Applications close 15 June.
Citizenship Doors is an innovative new initiative that uses a legal education and empowered advocacy model to directly address the barriers that refugees encounter in becoming Australian citizens. Research shows refugees strongly desire to become citizens but face significant obstacles that other migrants do not.
The project combines education seminars and application workshops to strategically target the disadvantages refugees face in relation to the application itself, reducing the risk of mistakes leading to adverse consequences. These are followed by Citizenship in Practice sessions where participants practice their English, learn about topics in the citizenship test and contribute to advocacy, which aims to reform citizenship laws so that they are less discriminatory towards people from refugee backgrounds.
About the Position
- Hours: 2 ½ days per week
- Salary: SCHADS Level 4 $81, 100 – $91, 600 + Superannuation (or part-time equivalent).
- Contract until 30th November 2026
- Location: South Brisbane (WFH may be accommodated from time to time and travel is required, see Summary below)
- Responsible to: Legal Practice Director (Practice Management and Risk)
- Direct Reports: Nil
Summary
The Legal Educator is responsible for facilitating citizenship application workshops and Citizenship in Practice sessions. In the former, they assist participants to use a RAILS’ help-kit to prepare and lodge their applications. In the latter, which forms a significant part of the role, they facilitate learning and discussion groups to improve participants’ understanding of topics such as government institutions and processes, democracy and the Parliamentary system, and Australian laws and history. Interwoven with these are topics and questions around the meaning and value of citizenship and the Legal Educator aids participants who want to document their citizenship story and contribute to law reform initiatives.
The Legal Educator reports directly to a Legal Practice Director and works closely with RAILS’ experienced and well-regarded team of legal educators, including the lawyer, paralegal and volunteers who also have roles within the Citizenship Doors project.
The successful applicant will carry out their duties in accordance with RAILS’ policy and funding guidelines. RAILS has flexible working arrangements for all staff, but the role will require travel to outreach locations within greater Brisbane (including Logan, Gatton and Toowoomba).
This role is of fundamental importance to the delivery of excellent legal education by RAILS.