News

• Three positions available | Help drive consumer justice and systemic reform

Leading consumer advocacy organisation combining legal assistance, financial counselling and policy impact seeks Directors as part of planned succession. Three Directors completing 9+ years’ service creates opportunity to refresh board capabilities while maintaining strong governance foundation.

Consumer Action Law Centre is a leading Australian consumer advocacy organisation working to make life easier for people experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage and create a fairer marketplace for all consumers. We combine legal assistance, financial counselling, research, campaigning, strategic litigation and policy advocacy to tackle consumer harm and drive systemic change.

Our work is informed by the experiences of the people we assist, strengthened through community partnerships and focused on practical reforms that improve consumer outcomes.

We are seeking new Board Directors to help guide Consumer Action’s next phase of impact, sustainability and organisational development. As part of planned Board renewal and succession planning, we are reviewing the capabilities required to support our strategic priorities over the next three to five years.

Directors provide strategic oversight, constructive challenge and stewardship across strategy, finance, risk, impact and organisational performance. Appointment is as a Director under Consumer Action’s Constitution, and successful candidates must become members of Consumer Action before appointment.

• Finance, audit and risk capability, including potential Finance, Audit and Risk Committee contribution.
• Financial sustainability, revenue diversification, philanthropy or business model development experience.
• Government relations, community sector expertise, public policy, regulation, advocacy or law reform expertise.
• Technology, cyber security, data governance, digital transformation or responsible AI governance experience.
• Executive leadership in complex organisations, including people, culture and organisational change.
• Consumer advocacy, legal assistance, financial counselling, community services or related public-interest sector knowledge.
• Lived experience leadership, community insight, cultural safety or meaningful engagement with people affected by consumer harm.

What you will contribute

• Sound judgement, strong governance capability and strategic oversight.
• Constructive challenge and support across strategy, risk, finance, impact and organisational performance.
• Discretion, confidentiality and careful management of conflicts of interest.
• Collaboration with fellow Directors and the CEO while respecting governance boundaries.
• A commitment to Consumer Action’s values and to equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and cultural safety.

What you will gain

• Genuine impact influencing consumer law, access to justice and supporting people experiencing vulnerability.
• Strategic governance experience in respected mission-driven organisation.
• Collaborative board culture and professional governance practice.

Who should consider applying

You may be:

• An experienced non-executive director seeking to contribute governance expertise to mission-driven work;
• A senior leader with governance-ready capability (executive, committee, advisory board or equivalent experience) looking to step into board service; and/or
• A person with lived experience who brings community insight, leadership experience and a commitment to learning governance practice.

A strong commitment to social justice, fair consumer markets and better outcomes for people experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage will be highly valued.

We value candidates who bring strong expertise in one or more priority capability areas alongside the strategic judgement, curiosity and collaborative approach needed to contribute meaningfully across the full Board agenda.

The Board generally meets six times a year, together with a day or half-day strategy meeting. Directors may also serve on a committee, attend the AGM and participate in occasional additional meetings or decisions. The role is voluntary and unpaid, with reasonable out-of-pocket expenses reimbursed in accordance with Consumer Action’s governance arrangements.

Consumer Action welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences. We strongly encourage applications from First Nations people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people with disability, LGBTQIA+ people, and people whose experience will broaden the diversity of perspectives on the Board. Reasonable adjustments can be made during the recruitment process.

Please submit your expression of interest, including the documents outlined in the EOI, via recruitment@consumeraction.org.au using the subject line: Board Directors (Voluntary) x3 enquiry via EthicalJobs or directly via Ethical Jobs by 5pm on the closing day. For further information or a confidential discussion, contact Stephanie Tonkin, CEO on (03 8554 6911).

Read the full position description.