Design & Digital Communications Assistant

Written By Caroline Hill

Reports to: Research Associate and Co-Executive Directors

Primary Location: Flexible - remote or at UNSW (Faculty of Law & Justice) Sydney

Employment Status: Casual - an anticipated ~10 hours per week from July 2026

Migrant Justice Institute is hiring a casual Design and Digital Communications Assistant to help turn major research on migrant worker exploitation into clear, accessible visual materials. This role is ideal for a current design/visual communications student, or an early-career designer, who wants practical experience using design for social justice.

You’ll support report layout in InDesign, create graphics and digital assets in Canva and Adobe, help prepare PowerPoint presentations, update Squarespace pages, and adapt research findings into visual content for reports, web, social media and stakeholder communications.

The Organisation

Migrant Justice Institute is Australia’s leading national research, policy and advocacy organisation dedicated to ending exploitation of international students and other migrant workers and holding business to account for modern slavery. Led by law professors at UTS and UNSW, we are a small, dynamic team with offices in the UNSW Faculty of Law & Justice in Sydney.

We conduct surveys of thousands of migrants working on visas in Australia. We use legal analysis and rigorous research to develop innovative reforms that are grounded in migrants’ experiences - and we drive their implementation in practice. We closely collaborate with migrant communities, civil society organisations and trade unions to amplify migrants’ voices and mobilise for change. In 2024 we led the introduction of world-first national law reforms that enable migrants to safely address exploitation. In May 2026, we launched the first in a series of reports and guides coming out of our 2024 landmark research: Off the Books: Inside Australia’s Hidden System of Migrant Worker Exploitation.

The Position

The Design and Digital Communications Assistant (DDC Assistant) will use design and communication skills to increase the impact of migrants’ voices by making our survey findings accessible and engaging to a wide range of audiences. Working under the supervision of the Research Associate and Co-Executive Director, MJI’s DDC Assistant is an integral member of MJI’s small, passionate team.

The DDC Assistant will primarily support the presentation, publication and communication of findings and policy recommendations from MJI’s landmark survey of 10,000 migrant workers in Australia conducted in 2024 - the only survey of its kind in the world. The role will help transform research findings into accessible visual and digital content across reports, presentations, websites and other communication channels. This includes laying out reports and other publications in InDesign using MJI’s template, supporting production of graphics and digital content for website and social media, and PowerPoint presentations.

We are looking for an outstanding student with strong design sensibility, excellent technical design skills and a genuine passion for using visual communication to advance social justice for international students and other migrants at risk of exploitation. The successful candidate will have meticulous attention to detail and the ability to produce polished visual assets, publication layouts and data visualisations for public-facing reports, presentations, stakeholder communications, website and other digital channels, using existing templates and guidance.

The role is approximately 10 hours per week but will fluctuate with more intense periods around report releases and some quieter weeks. The role can be undertaken remotely, with the option of working in the MJI Office at the UNSW Faculty of Law & Justice in Kensington. Hours can be worked flexibly provided deadlines are met. The role will start in July 2026.

Responsibilities:

  • Supporting the layout and design of MJI reports, submissions and other publications in InDesign and Word.

  • Creating graphics and other visual assets for reports, presentations, website, social media and stakeholder communications.

  • Producing and adapting design work in Canva, the Adobe suite, PowerPoint and Squarespace in accordance with MJI’s branding, style and tone.

  • Supporting updates to MJI's website on Squarespace, including formatting and uploading web content, graphics, report pages and digital resources.

  • Assisting with the visual presentation, adaptation and repurposing of findings from MJI's migrant worker survey, including data visualisation, digital storytelling, and the creation of assets for reports, presentations, website and other digital channels.

  • Using AI-enabled tools responsibly to support design, rapid prototyping and workflow efficiency, while ensuring all final outputs are accurate and appropriate for MJI's work.

  • Proofreading and checking designed materials for visual consistency, formatting accuracy, spelling, grammar and alignment with source material.

  • Liaising with MJI team members to incorporate feedback and produce polished, accessible and publication-ready outputs.

Selection Criteria

Essential:

  • At least one year of relevant design experience, which may include paid work, internships, substantial volunteer projects, or strong coursework portfolios.

  • Demonstrated strong graphic design skills, including Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Canva, and the ability to produce polished materials for a range of stakeholders.

  • Experience designing reports, policy documents, infographics, social media content, presentations, and web-based communications.

  • Meticulous attention to detail, including proofreading and formatting of designed materials.

  • Enthusiasm for, and ideally experience with, the responsible use of AI and emerging technologies to support design inspiration, prototyping and efficient workflows.

  • A flexible, positive, and collaborative attitude, with a willingness to pitch in as needed as part of a small team.

Highly desirable:

  • Experience using Squarespace or another website CMS, including basic knowledge of HTML/CSS.

  • Highly organised, efficient, and reliable, with the ability to manage competing tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to receive and apply feedback constructively.

Applications

The Migrant Justice Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce and particularly encourage international students and candidates from migrant backgrounds to apply for this role.

Please submit a CV, cover letter addressing the selection criteria, and samples of relevant design work to caroline@migrantjustice.org, with “Application for Design and Digital Communications Assistant” in the subject line. Where possible, the cover letter should provide concrete examples of work you have done professionally or in your studies that shows how your skills and experience meet specific selection criteria.

Applications will be reviewed and shortlisted as they are received and the position will be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is identified. We encourage you to apply ASAP.

Further information

For further information about the Migrant Justice Institute, see https://www.migrantjustice.org. For further information about this position, email Rishabh Vats, Research Associate, at Rishabh@migrantjustice.org.

Caroline Hill