FAMILY VIOLENCE/DIOS VOLUNTEER

Department / Family Violence Team
Availability / 1-2 days per week
Location / Heidelberg Magistrates Court/Thornbury
Category / Family Violence TeamVolunteer
Darebin Community Legal Centre
Darebin Community Legal Centre (DCLC) is a not for profit community legal service, which provides free legal advice and referral to people who live, work or study in the Darebin area. The Centre aims to empower and support the Darebin community through legal advice, advocacy, education and information.
The Centrewith its professional staff and large volunteer base provides a range of creative and innovative programs.Ithas prioritised assisting the most marginalised members of our community or experiencing family violence. DCLC provides a duty lawyer assisting applicants at the family violence division of the Heidelberg Magistrate Court, and the Neighbourhood Justice centre (Darebin Intervention Order Service – DIOS). Outreaches are conductedto Reservoir, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, youth services and prisons; as well as the more traditional legal night services. The successful applicant will have a strong focus on social justice and providing quality front line services to clients of the Darebin Community Legal Centre.
Role purpose
The Family Violence Team Paralegal volunteer will provide valuable support to the Family Violence teamin a supportive and nurturing environment. The roleis designed todevelop legal skills and client management.We seek a candidate with a strong interest and aptitude for family violence issues and social justice.
Role responsibilities
  • Assist at Darebin Community Legal Centre one day a week with client appointments and follow up duties (under supervision). These duties may include:
⁻Supporting the family violence team with preparation of case studies, case reviews and compilation of data.
⁻Preparation of court and other documents (under supervision).
⁻Carrying out data entry, filing and copying.
⁻Carrying out other administrative and legal support duties.
  • After a provisional training period (where suitability is assessed) theopportunity to attend Heidelberg Magistrates Court one day a week (alternating with one day a week spent assisting in the office)to assist the duty lawyer with providing duty services to applicants and protected persons in family violence intervention order proceedings.

Knowledge, skills and experience
-Satisfactory completion of at least second year Law studies and participation in Family Law studies at undergraduate level.
-Mature interpersonal skills and an ability to manage complex and challenging subject matter.
-Reliable and responsible with an understanding of confidentiality.
-Ability to work in an office environment.
-Ability to work in a challenging Court environment.
-Proficient in Microsoft Office suite.
-Good organisational skills and attention to detail.
-An interest in data analysis and policy development.
-Ability to take direction and apply instruction to a variety of tasks.
Check requirements
⁻Eligible to hold a Working with Children’s Check card inVictoria.
Learning and development
⁻Must attend client database training.
General conditions
-7-14 hours (1 to 2 days) per week commitment[any time greater than 1 day per week is subject to further consideration].
-Must attend 90% of shifts rostered.