About KWILS Katherine Women's Information & Legal Service (KWILS) is a specialist Women's Legal Service based in Katherine, NT. KWILS acknowledges the Jawoyn, Wardaman and Dagoman people, and all Nations across the Big Rivers Region, as the Traditional Owners of the Country we live and work on. We particularly celebrate the strength of the women who have cared for their children, families, language, law, and country for countless generations, and continue to do so.
KWILS is a not-for-profit Community Legal Centre, providing all women in Katherine and the Big Rivers Region with free civil law advice and representation, and support services, with a particular focus on the reduction of domestic, family, and sexual violence ('DFSV'). We have operated since 1997.
In addition to individual legal assistance, KWILS provides Community Legal Education, and undertakes advocacy and law reform work, with a focus on addressing harmful societal and cultural practices, assumptions, behaviours and attitudes that contribute to gender-based violence and gender inequity.
KWILS seeks to be a safe practice for all staff and clients, and works to achieve service delivery and community engagement that is collaborative and empowering for women and communities.
Position Purpose Under the supervision of the Principal Legal Officer ("PLO"), the Support & Connections Leader (SCL) provides leadership, supervision, guidance, training, and mentoring for KWILS' Support and Community Engagement Team. KWILS' Support workers identify, respond to, and resolve clients' social support issues, particularly where they elevate the risk of domestic, family or sexual violence. The SCL ensures the provision of culturally safe, trauma informed, and high-quality support services and case management to KWILS clients. The Community Engagement workers build relationships with Leaders and Stakeholders in the Community. The Team contributes to the enhanced knowledge of legal rights, and access to justice and safety for women and children including through Community Legal Education and Community Engagement. The SSPL ensures this work reflects community development principles such as collaboration and empowerment. As part of KWILS' Leadership Team, the SCL provides leadership to KWILS' Staff, and to support the service to meet KWILS' Strategic & Operational Plans *We will interview suitable candidates as applications are received, so please apply or reach out for a conversation a.s.a.p. to avoid missing out!*
About you Do you/are you: Committed to promoting the interests of women. Committed to human rights, social justice, equity, and diversity. Passionate, self-motivated, and open-minded.Adaptable, resilient, and able to work under pressure. Have initiative and tenacity.Hold a positive approach to change.Value diversity. Do you have: Qualifications in community services, social work, social science, counselling or related fields (highly regarded). 3+ years' experience in a relevant field. Experience working in or familiarity within community services, community legal, or DFSV sector will be highly regarded. Proven ability to work constructively and collaboratively with, motivate, mentor, and supervise legal and non-legal staff, students, and volunteers. Main Responsibilities 1. LeadershipProvide training, mentoring, capacity building, and supervision of KWILS' Support and Community Engagement Team in partnership with the PLO.Convene regular Team meetings and Reflective Practice opportunities.Conduct file reviews with Team members and monitor caseloads/capacity.Participate in performance discussions, and development and growth plans and reviews for Team members with the PLO. Manage rostering of the Support and Community Engagement Team. Maintain competency in KWILS' core practice areas (domestic, family and sexual violence ('DFSV'), child protection, and family law).Develop and implement workflows and processes for the Team. 2. Service DeliveryAssess requests for Flexible Support Package help for clients in line with guidelines. Provide support services to clients as set out below in the Support Worker tasks, where this is required to support the Team's capacity and client needs. Build capacity of Support Workers to confidently and consistently provide:Discreet and ongoing support services in a culturally safe, DFSV and trauma informed way to KWILS' clients, particularly in complex matters. Undertake risk assessments and safety planning. Assist clients to identify goals to work towards their safety and work collaboratively with clients to plan how those goals will be achieved. Co-ordinate client referrals to external services where required. Assist with intake and triage of new and returning clients.Accurately capture all support service data through KWILS' internal data and file management systems, in a timely manner.Build capacity of Community Engagement Workers to confidently and consistently:Establish Katherine based Outreach to identified priority services. Establish regular remote Outreach trips to identified priority communities.Organise KWILS' presence at community events and activities. Accurately capture all community engagement service data through KWILS' internal data and file management systems, in a timely manner.Assist in the coordination of and support the delivery of culturally safe Community Legal Education (CLE) workshops and resources.3 Stakeholder EngagementRepresent KWILS in a variety of public forums to promote the work of the service, including network meetings and consultations.Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders to deliver outreach services to the community, with a focus on working in an integrated and collaborative manner. 4 Organisational responsibilities Accurately capture all support and community engagement service data through KWILS' internal data and file management systems, in a timely manner.Attend regular KWILS staff meetings.Undertake ongoing professional development in accordance with relevant professional regulations and KWILS' policies and procedures. Ensure compliance with KWILS' policies and procedures.Contribute to the ongoing development of relevant policies and procedures. Contribute to organisational commitments to funding bodies and the KWILS' Management Committee including case studies, outreach work summaries, and facilitating client and CLE feedback surveys. The above list is not exhaustive, and the role may change to meet the overall objectives of the service.