Advocacy and Resource Officer - Remote / Work from Home

Down Syndrome Australia

Remote / Work from Home

• Applications close: 2:00 AM EDT, 9th Oct 2026

• Job posted on: 24th Sep 2026

• Melbourne

• Contract, Part Time, Remote / Work from Home

• Advocacy and Campaigns, Communications and Marketing, Policy and Research, Disability Services

• Not For Profit (NFP)

Job description

• Employment Status: Part-time - 0.4 FTE (15 hours a week), fixed term to 30 June 2027 with possibility of extension
• This role has been assessed as a Level 5 under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award
• This role can be based anywhere in Australia

Position Description

The Advocacy Resource Officer will provide support in the Advocacy team, with a focus on communicating changes in the disability sector and advocacy positions to the community. In addition, the Advocacy Resource Officer may support or prepare submissions, position papers and responses to enquiries; conduct research and analysis; and develop strategies to advance the DSA Consortium’s advocacy priorities. This advocacy work will focus on the NDIS.

The Officer will work with the Down Syndrome Australia (DSA) Consortium and people with disability to ensure lived experience informs advocacy and policy work, including through accessible consultation materials and Easy Read resources.

The role will develop, review and maintain practical, accessible information and resources. This includes translating complex information into plain language, developing plain language or Easy Read resources, working with people with intellectual disability to co-design and review resources, and influencing and advising on resources developed by Government.

The Officer will monitor relevant changes and work with DSA’s Communications team, and the broader DSA Consortium members to share information effectively with the community.

Position responsibilities

• Supporting the DSA Consortium and the representative community to understand the practical impact of government and service system changes.
• Translating complex information about legislation, policies, government programs and services into accessible formats.
• Working with DSA's Communications team and DSA Consortium members to share resources effectively with the community.
• Supporting the preparation of position papers, submissions and responses to Parliamentary and other enquiries that reflect the DSA Consortium’s positions, with a focus on the NDIS.
• Maintaining strategic stakeholder relationships and collaborations to advance the DSA Consortium’s systemic advocacy work.
• Working with the DSA Consortium members to get their input into systemic advocacy work.
• Monitor changes to relevant legislation, policies, programs and services and update resources as required.
• Supporting the participation of people with disability represented by the DSA Consortium in our work including consultations, meetings and developing resources.

Organisational Background

Down Syndrome Australia’s (DSA) purpose is to make life good for people with Down syndrome. We want to make Australia a fair place where people with Down syndrome are included. Our vision is a world where people with Down syndrome are included, accepted and treated fairly.

DSA leads a consortium of organisations to represent people with intellectual disability and their families and supporters, with a focus on intellectual disability caused by chromosomal variations. The Down Syndrome Australia DRO Consortium is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services as a Disability Representative Organisation (DRO).

Our work is based on people’s rights. We follow the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This is an agreement between countries. It makes sure people with disability are treated equally.

We work together with our Consortium members, the Australian Down Syndrome Alliance, the state and territory Down syndrome organisations, our partners and other organisations.

People with Down syndrome are involved in all parts of our work. They help us to make choices. They help lead our work.

Selection criteria - Skills, Knowledge and Experience

Essential:

• Advocacy and community support - Demonstrated experience providing advocacy, information, advice, support or referrals to people with disability, families or community members.
• Understanding of disability and human rights - Strong understanding of the rights, experiences and barriers faced by people with intellectual disability and a commitment to inclusion, choice, autonomy and human rights.
• Communication - Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex information clearly and respectfully.
• Accessible communication - Ability to develop or adapt information for people with intellectual disability, including experience with plain language, Easy Read or other accessible communication approaches.
• Systems knowledge - Understanding of Australian disability and community service systems, including the NDIS and other systems that affect people with disability.
• Stakeholder engagement - Ability to maintain respectful and effective relationships with people with disability, families, community organisations, government and other stakeholders.
• Analysis and judgement - Ability to identify common themes and systemic issues arising from individual enquiries and use sound judgement about appropriate advocacy, information and referral responses.
• Organisation - Strong organisational skills, including the ability to manage competing priorities, maintain accurate records and work independently.

Desirable:

• Experience working with people with intellectual disability.
• Experience using co-design approaches with people with intellectual disability.
• Relevant qualifications in disability, social work, community development, advocacy, law, policy or a related field.
• Lived experience of disability.

Work environment

The Down Syndrome Australia staff work as a virtual team. This position may be based in an office or home environment. The nature of this role and its responsibilities deems that occasionally some work will be required outside normal business hours. Some interstate travel may be required.

Acceptance of the position involves a willingness to work within the philosophies and policy directions of Down Syndrome Australia. The successful applicant will be required to undergo satisfactory preemployment checks including professional referees, completion of a satisfactory police records check and working with children check. The successful applicant will initially be employed for a probationary period of three months.

Down Syndrome Australia is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from culturally and linguistically diverse people, women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and people with a disability.