At Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Ltd (MACS) we envision every student to be inspired and enabled to flourish and enrich the world. MACS is the largest Catholic school system in Australia. We own, govern and operate approximately 300 Catholic schools, employ over 17,000 staff and serve more than 118,000 students and their families in the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

It is an exciting time to join MACS, where we are transforming to bring to life our strategic plan - MACS 2030: Forming Lives to Enrich the World that will help all MACS staff come together to make the most of what a Catholic education has to offer so that we have the greatest and most distinctive impact in our classrooms, staffrooms and schools communities. More details on the MACS strategy can be found here.

WHY WORK FOR US?

- Professional development opportunities with a defined personalised annual budget
- Access to flexible working arrangements, which include working from home
- You will work in a tight-knit, supportive team to ensure you succeed in your role
- Employee Assistant Program (EAP) supported by Mental Health First Aiders in the workplace, providing a safe and caring environment to our staff and students

The MACS Code of Conduct (the Code) embodies our collective commitment to fostering a positive and supportive work environment that prioritises the health, safety and wellbeing of everyone, inspired by our Catholic faith. We ask that all staff read and understand the Code and model the behaviours that are expected of us.

YOUR ROLE

The Senior Lawyer, Negligence and Redress oversees and manages a diverse range of civil litigation matters, including but not limited to, historical abuse claims, and injury claims and other complex disputes. The role delivers consistent, high quality, expert legal advice and services to MACS, especially with a particular focus on negligence claims and applications made under the National Redress Scheme.

THIS IS A FIXED TERM ROLE UNTIL OCTOBER 2027

WHAT YOU WILL DO

- Provide legal expertise in responding to historical child abuse,



personal injury, and other complex contentious legal issues, and on projects that support MACS’ strategic priorities and contributes to planning and decision-making.
- Manage and oversee all aspects of assigned legal matters end-to-end, delivering timely, accurate, and practical legal advice.
- Ensure compliance with court and procedural obligations, including filing of defences, discovery, interrogatories, mediation, trial preparation, and other interlocutory steps.
- Assess claims and associated risks, developing strategies to optimise outcomes through intervention, resolution, or settlement, while prioritising child safety in all decisions.
- Proactively assess and identify risks associated with claims, and deliver transparent, timely briefings to management.
- Lead the strategic direction and case management of claims, coordinating with external legal providers and ensuring accurate, timely instructions are provided.
- Support the assessment, development, and implementation of education programs for internal stakeholders on topics relating to disputes and litigation by developing templates resources and other education materials.
- Monitor legislative updates and assess their impact on MACS operations. Develop resources to distribute advice to relevant stakeholders in the business.

ABOUT YOU

- Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, show initiative, and maintain emotional resilience in complex or high-pressure situations.
- Demonstrated ability to draw on private practice and in-house experience to resolve complex legal issues and provide sound legal advice.

- Demonstrated ability to manage client relationships with empathy,



collaborate across teams, and balance competing priorities.
- Demonstrated ability to convey complex legal concepts clearly and authoritatively, negotiate effectively, and tailor communication to different audiences, whilst upholding legal independence to ensure that the legal advice provided is sufficiently objective and impartial.
- Demonstrated ability to provide guidance for junior staff, manage small projects or matters, and support team performance.
- Demonstrated ability to apply strategic thinking, manage competing demands through effective prioritisation and drive continuous improvement in service delivery.

HOW TO APPLY

Please refer to the position description for further details about the role and the Key Selection Criteria.

Click APPLY to submit your application. If you have any queries about this role, they can be directed to our Talent Acquisition team by email ••••@macs.vic.edu.au

You will need to provide:

1. An up to-date Resume and

2. A cover letter addressing the Key Selection Criteria, limited to two pages

Note: MACS is committed to the safety, wellbeing and protection of all children in our care. The successful candidate must hold or acquire and maintain a Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) and/or Working with Children Check and must be willing to obtain and maintain a National Criminal History Check.

Candidates must hold full Australian Working Rights and provide evidence of this.

Privacy Collection Notice – Job Applicants

MACS collects your Personal Information to assess your application and suitability for employment. By submitting your Personal information, you consent to the use and disclosure of your Personal information for the purpose of being considered for employment at MACS. Applicants can withdraw their applications at any time during the recruitment process

For further details, please see the full Privacy Collection Notice here

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 4.00pm Thursday, 29 October 2026

📌 Senior Lawyer, Negligence and Redress (East Melbourne)
🏢 Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools
📍 East Melbourne