Connecting to Country Officer

Officer

**Position Number**:P01041

**Directorate**:Environment & Planning Services

**Service**:Natural Environment

**Location**:Katoomba HQ

**Date Created/Updated**August 2025

**Position Classification**:Band: 7

**POSITION PURPOSE / OBJECTIVE**

To deliver the Connecting to Country program which aims to enable Aboriginal people
and organisations in the Blue Mountains to undertake on Country activities that foster
healthy relationships to Country, preservation of culture, and strengthening of
communities.

**RELATIONSHIPS**

**Reports to: Program Leader First Nations**

**Staff Responsibility**:Nil

**Key Internal Relationships**:First Nations team, Environment Branch in particular
Healthy Waterway, Bushcare, Natural Area
Operations, Fire and Emergency, Open Space and
Recreation Branch and Media and Communications
Branch

**Key External Relationships**:BMCC Aboriginal Advisory Council, Dharug and
Gundungurra Traditional Owner Groups,
Aboriginal Community, identified Government and
Non-Government Organisations.

**SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES**

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

- Work with the First Nations Program Leader and Traditional Owners to further develop

the Connecting to Country Program in a way that restores balance and heals Country
from an Aboriginal cultural perspective, and empowers Traditional Owners to continue
cultural activities in a sustainable manner;
- Manage and implement Connecting to Country activities in collaboration with key

Traditional Owners and other project partners;
- Seek opportunities to facilitate the transfer of cultural knowledge across

intergenerational groups participating in Connecting to Country activities;
- Assist with the development of Natural Resource Collection Agreements and

associated cultural processes to ensure a sustainable approach is established;
- Work with First Nations Program Leader, BMCC Fire and Emergency Team to

investigate opportunities for traditional burning practices ‘On-Country’ with Traditional
Owners and relevant staff / agencies, and coordinate approved burns;
- Provide logístical support for cultural burns under the guidance of the Traditional

Owners
- Assist Traditional Owners to further develop ‘On-Country’ opportunities that result in

positive environmental, cultural, social, spiritual, and economic outcomes for
Traditional Owners and other Aboriginal people; Working with Traditional Owners,
assist in establishing a traditional knowledge repository and database of knowledge
holders / cultural educators;
- Monitor, evaluate and report on Connecting to Country outcomes;
- Keep the First Nations Team r informed on all matters relating to the role; and
- Assist the team with NAIDOC week and undertake other associated duties as directed.

**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 your
Supervisor or Manager (or the Health, Safety Manager/Area Safety Representative);
never performing a task that you believe is dangerous or for which you do not have the
experience, or have not received appropriate instructions and training or where the correct
equipment to carry out the task safely is not available; always work in a safe manner and
in accordance with safety instructions, where applicable; use the work equipment supplied
for the job, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions), and any personal
protective equipment, which the Council deems necessary and has provided; be safety
aware and report any actions to your line manager which will assist the Council to meet
its legal workplace health and safety obligations.

You have the right to cease or direct cessation of unsafe work. In addition you are required
at all times to comply with Councils Asbestos Management Plan and Policy.

**COMPLIANCE & RISK**

You will support the team in ensuring that risk management responsibilities as described
in council’s Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Policy and Procedure (the ERM
Framework) are met, with the goal of ensuring that potential issues are identified and
reported in a timely manner.

**COMMUNICATION**

The Connecting to Country Project Officer will communicate with a wide range of
stakeholder. Importantly the Project Officer will be required to work closely with Dharug
and Gundungurra Traditional Owners and other Aboriginal stakeholders therefore
experience in communicating with diverse Aboriginal communities is essential. The
Project Officer will also be required to communicate with Council Officers as well as
external Government and non-government organisations where appropriate.

The position will need well developed communication, group facilitation, conflict
resolution and interpersonal skills.

**JUDGEMENT & PROBLEM SOLVING**

The Connecting to Country Project