Organisation : SDA Alliance
Time required : 40-50 plus hours
Duration of project : 12-18months
Skill area : Advocacy, Board & Committee Members, Consulting & Strategy, Social & Support Work
Sector : Disabilities, Homelessness & Affordable Housing
Application closing date : 31 Jan, 2025
About the role
Justin Nix Future Leaders Program
(NFP Board Observership and Complimentary AICD course)
The Justin Nix Future Leaders Program aims to inspire and empower rising young leaders across Australia.
Founded in 2024, in honour of Justin Nix – a passionate, generous and respected leader in the disability sector – the program is designed to support the development of the next generation of leaders living with a disability.
One scholarship will be awarded as part of this program which includes:
– The opportunity to serve on the SDA Alliance Board for 12 months (or up to two years maximum). This includes attending all board meetings as a non-voting member and learning about the principles and functions of not-for-profit boards, the roles of board members, and other governance priorities.
– The cost of travel and accommodation to attend board meetings and related SDA Alliance events
– Complimentary training through the Australian Institute of Company Directors: the opportunity to select one of three courses to complete: Company Directors Course, Foundations of Directorship or Governance Foundations for Not-for-Profit Directors.
– Leadership mentoring by the SDA Alliance CEO: four sessions that will offer valuable guidance, advice, and insights from an experienced leader.
The program provides aspiring leaders with the following:
– A rewarding program that aims to empower emerging leaders to serve confidently on a board and strengthen their leadership capacities.
– Professional training for directors delivered by the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
– Access to experienced Board directors from both the corporate and not-for-profit sectors.
– A professional development opportunity that combines education, mentorship and networking with recognised leaders across the sector.
We are looking for passionate, curious, talented young people from a diversity of backgrounds with a strong desire to learn and contribute to the not-for-profit sector. Attributes such as emotional intelligence, teamwork, and compassion are just as important as skills and experience. The ability to contribute to board discussions when invited to do so is important.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the program, applicants must:
– Identify as a person with disability or person with lived experience of disability
– Be aged between 25-40 years on the application closing date
– Be available to attend all or a majority of board meetings (both in-person and on-line) and be committed to completing selected training through the Australian Institute of Company Directors
– Be either an Australian citizen or permanent resident
The SDA Alliance is proudly an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace equity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates with a diverse range of backgrounds including people from culturally diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women and LGBTQI+ people.
Selection Criteria
– A passion for learning
– A strong desire to contribute meaningfully to a not-for-profit board and build relationships based on trust, collaboration and respect
– Committed to value-based leadership and making an impact in the community
– Agreement to publish your involvement in the program
Application Process
All applicants are required to submit a cover letter addressing the selection criteria (maximum two pages) and a resume (maximum 3 pages). All applications must be uploaded to the job platform where you viewed this position or via email to info@sdaalliance.org.au.
If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment and interview process, please email us at: info@sdaalliance.org.au.
All appointments to the Justin Nix Future Leaders Program are subject to satisfactory completion of a national police check and reference checks.
Applications close on Tuesday, 31 January 2025. **
About the organisation
As a national peak body, we represent specialist disability accommodation (SDA) market participants across the country. Our members include SDA providers, institutional investors, developers, builders, financial institutions, allied health professionals and industry consultants.
Our members make a significant impact on the lives of people with disability – by providing housing that is safe, innovative and designed to serve the needs of SDA participants.
By collaborating and engaging with governments, the NDIA and other key stakeholders, we seek to improve standards and regulations and promote the provision of excellence in SDA.
Ensuring people with disabilities can exercise choice and control in relation to their housing and supports and thrive in their communities, lies at the heart of our work.
We aim to drive better housing outcomes for people with disability that enhance independence, wellbeing, and quality of life. Through collaboration with government and the NDIA, our members and other stakeholders, we will address complex policy challenges and inspire systemic change. The voices of people with disability will always guide our work and influence our strategies.
Key Focus Area's
Promoting best practice: We define and promote the delivery of best practice specialist disability accommodation so people with disability have access to quality + well designed housing.
Advocacy & policy: We work with government, the NDIA and other stakeholders to promote a sustainable specialist disability accommodation market: this includes engaging with stakeholders through submissions (and other advocacy documents) and participating in constructive meetings and consultation processes.
Innovation: We harness the collective creativity of our members to drive innovation across the sector: this includes delivering housing that encompass participant-led designs, facilitates delivery of housing in high demand areas, and generates positive impacts for residents.
Member engagement: We facilitate member events, provide industry analysis and information and promote peer-to-peer engagement so our members can collectively innovate, share ideas and problem solve.
Justin Nix Bio
“The Program offers talented emerging leaders living with a disability with the
opportunity to receive mentoring and world-class training. Our aim is to empower rising leaders to inspire others, have a greater social impact and participate in more inclusive communities.”
- Justin Nix
Driven by a passion for universal design, Justin Nix has devoted his career to creating accessible built environments for communities across Australia. For more than three decades, Justin held executive positions in disability and housing across the not-profit, private and government sectors. Throughout this time, Justin witnessed profound
changes in people’s lives as they transitioned into a home which allowed them to live more independently and embrace community life more fully.
As the CEO of Guardian Living Australia (2019-2024), Justin oversaw the development of a diverse portfolio of specialist disability accommodation across Victoria – these contemporary and thoughtfully-designed homes offer hundreds of people with disability,
including those living in regional areas, with the chance to live more independent lives (for some it’s the first time they have experienced living outside of an institutional setting). Justin has a deep understanding of the synergy between innovative housing design and
the integrated support models which allow people with disability to live more independently – an understanding garnered from both his professional and personal life. He has used this knowledge to advise government – including serving as a member of the National Disability Insurance Agency SDA Advisory Group -
How to apply
Please quote in application: NFP Board Observership via Pro Bono Australia.
