Position Description
Policy & Advocacy Lead
Role Specifics
Position | Policy & Advocacy Lead
Location | A national remote role, available in every major Australian city (with no preference for any location).
FTE | Full time (1.0) fixed-term position until October 2026 - with flexible working arrangements available (eg. part-time).
Reporting to | Manager, Policy
Salary Range | $85,000 - $105,000 + superannuation + salary packaging options
Role Summary
The Policy & Advocacy Lead plays a key role in advancing strategic policy development and advocacy to prevent child sexual abuse and improve outcomes for victims and survivors.
This role uses evidence based approaches that centres the Lived Experience of victims and survivors, diverse cultural perspectives and best practice across all policy and advocacy initiatives.
By facilitating ethical victim and survivor engagement, building stakeholder relationships and developing targeted advocacy strategies and policies, the Policy & Advocacy Lead will make a meaningful contribution to the National Centre’s Policy and Systems Reforms team.
Who We Are
The National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse
The National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse (National Centre) The National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse was established in November 2021 as a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. It is a symbol of hope and an essential vehicle for action for many victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. Its formation recognises the decades of advocacy by victims and survivors to be listened to, believed, validated, protected and ultimately supported to heal from the trauma they carry with them. Its focus extends beyond institutional child sexual abuse to abuse that occurs in the family, community and online.
The National Centre has woven the voices and experiences of victims and survivors into its very fabric. It acknowledges the strength and expertise that derives from their Lived and Living Experience of child sexual abuse. The National Centre recognises and honours the diversity of victims and survivors' experiences, identities and cultural backgrounds and their contributions to the common purpose of addressing child sexual abuse.
At the National Centre, we believe for victims and survivors to have the best opportunity to heal, they must feel safe to disclose and receive the necessary support that is non-stigmatising, appropriate to their needs and effective. Our purpose is to disrupt the dynamics that have failed to stop child sexual abuse from occurring, and prevented victims and survivors from being validated and supported.
Our values and behaviours
We are a purpose-driven organisation committed to creating a safer future for children and communities. We are committed to integrity, collaboration, innovation, and courage. Our team culture is inclusive, supportive, and focused on driving meaningful change.
Employees of the National Centre are required to demonstrate commitment to the organisation’s:
Diversity – we value an inclusive workplace that embraces diversity and strongly encourages applications from First Nations people, people with disability, people from the LGBTIQ+ community, and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
Integrated Management Systems – established Quality Management and Workplace Health and Safety Management Processes.
Values – better together, trustworthy, driving action, inclusive, bold.
Privacy and Confidentiality - managing and maintaining confidential information, records and data in line with the National Centre’s Privacy Policy and relevant legislation.
1. Policy & Advocacy Strategy
Develop and implement targeted policy and advocacy strategies that effectively influence decision-makers, shape public discourse, and advance systemic reform.
Identify systemic gaps, barriers, and opportunities to improve child safety and outcomes for victims and survivors, using these insights to inform strategic reform.
Support strategic advocacy planning by mapping key stakeholders and advocacy tools and channels.
2. Policy Development
Develop policy positions, policy reports and briefings that reflect the National Centre’s reform priorities, ensuring alignment with current research, Lived Experience insights and sector best practice.
Apply trauma informed, culturally safe and inclusive approaches to all policy development including elevating the lived experience of victims and survivors in the development of all policy and advocacy priorities.
Ensure policy documents are accessible, user-friendly, and appropriate for diverse audiences.
Monitor changes in legislation, regulation and sector standards and reflect these in a timely manner in policy and advocacy activities.
3. Lived Experience Engagement & Influence
Centre survivor and victim voices and experiences as the foundation of all advocacy priorities and policy decisions.
Ensure diverse cultural perspectives are embedded at every stage of policy development.
Support the ethical collection, interpretation, and use of Lived Experience data to strengthen the impact of policy and advocacy development.
Facilitate meaningful victim and survivor engagement in policy development and advocacy planning ensuring their voices and expertise influence all initiatives.
Ensure all engagement with victims and survivors is safe, ethical and trauma-responsive and in a supported environment to support meaningful contributions.
4. Stakeholder Engagement
Build and maintain trusted relationships with government, sector leaders, Lived Experience advocates, and partner organisations.
Liaise with key external stakeholders to stay informed on emerging issues, reforms, and research developments.
Collaborate across the sector to amplify advocacy efforts and drive collective impact.
Collaborate with the Evidence and Evaluation Lead to ensure all policies are informed by Lived Experience of victims and survivors of child sexual abuse.