Cultural Liaison Officer

Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2)Salary: Total package $92,713 – $101,058 per annum, including 15.4% superannuation (Base salary $80,341 – $87,572 per annum, plus 15.4% superannuation)Various Locations: Positions available in Sydney, Parramatta, Brisbane, Dandenong, Melbourne, and travel to other Court registries as required.Position overviewCultural Liaison Officers (CLOs) play a vital role in supporting culturally and linguistically diverse court users, primarily within the migration jurisdiction. CLOs are tasked with guiding and assisting court users from migrant and refugee backgrounds, ensuring they can navigate the court process with confidence and understanding. By fostering effective communication, particularly through the use of interpreters, CLOs help litigants navigate the Court process in migration matters.A key aspect of this role is connecting court users with essential legal and social support services within the community. CLOs actively facilitate referrals to services tailored to the diverse needs of court users, including legal advice, emergency relief, income support, housing assistance, health services, social support, and opportunities for community engagement.Recognising that services for culturally and linguistically diverse individuals vary across regions, CLOs are also responsible for building and strengthening connections with local, state, territory, and national service providers. This ensures that court users receive the most appropriate and timely support, regardless of their location.The key duties of the position include:Providing procedural support to culturally and linguistically diverse litigants and connecting them to legal and social supports, such as refugee legal services, migrant and asylum seeker resource centres, and services assisting migrant and refugee community members with income support, material aid, employment and skill development, housing and homelessness, counselling and mental health support.Supporting litigants to connect with interpreter services where necessary.Providing dedicated support for litigants in detention environments.Engaging with relevant community organisations, legal and social support agencies to enhance referral pathways between the Court and essential legal and social services for culturally and linguistically diverse litigants.Under the guidance of the National Manager – Cultural Liaison Program, the National Manager – Registrar and Migration Operations, and Director – Access, Equity and Inclusion, assist with internal education and training development on the needs and circumstances of culturally and linguistically diverse litigants.Candidates with particular skills and experience may be called upon to assist with other culturally specific projects or advice work, subject to the operational needs of the Court.EligibilityProfessional qualifications, competencies and attributesCompleted or enrolled in relevant tertiary education in the areas of law, social work, psychology, criminology or relevant demonstrated experience.To be successful in the role of CLO, the ideal candidate will possess:Cultural Competency: The ability to effectively communicate with and provide information to culturally and linguistically diverse, unrepresented litigants about how the Court operates and how to access relevant services.Knowledge of Migration and Court Processes: General knowledge of the migration law system and/or court operations, or the ability to learn this quickly.Experience Supporting Migrant Populations: Demonstrated experience in providing support to individuals from migrant and refugee backgrounds.Impartiality and Objectivity: A clear understanding of the impartial nature of the Court, with the ability to provide unbiased support to litigants while respecting the judicial process.Autonomous and Collaborative Work Ethic: Proven ability to work both independently and as part of a team, while also seeking guidance from more senior members when necessary.Networking and Relationship Building: Strong networking skills with the ability to establish and maintain positive, productive relationships with both internal stakeholders (such as judges and court staff) and external partners (such as legal and social support organisations).Special requirementsDepending on the operational needs of the Court, some positions may be based remotely. Candidates in these roles must have an appropriate workspace at home and the ability to maintain productivity in a remote environment. Travel to other court locations, usually intrastate (e.g., Melbourne registry to Dandenong registry), may be required. A candidate's willingness and flexibility to travel will be highly regarded.While experience within a court setting is desirable, it is not essential. Proficiency in a language other than English for the purposes of communicating with litigants is also desirable, but not essential. A community language allowance may be available to the successful candidate who is able and required to communicate in a language other than English in the course of their work.Selection criteriaThe successful candidate will demonstrate:Cultural and Linguistic Awareness: Strong knowledge and understanding of the language and cultural needs of court users from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, particularly in the context of migration law.Culturally Appropriate Communication: Proven ability to work in a culturally sensitive and effective manner with diverse populations, and to communicate positively and effectively with key stakeholders both within the Court (such as judges and staff) and externally (such as legal and social support organisations).Court Knowledge and Adaptability: Demonstrated experience or the ability to quickly acquire knowledge of court procedures and processes, with the capacity to convey this information clearly and effectively to culturally and linguistically diverse court users.Feedback and Improvement: Ability to provide constructive feedback on procedural and policy changes necessary to enhance accessibility and service utilisation for culturally and linguistically diverse court users.Oral and Written Communication Skills: Strong oral and written communication skills, coupled with a willingness to engage in ongoing professional development and contribute positively to a collaborative work environment.Commitment to APS Values and Conduct: A demonstrated understanding and commitment to the Australian Public Service (APS) Values, adherence to the APS Code of Conduct, and the ability to comply with principles of Workplace Diversity and Occupational Health and Safety.NotesEmployment with the Court is subject to the conditions prescribed in the Public Service Act 1999, and the following:Australian citizenship – the successful applicant must hold Australian citizenship.Security and character clearance – the successful applicant must satisfy a Police Records Check and may also be required to complete security clearances during the course of their employment.Successful applicants engaged into the APS will be subject to a probation period.Diversity and inclusionThe Court is committed to supporting an inclusive and diverse workforce and welcomes and encourages applications from people with disability, First Nations people, LGBTIQA+ people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, mature age workers and young workers. The Court is committed to supporting an inter-generational workforce, gender equity and families.The Court will provide reasonable adjustments for candidates to participate equitably in the recruitment process and discuss workplace adjustments to fulfill the inherent requirements of the role.
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