Aps6 Lawyer (Legal Stream)

• Flexible working conditions that support a positive work life balance
• Ongoing professional development and learning
• $92,833 to $99,072 plus 15.4% superannuation

Our participants, Our people, Our purpose

Currently, there are around 4.3 million Australians with a disability. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) implements the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which is one of the biggest social reforms in the country since Medicare. As an Agency, we support more than 500,000 participants with a significant and permanent disability, and the families and carers of those living with disability. For many Australians, this will be the first time they receive the disability support they need. The NDIA is designed to enhance the quality of life and increase economic and social participation for people with disability and will mean a peace of mind for every Australian.

A new role awaits

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) Dispute Resolution & Litigation (DR&L) branch in the Chief Counsel Division, is a growing in-house legal practice, responsible for managing and resolving applications to the AAT for external review of decisions under the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (NDIS Act).

The DR&L branch is responsible for providing trusted high quality legal advice and litigation support services to respond to AAT applications by National Disability Insurance Scheme participants and prospective participants. The branch provides strategic oversight of legal risk across the Agency’s AAT program, as well as supporting continuous improvement of decision-making to improve outcomes under the Scheme.

The branch is seeking to build a team of like-minded lawyers, with the aim of improving the experience of current and prospective participants by resolving applications for external review in a timely and consistent manner, while pursuing the correct and preferable decision under the NDIS Act.

The Division and branch are committed to the highest levels of integrity and leadership to ensure the Agency complies with the Legal Services Directions’ Model Litigant Obligations.

The Agency is seeking APS6 lawyers (Legal Stream) to support the AAT DR&L branch in a currently vacant role, and to create a merit list for future opportunities.

Where you can add value As an APS 6 Lawyer (Legal Stream) in DR&L branch, you will begin a rewarding career with the NDIA where your work is guided by legislation, policies, procedures, standards, methodologies, and precedents. This structured approach will ensure that your expertise is utilised effectively, allowing you to make a meaningful impact in your role.

You will be provided with opportunities to engage with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders. These professional connections will enhance your professional growth and enable you to contribute significantly to the achievement of positive outcomes.

You will receive support from our senior lawyers, this guidance will empower you to deliver high-quality legal advice, offer exceptional litigation support and provide effective resolution services.

The Primary Responsibilities Of This Position Include

• Providing high quality legal advice, and litigation support and services to internal clients in the management and resolution of participant related reviews in the AAT.
• Applying alternate dispute resolution methods and advocacy skills to resolving applications/ reviews, in keeping with the model litigant principles.
• Undertaking preliminary work to support senior lawyers including Principal Lawyers, Deputy Chief Counsel and Chief Counsel in advising on NDIS legal matters.
• Preparing and undertaking initial research and advice on medium level risk matters to contribute to a range of material including briefing material for Ministers, board papers, media releases, reports to Parliamentary committees, intranet and website content and correspondence.
• Drafting advice on straightforward legal matters, managing a caseload of matters and advising, with the support of senior lawyers including Principal Lawyers, Deputy Chief Counsel and Chief Counsel.

Enough About Us, Let’s Talk About You

The successful candidate will possess well developed technical legal skills and experience relevant to managing a caseload of AAT matters to deliver high value outcomes for the Agency. You will have a participant-centred approach, with the ability to thrive in a busy, dynamic, litigation environment.

This position is within the legal job stream and the candidate must possess relevant academic qualifications with admission as a legal practitioner, however described, of the High Court or the Supreme Court of an Australian state or territory, and hold, or be able to obtain, a current practising certificate.

You will demonstrate experience in, or knowledge of, some or all of the following:

• Litigation, including in Commonwealth or state/territory courts and tribunals
• Administrative law and principles of good administrative decision-making
• Alternative dispute resolution, mediation and/or conflict resolution
• Statutory interpretation particularly in relation to the NDIS Act and National Disability Insurance Scheme (Supports for Participants) Rules 2013.

Your NDIA Experience

We work as one team. We are accepting, diverse and driven. We take a shared approach to making progress. We welcome and support each other and encourage different ideas, insights and opinions. We empower and enable each other to be our best. Collaborating, connecting and creating a workplace that we can all be proud of and while we are based far and wide across the country, we make sure nobody feels they are out on their own.

You will work for a socially inclusive and culturally diverse workplace, that is making a meaningful impact to the lives of more than 500,000 Australians.

• Access to higher superannuation and above market leave entitlements
• Access to ongoing professional development and learning
• Competitive remuneration and working conditions that support a positive work life balance

While this role is ideally performed from Geelong or Richmond – VIC, Braddon – ACT, Brisbane – QLD, Surry Hills or Parramatta – NSW, remote working arrangements may be considered. We intend to fill this role in an ongoing capacity, however non-ongoing roles up to 18 months may be offered.

Successful candidates will be required to undergo a pre-employment National Police History check, Worker Screening check and/or Working with Children Check (where required) and provide evidence of Australian Citizenship.

Applications for this role close 11.30pm AEST 30 July 2023.

If you have any questions, please contact Arly Fogarty on 07 5501 6568 or email [email protected]

With the exception of personal details, applications can NOT be edited or updated once submitted for consideration. Please make sure you are completely satisfied with your entire application before submitting.

NDIA is committed to supporting an inclusive and diverse workforce and welcomes and encourages applications from People with Disability (PwD), First Nations peoples, LGBTIQA+ people, people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds, Mature age workers, as well as young workers and supporting an inter-generational workforce and supporting gender equity and families. NDIA will provide reasonable adjustments for candidates to participate equitably in the recruitment process and discuss workplace adjustments to fulfil the inherent requirements of the role.

RecruitAbility applies to this position: The RecruitAbility scheme supports people with disability applying for jobs in the Australian Public Service (APS) by giving you a better opportunity to put forward your skills and experience during the selection process.

The health and safety of workers, Participants and other visitors in our offices is our highest priority. Some roles within the National Disability Insurance Agency are covered by government Health Orders or Directives that require mandatory vaccinations.