Senior Consumer Consultant

About this role

• Part time (0.6 FTE minimum) to full time ongoing position
• Salary range: $101,869 - $118,844 plus super
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging, flexible hybrid work arrangement

About the role
This position will support the implementation, delivery and evaluation of the Mental Health Legal Rights Service (MHLRS), a collaborative  co-designed legal service model that will be delivered across Victoria Legal Aid (VLA), the Mental Health Legal Centre (MHLC) and the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS), to increase legal assistance for consumers at the Mental Health Tribunal.

The role will work collaboratively across the three legal services to support consumer expertise, embed consumer leadership and support co-design and co-production initiatives in the model.

The role will also contribute to the wider consumer community, including by connecting with other consumer consultants and consumer positions in the wider mental health and legal sectors, building relationships and contributing to other related collaborative projects.

This role is based at our Melbourne CBD office on Wurundjeri Country.

About you
As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• Demonstrated experience of working from the consumer perspective and providing consumer leadership, including embedding diverse consumer perspectives in services and activities.
• Demonstrated experience supporting co-design and co-production initiatives across the MHLRS model, including assisting in the development, delivery and evaluation of co-produced training, for MHLRS legal and non-legal staff, and co-designed information and resources for consumers
• Understanding and experience of the importance of consumer leadership in service delivery and improvement of human rights and self-determination within oppressive practices.
• Ability to work in partnership, build and maintain relationships of trust, and brings people together for effective discussion and collaboration.
• Cultural competency – skilled in working with people who come from different backgrounds including First Nations people and communities, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities and/or LGBTQIA+
• Ability to communicate effectively and appropriately, both internally and externally to legal services.

Don't meet every requirement? At VLA, we understand that your work and life experiences can be just as valuable. If your CV doesn't align perfectly with our job description, we strongly encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate.

About VLA
We offer legal representation, family dispute resolution and non-legal advocacy to those who need it most. With over 1400 staff employed in 16 offices across Victoria, we help people with their legal problems by providing information, advice and education with a focus on the prevention and early resolution of legal problems.

Our clients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds and foster a work culture that's inclusive as well as diverse. Your unique ideas and perspectives are valued so that we best represent the people we serve.

Employee benefits

• A focus on work-life balance, including flexible working arrangements
• Hybrid work from home & office model 
• Generous leave benefits, including:
  • Three days paid seasonal leave (to be taken between Boxing Day and New Year's Day public holidays)
  • Paid gender affirmation leave
  • Five days both paid reproductive and fertility leave per calendar year
• Annual 3% salary increase each December plus performance-related salary incentives
• Attractive salary packaging options including General Expenses up to $15,900, Meals & Entertainment up to $2,650 PLUS Novated Leasing
• Discounted annual Myki public transport passes
• Individual learning and professional development opportunities, tailored to your role and career goals
• Free annual flu vaccinations
• Access to gym and end-of-trip facilities at our CBD office
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program, including confidential counselling and access to a range of mental health and wellbeing resources.

How to apply
To be considered for this role, please submit your current resume and a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process or need an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our team.

For further information, please review the attached position description or contact Jane Billings, Project Manager – MHLRS on jane.billings@vla.vic.gov.au or Renee Rao, Recruitment and Retention Consultant on recruitment@vla.vic.gov.au.

No agency applications will be accepted.

Applications close by 11.59pm on Monday 6 April 2026.

Other relevant information
It is a requirement that staff attend for office-based days at their primary work location. In line with this requirement, interstate applications will be considered only where the candidate is able and willing to relocate to Victoria, unless part of a border community.

VLA is committed to putting the safety and wellbeing of children first.