Independent Tenant Advocate

Independent Tenant Advocate

• Sydney based
• Three days per week (part-time) 12-month contract
• $96646.89 $102741.85 (pro rata part-time)
• Supervised by the Tenancy Team Practice Lead

Redfern Legal Centre

Redfern Legal Centre is a non-profit community legal centre that promotes social justice and creates change. Weprovidefree legal advice legal services and education to people experiencing disadvantage in New South Wales. We drive innovation and change through policy and law reform work to address inequalities in the legal system policies and social practices that cause disadvantage.

We provide effective and integrated free legal services that are client focussed collaborative non-discriminatory and responsive to changing community needs to our local community as well as state-wide. Our specialist legal services focus on tenancy credit debt and consumer law financial abuse employment law international students First Nations justice police accountability and provide outreach services including through our health justice partnership.

Redfern Legal Centres Inner Sydney Tenancy Advice and Advocacy Service is a busy and dynamic service that works with First Nations tenants and tenants experiencing disadvantage in public and private housing in Inner work to prevent homelessness and ensure tenants have safe and affordable housing.

Waterloo South Renewal

Waterloo South socialhousing is beingredevelopedand tenants are beingrelocatedto facilitate this of tenants in Waterloo South will happen in stages. This means not all tenants will move at the same time. Tenants will:

• Receive at least six months written notice before needing to move
• Be given the opportunity to stay in the local area
• Have the right to return to Waterloo once the development is complete.

Waterloo Southdemographicsinclude 62% of households with tenants aged 55 19% First Nations tenants and 22% of householdsthathave lived in their homes for 20 social housing also includesasignificant numberof tenants from non-English speaking backgrounds including those who speak ChineseVietnameseand Russian.

Position Overview

The Independent Tenant Advocate willprovidesupporttosocialhousing tenants who are beingrelocatedaspart of therenewalof the Waterloo Independent TenantAdvocatewillprovideindependent guidance and support to tenants attend meetings with tenants liaise withHomesNSWrelocation officersadvocate for tenants to ensuretheir relocationreflects their needs and ensures their wellbeing.

The Independent Tenant Advocatewillassisttenants to understand their rightsconfirm their individual housing needsconnect with support servicesand advocate with Homes NSWto ensure the relocations process is positive and equitable.

This role requires a strong commitment to social justice knowledge of housing rights and policies and an ability to work empathetically withpublic housingtenants facingrelocation.

The Independent Tenant Advocate will work collaboratively with other local servicesand withRedfern Legal Centre staff includingthe First Nations Engagement Worker to deliver culturally safe andappropriate servicesto Waterloo South tenants.

Therolewill be based in Redfern andwillberequiredto travel locally to meet with tenants attend meetings and liaise with Homes NSW and other stakeholders.

Position Responsibilities

1. Provide assistancetosocial housing tenantsto ensure the relocations process is positive andequitable.
2. Promotethe Independent Tenant Advocate service through speaking at stakeholder and community events attending events and liaison with stakeholder and community organisations.
3. Provide support and advice to ensure tenantsunderstandtherelocation process their optionsand their rights under current housing laws and policies.
4. Assist tenants in negotiating with Homes NSW and Community Housing providers to secure housing that meets their needs and circumstances.
5. Assisttenantstoprepare for meetingswithHomes NSW andattend individual meetings and interviews between tenants and Homes NSW to provide support and advocacy.
6. Work collaboratively with Homes NSW and local services to develop and distribute plain-language materials (fact sheets guides FAQs) that explain the relocation process tenant rights and available supports including in community languages and inculturallyappropriate designsand formats.
7. Work collaboratively withlocal organisations tofacilitateinformation sessions or workshops toassisttenants to understand the details of the relocation process including timelines availableassistance and the applicable laws and policies.
8. Assist tenants in accessingadditionalsupport services such as financial counsellinghealthand other support services.
9. Provide feedback to local authorities housing providers and other stakeholders based on tenants experiences and concerns contributing tobest practicerelocation practices.
10. Represent tenants interests in meetings with local government housing authorities and other key stakeholders involved in the redevelopment process.
11. Contribute to Redfern Legal Centre through attendance at staff meetings contribution to board and funding reportsassistancewith intake including intake supervision shiftsand contribution to the effective implementation of our Reconciliation Action Plan.

Knowledgeskillsand experience

Essential

1. Minimumof two years of experience in tenant advocacy social work or a related field.
2. Strong knowledge of tenant rightsandsocialhousing policies.
3. Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex housing and legal concepts to tenants in plain language.
4. Ability to build trust with tenants anddemonstratesensitivity and empathy in supportingpeoplethroughadifficultprocess.
5. Demonstratedability to advocate effectively with government agencies and other stakeholdersfor positive outcomes to ensure wellbeing for people.
6. Strong organisational skills and the ability to managediverse commitments.
7. Ability to work independently and as part of a team with strong self-motivation and initiative.
8. Experience working with and an understanding of the needs of people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgroundsFirst Nations peoplepeople with disabilities or othercommunitieswho face disadvantage in access to legal or other services.

DesirableAttributes

1. A degree or certificationinsocial work community developmentlawor a related field is preferred but not essential.
2. Fluency in a second language (e.g. Mandarin Russian or other community language) is an asset.

Conditions

Salary $96646.89 $102741.85 depending on qualifications and experience pro rata to three days per week. The salary will increase in line with the Fair Work Commission rise from 1 July 2026in accordance withthe Redfern Legal Centre Enterprise Agreement.

Superannuation is paid in addition and salary packaging is available.

Redfern Legal Centre is a diverse and inclusive workplace offering flexible working conditions and a strong focus on wellbeing. Benefits include a flexible working arrangements (including time in lieu) generous training opportunities professional debriefing to support atraumainformedservice and four weeks annual leave.

Staff also receive a paidtwoweekendofyearclosure (including public holidays).

As a Public Benevolent Institution Redfern Legal Centre offers generous salary packaging options which may increasetakehomepay by up to $6000 per annum for staff who take full advantage of these arrangements.

Applications

Thereis no closing date forapplications please applyas soonas possible.

We strongly encourage applications from First Nations applicants people from diverse cultural backgrounds and people with disability.

Non-lawyers mustcomply withs 121 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law.

Your application should be no more than six pages long and must include:

• a cover letter;
• your resume; and
• a statement addressing theEssential Knowledge Skills and Experience Criteria

Apply via the link in the job advertisement.

Inquiries should be directed