Program Leader First Nations

**Position Title**:Program Leader First Nations

**Position Number**:P01116

**Directorate**:Environment & Planning Services

**Service**:Natural Environment

**Location**:Katoomba HQ

**Date Created/Updated **October 2022

**Position Classification**:Band 12

**POSITION PURPOSE / OBJECTIVE
- To lead and manage delivery of Council’s First Nations program area;
- To develop, contribute to and implement programs, projects, strategies and policies

aimed at improving outcomes for Traditional Owners, First Nations peoples and the
management of Ngurra (Country);
- To lead and manage Council’s consultation and engagement with Traditional Owners

and First Nations peoples across a broad range of Council programs; and
- To implement Council’s undertaking, declared in its Statement of Recognition and

Commitment, to acknowledge past injustices and disadvantage to First Nations people
caused by colonisation, and to redress these through positive action, truth telling and
reconciliation efforts.

**RELATIONSHIPS**

**Reports to: Manager Environment**

**Staff Responsibility**:Connecting to Country Officer, First Nations
Communication & Engagement Officer, and other staff
as required.

**Key Internal Relationships**:All Council Groups

**Key External Relationships**:Local Dharug and Gundungurra Traditional
Owners and Blue Mountains First Nations
peoples, Government and Non-Government
Organisations and service providers.

**SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES**

The **key responsibilities **for this position include:

- Deliver initiatives that contribute to respecting, conserving and promoting the

continuation of Traditional Owners and First Nations peoples’ connections to Ngurra
(Country) and the living cultural and spiritual relationships that the people hold within

this Country.
- Provide opportunities to improve the physical, cultural and spiritual health and

wellbeing of the local First Nations community through strengthened relationships
with Ngurra and activities that assist with intergenerational healing;
- Explore and deliver opportunities for Traditional Owners to contribute to, and direct

the management of Ngurra, including managing Council’s obligations and
compliance with the Gundungurra Indigenous Land Use Agreement (GILUA) and Co
- operative Management Agreement for The Gully Aboriginal Place;
- Lead, manage and coordinate Council’s consultation and engagement with

Traditional Owners and First Nations people across all Council programs;
- Lead or contribute to the development and implementation of strategic plans that

support self-determined employment, economic outcomes and cultural opportunities
for Traditional Owners and the First Nations community, including the opportunity to
generate direct social, economic and cultural benefit from Ngurra;
- Lead and manage the operation of Council’s First Nations community forums, such

as the Aboriginal Advisory Council, to enable a First Nations ‘Voice’ within Council,
and to provide First Nations’ input into strategic and operational outcomes;
- Promote the recovery and protection of local Dharug and Gundungurra languages,

cultural practices and kinship through initiatives and partnerships, while recognising
and supporting the broader First Nations communities in the Blue Mountains to fulfil
a similar need for these essential cultural expressions;
- Develop, deliver and promote initiatives that increase respect for, and acceptance of

Traditional Owners and First Nations peoples, this includes staff training;
- Promote and support the process of ‘Truth Telling’ seeking opportunities to deliver

key outcomes and projects which provide an honest and complete narrative of both
Aboriginal and European history;
- Plan, facilitate and attend community meetings and events, such as NAIDOC, which

may require out of hours attendance.
- Act as one of two Council Native Title Managers under the Crown Lands

Management Act;
- Procure and manage internal and external funds and/or resources directed towards

management of Ngurra (Country) and Aboriginal sites under Council’s management.
- Provide specialist advice or services on matters relevant to the First Nations

community;
- Prepare correspondence, Council reports, media releases as required/directed.
- Manage direct reports, volunteers and service providers appropriately and in

accordance with statutory requirements, and Council’s procedure, policy and codes.
- Keep the Manager informed on all matters which are likely to impact on Council and

the community in the short or long term, and act as Branch Manager as required.
- Deliver other roles and responsibilities as directed by the Manager or Executive.

**WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY
**Ensure compliance with WHS obligations and responsibilities as outlined in Councils
policies and procedures and under the relevant WHS legislation. These include but are
not limited to identifying potentially unsafe situations or work practices and notifying you