First Peoples Program Support Officer

In Melbourne, water is essential to our way of life.

As caretakers for Melbourne's water cycle, we care for water, life and land throughout Melbourne: both its people and its biodiversity.

Each time you drink from the tap, flush a toilet, run through a backyard sprinkler, or kayak down the Yarra we're there. Primed and ready, quietly delivering some of the world's cleanest water for over five million residents and wildlife that call Melbourne home, just as we have for over 130 years.

If you value making it count, diving in with curiosity, and doing what's right, you're in the right place.

As a First Peoples Program Support Officer, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping Melbourne Water's commitment to reconciliation and cultural awareness. You'll provide expert advice on cultural values, lead cultural awareness training, coordinate major events like National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week, and support the implementation of the Reconciliation Action Plan. This role is ideal for someone with strong interpersonal skills, lived experience working with First Peoples and Traditional Owners, and a drive to foster meaningful partnerships across the organisation and community.

• Coordinate and lead Reconciliation event week activities as part of the Aboriginal Engagement team.
• Lead the Cultural Awareness training programs and ensure collaboration with all parts of Melbourne Water, including an annual review of the cultural learnings and percentages of completion.
• Support team members to advise and report as required internally, to leaders and to the Walking Country Together Leaders Forum on progress within the Reconciliation Action Plan.
• Support the Traditional Owner Relationship Manager and Traditional Owner Partnership Officers as required to develop, implement and review Partnership Agreements.
• Support the Aboriginal Engagement team with procurement, bookings for cultural services and development of contracts for Traditional Owner Corporations to fund on Country services, joint management and other agreed priorities with Traditional Owners.
• Lead components of the Melbourne Water cultural safety program as part of the Aboriginal Engagement Team.
• Support collaborative cultural activities with, and seek feedback from, leaders within Melbourne Water. 
• Prepare and report on a wide range of communications materials including newsletters, bulletins, display materials, social media and digital content which is clear and consistent to support the delivery of Reconciliation and with content approved and endorsed with/by our partners.

For further information please refer to the attached Position Description

• Demonstrated understanding and experience in working with First Peoples and Traditional
• Experience gained through community extension, stakeholder engagement and communications projects and work experience.
• High-level and culturally safe inter-personal skills to work effectively with a range of partners including Traditional Owners, community groups, colleagues and senior management.
• The proven ability to collaboratively and cooperatively solve problems, negotiate innovative solutions to difficult tasks, and to develop and improve effective relationships and partnerships with a range of stakeholders to achieve outcomes.
• Strong Administrative, event and coordination skills to support and deliver key operational outcomes.
• High level of communication skills suited to traditional and modern communication channels including written reports, websites, traditional media and social media.
• Demonstrated skills in problem-solving, decision making, political judgement and adaptive management.
• Excellent customer service standards with the ability to negotiate with the community on behalf of the organisation.
• Demonstrated achievements in working both independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

This role will require frequent travel to capital project locations and other MW operational sites and applicants will require a driver's licence.

At Melbourne Water, we care deeply about water and the life it sustains. 

Our team is inspired by passion and purpose, with an unwavering commitment to safety. We are on a mission to protect every Melburnian's way of life, one drop at a time.   

We don't just talk about flexible working - we live it. Our culture of purpose, safety, results, and learning flows through everything we do. We're dedicated to doing what's right, and this commitment extends to the meaningful work we do in a supportive and inclusive culture that encourages you to make the most of your talents.  

Our long-standing commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging means that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Neurodivergent and LGBTIQ+ individuals, people living with disability, mature age and young jobseekers from all cultures can apply with confidence knowing they are safe, affirmed, and celebrated.  

If you're curious, action-orientated, outcomes-focused, and passionate about public resources, community, and the environment, we'd love to receive your application and learn if you could be a great fit. 

Click the 'Apply Now' button below and complete our online application form.

Closing date: Wednesday 26th November 2026 at 11:55pm AEST

This role is an Identified Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island Position and requires: an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples an ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.