Baiya. However, the purpose of this role is to support AWAN and its members to achieve the objectives of the group, which are:
- Through our holistic knowledge and experience as Aboriginal women, we will lead place-based solutions to address domestic, sexual, and family violence (DSFV).
- Provide Aboriginal women across NSW at a local, regional, and state level with opportunities and pathways to contribute their opinions, experiences, and perspectives.
- To inform and drive government decision-making on Target 13 and other issues impacting Aboriginal women, families, and communities.
- Develop a mechanism to ensure accountability and shared decision making between AWAN and all stakeholders.
- Establish a social justice framework for government, NGOs, and Aboriginal community to work and walk with us to maintain cultural integrity.
- Develop and design an Aboriginal framework of quality outcomes for women, families, and communities.
- Create and nurture a respectful, safe, and engaging network for the Aboriginal Women’s Advisory Network.
- Using our ways to learn, educate, communicate, and create awareness of domestic, family, and sexual violence and the intersectionality with Closing the Gap priority reforms and targets.
AWAN has an Executive Council made up of community members and representatives of the Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS), NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (NSW CAPO) and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs). The AWAN Executive Council is supported by the AWAN Secretariat/Project Team which is led by the Program Coordinator and is responsible for the delivery of the strategic direction set by the AWAN Executive Council. The Secretariat/Project Team are employees of Wirringa Baiya in accordance with the auspicing arrangement and are located within the offices of Wirringa Baiya.
Reporting and Decision Making
Duties are performed under the guidance and strategic direction of the AWAN Executive Council. Under the auspicing arrangement the role works within established structure and practices of Wirringa Baiya.
Program Coordinators: Roles and Responsibilities
The Program Coordinator is a key role responsible for leading and directing the AWAN Secretariat/Project Team to deliver the strategic direction of the AWAN Executive Council and will:
- Engage with Aboriginal women and communities across NSW in a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive and culturally appropriate manner.
- Provide knowledge and guidance around solutions to address domestic, family, and sexual violence.
- Be solution based driven by the expertise and experiences of Aboriginal perspectives and must represent the complex variety of communities that Aboriginal women belong to including the LGBTIQ+SB community, Aboriginal women with disability and the Intersex community to name a few.
- Contribute the efficient and effective functioning of the AWAN as the head of the secretariat.
- To support and collaborate with the development of key documentation for AWAN’s engagement with CAPO and Closing the Gap Target 13.
- Report against the AWAN program activities, key performance indicators, strategic plans and budget.
- The role involves coordinating the AWAN Secretariat to prepare Executive Council meetings including the minute taking,
preparation of AWAN papers, coordination of communications with Executive Council recordkeeping and providing assistance with enquiries and other matters which arise in relation to AWAN activities and support. - To manage and coordinate AWAN program staff to deliver community consultations, roundtables, programs and activities
as determined by the AWAN Strategic Plan including the development of AWAN processes and governance. - To oversee the operations of the AWAN program.
Essential Criteria
The applicant must be of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, identify and be accepted in community as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander woman.
- An understanding of the needs and access to justice issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, children, and youth.
- Experience working with Aboriginal communities, women, and children.
- Work or equivalent experience in a similar role.
- 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).
- Demonstrated organisational skills including prioritising tasks, managing multiple projects.
- Ability to meet deadlines and work autonomously.
- Strong analytical and research skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication, report writing and presentation skills with exceptional attention to detail.
- Excellent relationship management skills, ability to influence and capacity to work effectively with a broad range of organisations including government departments, Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) and other community sector organisations.
- Understanding decision-making, board governance and ability to work effectively to achieve the strategic direction of the Executive Council.
Remuneration
The position will be full-time, 35 hours per week. The relevant award is the Social and Community Services Award (SCHADS). The rate of pay will be dependent on the experience and qualifications of the successful applicant. The annual rate of pay will be $170,000 pro-rata + Superannuation. Salary sacrificing is available. The rate of pay and hours may be negotiable. Please contact us if you would like to discuss further.
THERE WILL BE NO CLOSING DATE UNLESS A SUITABLE APPLICANT IS FOUND.
To submit an EOI:
- Please provide a cover letter of no more than two pages addressing the essential criteria along with a copy of your resume, relevant qualifications and/or relevant experience.
- Your resume or cover letter should also include the details of two contactable referees, one must be your current or most recent employer.
- Mark application “Confidential” and email above details to Christine Robinson at c.robinson@wirringabaiya.org.au
For any further information, please contact Christine Robinson (CEO) by phone: (02) 9569 3847 or by email – c.robinson@wirringabaiya.org.au
