The Islamic Council Of Victoria – West Melbourne VIC

Employment status: Part-Time (0.8 FTE), Fixed Term until 18 December 2026

Remuneration: $35 – $40.00 per hour + superannuation

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Work location: Hybrid, with regular in-person attendance required, including at the ICV office in West Melbourne

Office Number: 2***

Contact Email: *****@icv.org.au

Start Date: Immediate

The Islamic Council of Victoria

The Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV) is the peak body for Muslim organisations in Victoria. The ICV represents the wider Victorian Muslim community and has more than 85 member societies located throughout metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.

The ICV's vision is to build a better community for all Australians through the empowerment of Muslims in Victoria. The ICV aims to fulfil this vision through the provision of advocacy and social welfare services, and in consultation and cooperation with governments, multifaith communities, service providers and wider society.

Role Purpose

The Policy & Advocacy Officer supports and enables the organisation’s advocacy efforts, identifying key areas of concern and devising strategic plans to ensure the ICV advocates effectively for the rights, needs and interests of the Muslim community in matters related to public policy, state and federal law, and international issues. The Officer will identify opportunities for advocacy to make the voice of the Muslim community heard, and oversee projects targeting all levels of government and other relevant stakeholders. The Officer also contributes to the ICV’s broader organisational and strategic work as required.

The Policy & Advocacy Officer serves as a key representative for the ICV on key policy issues affecting the Muslim community in Victoria. The role works closely with, and provides direct support to, the Chief Executive Officer and ICV leadership on advocacy and other organisational matters, and is supported by ICV’s advocacy volunteers. It suits an experienced advocate, organiser or campaigner who can move quickly, work with communities, and deliver to hard deadlines.

Main Tasks & Responsibilities

Policy and Public Advocacy

- Support the delivery of the ICV’s ongoing policy and public advocacy program, including through the 2026 Victorian state election period, so that the rights, needs and interests of the Muslim community are represented in public debate on matters relevant to ICV’s charitable purposes
- Assist to develop and advance the ICV’s policy priorities, communicating them on a non-partisan basis to all political parties, candidates, members of parliament, government agencies and other stakeholders on issues affecting the Muslim community
- Coordinate policy-comparison initiatives as required, which may include public forums, policy questionnaires and published comparisons of party and candidate policy positions, in each case applying a documented methodology approved in advance by the CEO and applied identically to all parties and candidates
- Monitor public policy developments and public statements affecting the Muslim community and support timely, accurate and issue-based responses, determined by the content of the policy or statement rather than the party or individual it originates from
- Support other advocacy activities and initiatives as they arise
- Maintain records of advocacy activity and associated expenditure sufficient to meet ICV’s obligations under the Electoral Act 2002 (Vic) and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 (Cth), and alert the CEO promptly where any third-party campaigner registration, expenditure cap or disclosure threshold may be approached

Strategic Planning

- Identify and prioritise key policy areas affecting the rights and interests of the Muslim community in Victoria and develop comprehensive strategies to effectively advocate in these areas
- Proactively seek opportunities for advocacy and build strategic partnerships with relevant stakeholders, including government, community, multifaith and private organisations




- Monitor policy updates, public debates and other relevant developments in key areas of concern and adapt strategies and projects accordingly
- Contribute to the ICV’s broader strategic planning, supporting the development and delivery of organisational strategies and priorities beyond the advocacy portfolio
- Provide timely advice and support to the CEO and ICV leadership on advocacy and other organisational matters, including briefings, talking points and background materials
- Support the CEO in preparing for and following up meetings, consultations and engagements, including drafting correspondence and tracking agreed actions
- Accompany or represent ICV leadership at meetings, forums and consultations, and provide other support to ICV leadership as required
- Oversee and coordinate the ICV’s volunteer Advocacy Team to ensure projects are completed within strict deadlines
- Guide volunteers with their projects, facilitating their engagement with key stakeholders
- Serve as a point of contact for inquiries related to ICV’s policy positions
- Assist with the recruitment, onboarding and briefing of Advocacy Team volunteers

Policy Analysis & Research

- Conduct in-depth analysis of legislative proposals, policy documents, government initiatives and other relevant developments to assess their potential impact on the Muslim community, and brief the CEO on implications and opportunities
- Maintain awareness of emerging trends, issues, and developments in areas relevant to the ICV and its advocacy efforts
- Be aware of and respond rapidly to emerging concerns or crises affecting the Muslim community, issuing rapid-action projects such as public statements and direct communications with government, with all public statements cleared by the CEO prior to release

