Responsible Practice Advisor

• Identified role only for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates ​

• Full-time​, ​ongoing position to drive and implement Responsible Practice initiatives  

• ​Salary Level HEW 8 ($116,551p.a + 17% Superannuation) and Flexible Working Arrangements 

• Based at the city​ campus ​in the heart of Melbourne

About the role

The Responsible Practice Advisor will drive RMIT's Responsible Practice principles across three central portfolios to enhance understanding of, and respect for, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and knowledge. As a well-supported and key member of the RMIT network, the Advisor will provide advice and support across the Policy Strategy and Impact, Operations, and International and Engagement portfolios.

You will develop and implement portfolio and University-wide initiatives related to the engagement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, students and partners, and the cultural capability of portfolio staff.  

The Responsible Practice Advisor will facilitate initiatives within each portfolio, including staff capability with regards to RMIT's Indigenous Student Success Strategy, Indigenous Research Plan, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Plan, and will build strong connections with Indigenous Communities and organisations to co-design Indigenous led approaches to all each portfolio's strategic direction. 

The Advisor will report into the International and Engagement Portfolio but will work collaboratively with the Operations Portfolio, Policy Strategy and Impact Portfolio and Office of Indigenous Education, Research & Engagement to support efforts to embed Responsible Practice into how we work at RMIT. 

The role works to achieve the ambitions outlined in RMIT's 9-year strategy, Knowledge with Action.  

rmit-strategy-knowledge-with-   and Respect for Indigenous cultures in Australia - RMIT University

About the Portfolios you will work with

The Responsible Practice Advisor will work closely with a wide range of university portfolios to embed Responsible Practice across RMIT.  This includes

• The Operations Portfolio, which delivers enterprise-wide support services that enable the University's learning, research and engagement activities;

• The Policy, Strategy and Impact Portfolio, which provides specialist policy advice and strategic consulting to guide institutional priorities;

• The International and Engagement Portfolio, drives RMIT's global strategy, partnerships and operations and leads communications, global marketing and recruitment, alumni relations, partnerships, philanthropy and public engagement.

Through strong collaboration with these groups, the role will help ensure Responsible Practice principles and are integrated into core strategies, policies, operations and engagement activities, contributing to a more inclusive and impactful RMIT.

Your Key Accountabilities

• Drive and implement Responsible Practice initiatives at RMIT, and champion, promote and support the self determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at RMIT.  

• Coordinate the development of frameworks and strategies to build the cultural capacity and capability of Portfolio staff and students and lead and manage implementation across all 3 Portfolios.  

• Build constructive working relationships and influence internal stakeholders to achieve desirable outcomes for each Portfolio. 

• Advise Portfolio leadership on the implementation of each Portfolio's Responsible Practice strategic plans, including: the Indigenous Employment Action Plan; and the Indigenous Research Action Plan.  

• Work with the Office of Indigenous Education, Research & Engagement (OIERE) team to deliver 'Indigenous Strategic Commitments' of the RMIT strategy and advise Portfolio leadership on aspects of Indigenous Engagement.  

• Work with the Ngarara Willim Centre to facilitate support and outcomes for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students and community who access Portfolio programs. 

• Participate and actively contribute to the Indigenous community of practice across the organisation.  

• Support and promote significant national Indigenous events within each Portfolio and University-wide.  

• Attend and lead regular committee meetings, including individual Portfolio Ngulu Indigenous Advisory Groups and represent each Portfolio where required.  

• Other duties as required by leadership, within the scope of the classification. 

Key Selection Criteria

• Must be of Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage.*

• A commitment to advancing meaningful self determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through personal practice and a highly developed understanding of the systemic barriers and challenges experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities specifically, but not limited to, Victoria.  

• Connections with the Victorian Aboriginal community and demonstratable knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and organisations.  

• Proven experience working with diverse stakeholder groups, sensitively and effectively, to drive an Indigenous self-determination agenda.  Experience in the development and management of programs, project management and researching policy within a complex organisation to drive desired outcomes in line with strategy.  

• Proven management skills, including the capacity to initiate and assist in continuous improvement in a dynamic environment and to provide strategic advice and support to senior management.  

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including a proven capacity to build and maintain productive relationships with a wide range of internal and external groups, which include Indigenous community, industry partners and internal business units.  

• The ability to work co-operatively and flexibly as a member of a team.  

• The ability to work autonomously, manage competing priorities and deadlines and meet reporting requirements. 

Position Description

Required Qualifications

A degree with appropriate experience; or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.  

*Note: This is an Identified position and being an Australian Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander is considered a 'genuine occupational qualification' in accordance with sub-s 26(3) and s 28 of the Equal Opportunity Act

The successful applicant is required to provide confirmation of their Australian Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander heritage. 

Appointment to this position is subject to passing a Working with Children Check and other checks as required by the specific role. Maintaining a valid Working with Children Check is a condition of employment at RMIT.

Applications close Friday 28 November at 11am

To Apply  

Please submit your CV and covering letter addressing ​your suitability​ for this position by clicking on the 'Apply' link at the top of this page.  

If required, for additional information please reach out to Jimmy Waters,

Associate Director, Office of the DVC, International and Engagement via   or Loretta Vaughan, Snr Talent Advisor, First Peoples Employment via

Please note, if you are viewing this advert from an external site, please click 'apply' and you will be redirected to RMIT's Jobs website to access the Position Description at the bottom of the page. Due to recent upgrades, position description links may not work on LinkedIn advertisements.   

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RMIT is an equal opportunity employer committed to being a child safe organisation. We are dedicated to attracting, retaining and developing our people regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability and age. Applications are encouraged from all sectors of the community and we strongly encourage applications from the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community. 

At RMIT, we are committed to supporting adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, as well as during employment. We actively support and encourage people with disability to apply to RMIT (including alternate formats of application forms). To discuss adjustment requirements, please contact Dani, via or visit our Careers page for more contact information -

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