Job Ad

Locations: Canberra, Brisbane, Cairns, Perth 

Work Type: Full Time

Salary: $95,501 - $114,201 per annum plus 15.4% superannuation

The opportunity we have available

A little bit about us

The First Nations Partnerships Division’s objective is to enable and support the department to achieve its deliverables against the socio-economic targets and the Priority Reforms in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. We also have the internal Our Stories on Country Agreement that have aspirations for progress that our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees have shared.

While the responsibility to achieve these aspirations lies with the department, we assist through inclusive practices and opportunities that recognise, celebrate, and appreciate the skills, knowledge, and cultural protocols of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We respect, amplify, and honour the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees and communities to build an engaged and responsive workforce that facilitates meaningful engagement and strong partnerships. We foster collaborative leadership for success by guiding unified efforts across all levels to achieve shared goals and positive outcomes. We support action for impact across the department ensuring that initiatives deliver tangible outcomes that empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, employees, and communities.

The Division has responsibility for four key initiatives:

• Progressing the Closing the Gap Priority Reforms through the Our Stories on Country Agreement
  1. Supporting Priority Reforms Implementation, including cultural safety and learning initiatives
  2. Supporting and guiding collaborative and accountable leadership that supports the self-determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff
• Commonwealth lead on CtG Essential Community Infrastructure socio-economic target (9b)
  1. Whole of government projects and initiatives, that commit to building a stronger Australian Public Service that delivers better outcomes for the community, acts as a model employer and contributes to a fairer and more inclusive Australia
• Whole of Government First Nations Reporting, Coordination and Initiatives
  1. Whole of government and internal engagement forums
  2. Food Security, Remote Australia Framework and First Nations Economic Opportunities
  3. Cabinet submissions
• Internal First Nations Strategic Policy Advice and Guidance
  1. First Nations Policy advice and partnerships across the department
  2. Administration and Secretariat support for First Nations Steering Committee
  3. Ongoing internal communications and capability uplift across the department
  4. Implementation and ongoing reporting on the Reconciliation Action Plan

If you'd like to be part of a meaningful environment where we respect multiple perspectives, are professional and act with integrity, invest in each other’s success, are authentic and deliver with purpose, then we want to hear from you!

What will you do? 

The Policy Coordination and Reporting Branch – Senior Policy Officer role will contribute to internal First Nations policy coordination and reporting across the department and division, briefings for senior executives, and reporting on the National Agreement on Closing the Gap commitments. As well as contributing to external reporting requirements, you will work to ensure there is visibility of how we are tracking against the Closing the Gap Priority Reforms and socio-economic targets internally. The role will also drive project work specific to implementation of the Commonwealth framework for the Governance of Indigenous Data.

The Culture, Capability and Collaboration Branch – Project Officer role will drive and influence change through the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and the Our Stories on Country Agreement to embed the transformation elements, value the cultures, knowledges and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, families and communities. The role will require an understanding of the relevant policies and programs that impact the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in order to provide policy advice and strategic guidance to the Department on its responsibilities and deliverables against the National Agreement on Closing the Gap outcomes and targets.

Our ideal candidates will have:

• An understanding and ability to demonstrate their skillset against the APS 6 work level standards.
• Ability to work independently in an agile environment.
• Strategic thinking with a problem-solving mentality.
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills (experience with brief/report writing an advantage).
• Excellent workflow management and attention to detail.
• Pride in their work and self-motivation.
• Ability to deliver work within short timeframes.
• Creativity, flexibility, and outcomes focused to support the transformation of the department through innovative approaches.
• Proven personal initiative and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Provide advice to committees, executive and governing bodies on First Nations policy matters.

Who are we looking for?

The successful candidate for this position will be able to demonstrate their capability against the APS level 6 Work level standards.

These roles in the First nations Partnerships Division require candidates to display cultural integrity and have an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We are seeking candidates who are interested in working in a dynamic environment and can demonstrate, or have the potential to develop, the following:

• Cultural capability by incorporating the principles of knowing, being and doing into policy matters that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities, including.
• The ability to manage competing priorities to achieve results, often working with tight timeframes.
• The ability to communicate with influence in a culturally appropriate manner, including listening actively and clearly articulating your message in written and oral forms.
• Effective stakeholder engagement skills to build effective professional networks and collaborate across teams and divisions and build consensus amongst internal and external stakeholders.
• Think strategically, including attention to detail and excellent coordination skills.
• The ability to act with integrity, judgment and professionalism.

The nature of this role requires the candidate to consistently demonstrate the following specific cultural capabilities:

• This is an Affirmative Measures position, an understanding of Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander cultural positionality is required
• Having an authentic and respectful interest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, policy, and implementation matters
• Engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees in a sensitive and equitable manner
• Working in genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to achieve shared outcomes
• Resilient and forward-looking with strong personal drive and integrity

RecruitAbility minimum requirements

Minimum requirements for this role include:

• Cultural Capability, as outlined above
• Effective stakeholder engagement skills to build effective professional networks and collaborate across teams and divisions and build consensus amongst internal and external stakeholders

RecruitAbility is a scheme which aims to attract and develop applicants with disability and also facilitate cultural changes in selection panels and agency recruitment.

Job applicants with disability who met the requirements are advanced to the next stage of the selection process:

• Opt into the scheme
• Declare they have a disability, and
• Meet the minimum requirements of a vacancy advertised in the scheme

More information can be found at RecruitAbility scheme: A guide for applicants | Australian Public Service Commission.

Eligibility requirements

Employment with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts is subject to conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999 including:

• Citizenship:  Candidates must be an Australian citizen at the time of submitting your application
• Health Assessment: The preferred applicant may be required to undergo a medical examination conducted by the department’s preferred medical provider.
• Security Clearance: The successful candidate must be able to obtain and/or maintain a security clearance at Baseline Level.  You must be willing to disclose all relevant and required information.  You must have lived in Australia, or have a checkable background, for at least the preceding five years for Baseline Vetting clearances.  More information on the security clearance vetting process is available on the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) website.

Timeline and assessment

A selection panel will be established to assess your suitability against the advertised role.

If a merit pool is established it will be valid for 18 months from date it first appeared in the APS Gazette.

Applications open: 14 March 2025

Applications close: 30 March 2025

Application shortlisting: 31 March 2025

Further assessments: 7 April 2025

Selection report finalised: 23 April 2025

Offers and announcements: 28 April 2025

The above is indicative only, please reach out to the contact person if you have any questions on the recruitment process or timeframes.

Your application will be assessed against the requirements of the job and the Work level standards. Once the entire applicant pool has been assessed, the panel will create a shortlist of applicants. If your application is shortlisted, you may be asked to undertake further assessment, this may include work sample testing, interviews, and reference checks.

How to apply

Applications for this opportunity close at 11.59pm AEDT, Sunday 30 March 2025.

In applying for this position, you are not required to address individual selection criteria. Rather, you should provide in a PDF document a statement of no more than one (1) page outlining your background, capabilities and experiences, and how these align with the advertised role.

You should also provide a tailored CV in PDF, no more than two (2) pages. The capabilities and behaviours required to be successful for this role are identified in the ‘Who are we looking for’ section.

Your application should be received through the department’s online recruitment system.  Applications via Indeed will not be accepted.

If you experience any issues with the system please contact the recruitment team on 02 6136 8989 or via email at recruitment@infrastructure.gov.au to discuss an alternative way to submit your application.

Please advise the contact officer if you require reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. The department is committed to the accessibility of our systems. If you identify as someone with disability and you require accessibility assistance or more information, please email DiversityandInclusion@infrastructure.gov.au

Work with us. Apply now!