What it does: As a part of its global organisation, Amnesty International Australia searches out the facts about human rights abuses and raises awareness about these abuses in Australia, Asia-Pacific, and around the world.
Mission: To make sure the rights of every single person are protected
Size and presence: The organisation employs around 75 staff
Best known for: It is known for its commitment to creating a society that upholds everyone’s fundamental human rights
The good bits: Supportive working environment and a great cause to work for
The not-so-good bits: Human rights can be a tough area to work
Amnesty International network is a global movement of around 8 million people who campaign for human rights for everyone. They stand together for freedom, justice, and equality. Through detailed research and determined campaigning, they have committed to fighting abuses of human rights worldwide.
Amnesty International Australia is one of the country’s largest non-profit organisations. They are independent of the government, or any religion, political ideology, or economic interest to make sure they can challenge human rights abuses wherever they occur.
They will first search for the facts, expose what is happening, and then rally people together to put pressure on those in power to respect human rights. They encourage the Australian government to adopt laws that meet international human rights obligations and respect the human rights of all citizens.
The organisation also works closely with indigenous communities and people seeking asylum to fight discrimination. They also have women's and LGBTQIA+ activist networks campaigning on gender and sexuality issues.
Amnesty International Australia tries to create a more inclusive and diverse work environment so that it can be more effective in defending human rights. They strongly encourage applications from people with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people who identify as LGBTIQA+ and people with a disability.
They are committed to providing a healthy and safe environment that prioritises the mental health and well-being of the employees. They offer an accessible and inclusive work environment to enable people with a disability, or with parenting and caring responsibilities to participate in all aspects of employment.
You can meet engaged and passionate staff, volunteers, and activists here. However, human rights is a tough area to work for, and sometimes can become stressful despite co-workers’ support. Also, the experience and expertise of the staff can vary widely, causing differences in strategic priorities.
Interested candidates who would like to join the team can apply through their Career page. Along with your CV, you should also submit a brief cover letter addressing some of the selection criteria questions, such as: why you are interested in the role, what makes you think you would be a good fit for the role, highlights of your verbal and written communication skills, and experiences, etc.
Applicants can also submit their CVs for future employment opportunities to the Expression of Interest page. Some of the volunteer positions are open for those who are looking to organise an internship or placement arrangement as part of their studies.
The organisation can make necessary arrangements so that the volunteer roles suit the requirements of the internship/placement arrangement within your education institution, including the approximate time frame, number or hours to be completed, any training needed, reporting requirements, etc.
They also have a team that can be contacted in case the candidates need any adjustments during the recruitment process or an alternative format to any of the job application material.
The organisation offers opportunities for workplace learning, training, and a strong commitment to professional development.
They offer many benefits, including:
In Australia, they focus on the following core campaigns:
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