NDIS Appeals Advocate

KEY DETAILS

• Lived Experience Consumer position
• Fixed-term contract to 30/06/2028; Full time 1.0 FTE
• Office located in Southbank - with access to onsite gym and green space
• Salary packaging and flexible work arrangements are available

ABOUT VMIAC

Join Victoria’s peak non-government organisation for mental health consumers and put lived experience at the heart of rights-based advocacy.

Our vision is a world where mental health consumers stand proud, their choices are honoured and their rights upheld across society.

Owned, governed, managed and staffed by people with mental health consumer lived experience, VMIAC builds leadership, participation and collective action to strengthen Victoria’s consumer movement.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Help people with disability understand their rights and have their voices heard when seeking external review of National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) decisions. As our NDIS Appeals Advocate, you’ll provide information, guidance and individual advocacy to help participants navigate Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) processes, make informed decisions and build their self-advocacy skills wherever possible.

You’ll manage your own caseload, working with the Advocacy Lead, colleagues, legal representatives and relevant agencies to deliver consistent, high-quality support.

ABOUT YOU

You bring sound judgement, attention to detail and a commitment to rights-based advocacy. Organised and thorough, you write clearly, maintain accurate and comprehensive case records, and manage competing priorities without compromising support.

You handle complex conversations with sensitivity, diplomacy and a calm, solutions-focused approach. You maintain professional boundaries, manage expectations and champion consumer choice and self-determination.

A reliable, collaborative colleague, you communicate openly, share knowledge and bring flexibility and a constructive approach to shared goals.

This is a lived experience consumer position. You’ll have personal experience of mental health challenges, trauma or emotional distress, and of using mental health services to support your wellbeing. You can reflect on that experience in relation to others and contribute to inclusive, respectful and psychologically safe participation.

We strongly encourage applications from First Nations people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, d/Deaf and Disabled people, and people from the LGBTIQA+ community.

Don’t meet every requirement? If you’re confident you can carry out the responsibilities to a high standard, we encourage you to apply.

A Police Check, NDIS Worker Screening Check and Victorian Working with Children Check are required prior to commencement of employment.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

• SCHADS Level 5 salary, with pay point dependent on experience, plus superannuation
• Salary packaging options
• A hybrid work model and flexible work arrangements.
• Southbank office with access to gym, leisure facilities, monthly breakfast club and on-site events.
• 3 days of Wellbeing leave per year for employees to foster their mental and physical wellbeing.
• Paid end-of-year closure leave, additional to annual leave entitlements.
• 17.5% leave loading on annual leave.
• External supervision, facilitated peer reflection and access to debriefing after psychologically demanding work.
• Role-relevant training, mentoring, leadership development and conference attendance opportunities.
• General counselling and specialist EAP streams with financial coaching, legal support, family violence support, First Nations support, neurodiversity support and manager coaching.
• Access to gender affirmation leave.
• VMIAC offers eligible employees up to 16 weeks paid parental leave upon completion of 12 months of continuous service, with superannuation on VMIAC paid parental leave.
• A values-driven, lived experience-led organisation committed to wellbeing, inclusion, and reasonable workplace adjustments

Applications close: 9:00 AM AEDT, 9th Nov 2026