Assistant Director

Application Pack

Assistant Director, Languages

APS Executive Level 1

Non-ongoing - Full-time for 18 months (with possibility of extension up to 2 years)

$97,230 to $106,655 pa

This is an Affirmative Measures opportunity open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait
Islander people only

Who we are
We are Australia’s only national institution focused exclusively on the diverse history,
cultures, and heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia. We house the
world’s most important and extensive collection of cultural information and material and
we provide leadership, publish and promote greater understanding and appreciation of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We create opportunities for people the
world over to engage with and be transformed by the knowledge, the culture and the
story of Australia’s Indigenous peoples. We are Australia’s national institution for
leadership in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research.

What we do

We care for a priceless collection, including films, photographs, video and audio
recordings as well as the world’s largest collection of printed and other resource
materials for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies. We undertake and encourage
scholarly, ethical, community-based research in a variety of sectors, including health,
native title, languages and education. Our publishing house, Aboriginal Studies Press,
regularly publishes outstanding writing that promotes Australian Indigenous cultures.
Our activities affirm and raise awareness of the richness and diversity of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.

Our functions are established under the_ Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres _
- Strait Islander Studies Act 1989_.

These functions are to:
provide access to a national collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

culture and heritage;
use that national collection to strengthen and promote knowledge and
understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage;
provide leadership in the fields of:

- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research; and
- activities relating to collections associated with Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples; and use (including use for research) of that
national collection and other collections containing Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander culture and heritage;
lead and promote collaborations and partnerships among the academic, research,
non-government, business and government sectors and Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples in support of the other functions of the Institute;
provide advice to the Commonwealth on the situation and status of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage.

We are an Australian Government statutory authority. The Minister responsible for
AIATSIS is the Hon Linda Burney MP, Minister for Indigenous Australians, and AIATSIS
sits within the portfolio of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

About the Research and Education Group

AIATSIS is one of Australia’s publicly funded research agencies. We are at the forefront
of research led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who are involved as
researchers, partners and drivers of our research priorities and projects. We lead by
example in conducting research to the highest ethical standards and we have a genuine
commitment to building pathways for knowledge exchange.

The AIATSIS Languages team is a part of the AIATSIS Research and Education Group
and undertakes community-based research and projects with the aim of supporting the
active practice of Indigenous languages. This includes projects to support language
reawakening through access to archival materials, the documentation of languages and
supporting the production of materials such as dictionaries, to assist communities in
achieving these goals. Our work is strongly community focused and also supports
Indigenous control of their languages and associated data. We take a national approach
to understanding the situation and status of Indigenous languages and drawing on this
we provide advice to governments on all aspects of language policy, projects and
support.

The Research and Education Group employs a majority Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander staff, which makes for a highly culturally competent workplace. We actively
invest in the skills and knowledge of our staff so they can thrive in their current roles and
support them to develop in their chosen career pathway.

About the Role***

The Assistant Director within the Team will oversee the development and conduct of
projects to support the strengthening of Indigenous Australian languages. They will
manage a small team that will initiate and develop projects, engage with communities
and stakeholders, produce and maintain useful resources, assist in holding forums and
events, and contribute to innovative communication and publication outputs and
reporting on outcomes.

The key responsibili