The Opportunity:
Are you interested in making a meaningful difference in your career?
We are seeking a number of highly motivated applicants who are passionate about the Government’s First Nations Agenda. We are seeking applicants who can respectfully engage with First Nations communities and stakeholders to achieve impactful and sustainable outcomes for First Nations People to join our Country, Culture and Connection Group.
The Country, Culture and Connection Group provides policy advice and runs programs that empower the self-determination and aspirations of First Nations communities and Traditional Owners across a broad range of areas. The Group works across a range of key policy areas including Indigenous culture and knowledges, international policy, NAIDOC Week awards and grants, Empowered Communities, environment and water policy, Indigenous Rangers, Indigenous Protected Areas, land and Native Title, Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme.
Roles within the Country, Culture and Connection Group contribute to work at the heart of the Government’s First Nations policy agenda and will give you the opportunity to work in partnership with First Nations people to deliver better outcomes and ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are heard, recognised and empowered.
As a policy and/or program officer you will have the opportunity to influence change across government to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a say in the decisions that affect them. You will do this by, contributing to policy design and implementation, and will have the opportunity to work in genuine partnership with a diverse range of stakeholders across remote, regional and urban Australia, including First Nations communities, Native Title holders, First Nations service providers and peaks. You will be supported to continuously build and develop your cultural capability and awareness of unconscious bias in the workplace.
As the APS4 Policy Officer/Program Officer, you will undertake a variety of work including but not limited to:
• tasks of moderate complexity and work under general direction
• provide sound advice and recommendations which influence the decisions made by others, including supervisors and peers
• make decisions within defined parameters relating to the area of responsibility that impact on the work area or specific function, but the impact on agency operations and resources is limited
• liaising with internal and external stakeholders, including First Nations stakeholders, in relation to policy development and/or program management
• facilitating program implementation, including assessing, establishing, and supporting program delivery, monitoring and evaluation
• preparing correspondence and reports including emails and letters
• providing administrative support and some secretariat duties.
As the APS5 Policy Officer/ Program Officer, you will undertake a variety of work including but not limited to:
• tasks of moderately complex to complex in nature and operate under limited direction
• have accountability for tasks and decisions and support less experienced employees in achieving their goals through the provision of guidance and quality assurance
• develop plans and objectives for short-term tasks of the work area and contribute to strategic planning for longer-term initiatives of the section
• undertaking research and/or data analysis activities and reporting on finding to inform and support the decisions made by others, including supervisors and peers
• issues arising from management liaising with internal and external stakeholders, including First Nations stakeholders and representing your work area in relation to policy development and/or program management.
Our Ideal Candidate:
The NIAA is seeking experienced, committed and highly skilled APS4 and APS5 candidates with a range of skills to join our team.
Our ideal candidates will have:
• a demonstrated record of working in a culturally sensitive manner, with a commitment to furthering cultural intelligence development
• research skills, including the ability to provide advice based on evidence
• written skills and the ability to deliver briefings and papers
• interpersonal skills, including the ability to develop relationships with stakeholders
• data, analytical and research skills, including the ability to provide quality advice based on evidence
• strong organisational skills, to support delivery of outcomes on time.
In addition, APS5 Policy/Program Officer ideal candidates will have:
• the ability to identify emerging opportunities or issues and respond quickly to competing priorities
• the ability to work independently or under limited guidance in relation on day-to-day work
• sound judgment and the ability to identify problems or issues and resolve or establish treatments to mitigate, under the support and general direction of senior staff.