Community Mobilisation & Capacity Building

- Raise awareness and mobilise support among ICV member societies, stakeholders and the wider community for key advocacy efforts and other ICV initiatives
- Empower member societies and community members to advocate for their rights and interests by providing resources, tools, and guidance on engaging with policymakers and stakeholders

Communications & Publications

- Draft media statements, briefing notes, community updates and other written and public-facing materials related to key areas of concern to the Muslim community
- Assist the volunteer team in drafting and editing advocacy projects, including inquiry submissions, research publications, communications with government, and other advocacy outputs as required
- Support the ICV’s broader communications and publications activities, as required
- Work closely with ICV staff, volunteers and teams to ensure that projects and activities align with the ICV’s key strategic goals

Goal Setting and Evaluation

- Monitor the effectiveness of advocacy efforts in bringing about policy change or tangible results and assess progress towards the ICV’s advocacy goals
- Regularly identify strengths and areas for improvement to guide Advocacy Team projects

Civic Education and Community Engagement

- Plan and deliver civic education, community participation and other community engagement initiatives through ICV member societies, mosques and community networks, including sessions, printed and translated materials, community events and other formats as appropriate
- Coordinate program logistics, including rosters, materials and scheduling

Compliance, Reporting and Professional Development

- Maintain clear records of activities, contacts and outcomes, and report regularly to management
- Attend and contribute to team meetings, ICV events,



and broader program and organisational activities as required
- Comply with all ICV policies, procedures and applicable legal obligations, including work health and safety, privacy, confidentiality and mandatory reporting, and participate in training, team meetings and organisational activities as required
- Ensure that personal public commentary and social media activity does not create an impression that ICV endorses any political party or candidate

General Organisational Duties

- Contribute to the broader work of the ICV outside the advocacy portfolio, supporting other teams, programs and organisational priorities and providing general operational support as required
- Document programs, relationships and outcomes, and prepare structured handover materials toward the conclusion of the engagement
- Perform any additional duties or responsibilities as assigned or deemed necessary

This position description intends to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities. The order in which duties and responsibilities are listed is not necessarily significant.

Key Selection Criteria

Technical Expertise

- Demonstrated experience in advocacy, policy, community organising or community engagement
- Understanding of political processes, legislative frameworks, and policy development at state, federal and international levels

Skills and Knowledge

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, including a well-developed ability to construct compelling written submissions and to draft statements, briefings and community materials quickly under pressure
- Strong leadership or management experience, preferably in a volunteer or nonprofit setting.
- Proven ability to deliver multiple projects to hard deadlines, including coordinating volunteers and managing event and program logistics, while maintaining solid written records and issuing rapid responses to new and emerging issues
- Monitoring and adaptability, including the ability to evaluate outputs and activities to ensure alignment with the ICV’s strategic goals and community needs
- Empathy and cultural sensitivity, demonstrating an understanding of the rich diversity within the wider Victorian Muslim community and the importance of cultural responsiveness
- Strong networking skills with the ability to establish and maintain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders
- Proven ability to navigate complex and potentially contentious issues diplomatically and constructively, including facilitating dialogue and resolving disagreements
- Demonstrated ability to work in a strictly non-partisan manner, including experience engaging even-handedly with representatives of different political parties and with government of any complexion

Personal Qualities

- Strong personal commitment to social justice, human rights and equity, with a passion for advocating on behalf of marginalised and vulnerable communities
- Understanding of intersectional issues and their impact on the experiences and rights of individuals within the Muslim community
- Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage productively with decision-makers and the public
- Adaptability and demonstrated perseverance to work efficiently and energetically, and to cope with challenges
- Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends (including Friday and weekend community events).
- A tertiary qualification in politics, law, social sciences, public policy or another relevant area, or equivalent experience in the community, campaigning or legal advocacy sector
- Established networks across Victorian civil society, multicultural and multifaith communities

All appointments to ICV are subject to satisfactory reference checks, and successful candidates will be required to hold a current National Police Check and a Working with Children Check (Employee) as conditions of appointment.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the position may be filled at any time.

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📌 Policy & Advocacy Officer (Melbourne)
🏢 The Islamic Council Of Victoria
📍 Melbourne