Advisers, First Nations Policy Branch

Location: Barton, ACT

Application Closing Date**:Sunday 13 October by 11:30pm AEDT**

**Classification**

APS Level 5 ($85,633 - $91,549),APS Level 6 ($94,715 - $106,438)

**Employment Type**

Ongoing & Non-ongoing (for a period up to 12 months)

Where a non-ongoing specified term is offered, this would be for an initial period of up to 12 months, with possibility of extension up to a maximum period of two years.

A non-ongoing offer may result in conversion to an ongoing offer of employment, however this must occur within 18 months from the opening date of this advertisement.

**Flexible Work**

At PM&C we recognise the broad benefits of offering flexibility in how, when and where work is performed. We consider flexibility first from a starting position of ‘how can we make this work?’ and consider individual circumstances and operational requirements in making genuine attempts to establish mutually beneficial arrangements. Please reach out to the contact officer if you would like to explore what flexibility might look like for you, such as part time work, variable start and finish times or working from home.

**Who we are**

The First Nations Policy Branch advises the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and portfolio ministers on issues that affect the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and enabling the implementation of culturally responsive solutions. We work closely with the National Indigenous Australians Agency, other Commonwealth departments, state and territory governments, the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations (Coalition of Peaks) and other stakeholders to ensure policy initiatives meet the Government's objectives and deliver on its commitment to work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

**What you will do**

The First Nations Policy Branch has a number of APS5 and APS6 roles working on diverse policy and stakeholder management priorities in the Closing the Gap and Culture; and Social and Economic Policy teams.

Key roles and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

- Providing considered and timely advice on Closing the Gap and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy for the Prime Minister, Ministers, Assistant Ministers and PM&C senior executive
- Establishing and building collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Providing guidance and advice to Commonwealth agencies and advocating for a whole-of-government approach to issues
- Contributing to key work streams and projects to support delivery of Closing the Gap Priority Reforms within PM&C and across the APS
- Coordinating across other Central Agencies to prepare advice to Cabinet on First Nations Budget proposals
- Driving a positive, innovative, inclusive and culturally safe environment across the branch
- Willingness and commitment to continue to develop cultural competency in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

**What you will bring**
- A high level of cultural competency, including:

- A thorough understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities
- Possesses the ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples
- A commitment to continuous development of cultural competency
- Good judgement to make informed and balanced decisions
- Well-developed organisational skills, including adapting to change, working with limited direction and managing competing priorities
- Strong communication skills and ability to communicate clearly with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders and build develop and maintain strong working relationships
- Well-developed research, analytical and writing skills, as well as an ability to work independently or under limited guidance on complex tasks
- A good understanding, or the ability to rapidly acquire understanding of, the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and the policy intersections/impact at a local, state and national level
- A commitment to contributing to a team environment, which embraces collaboration, diversity of views, and acts inclusively to improve advice and solutions.

Experience and/or formal qualifications in one or more of the following are desirable:

- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy, project management or program delivery, budget policy and coordination, social science research, organisational cultural capability, cultural safety models and frameworks, change management approaches, or monitoring and evaluation.

**Identified Position**

This position has direct engagement with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and service providers, or is involved in the development of programmes and policy. You will require a high level of cultural competency, including:

- demonstrated understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples,
- demonstrated high level abilit