Indigenous Advisory Committee Committee Members – Information Pack

Who we are

The Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC) is an independent, expert, statutory committee established under the
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
(EPBC Act). The EPBC Act is the Australian Government's central piece of environmental legislation that provides a framework to protect and manage nationally important flora, fauna, ecological communities, and heritage places and meet our international biodiversity conservation obligations.

The IAC provides expert Indigenous advice to the Federal Minister for the Environment on the operation of the EPBC Act, considering the significance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' knowledge of the management of land, sea and the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

The IAC is an advisory committee and does not act as a representative group that advocates for specific interests on behalf of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and other stakeholder groups.

The positions

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water (DCCEEW) invites Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for part-time positions on the IAC, commencing in the first quarter of 2026.

Meetings and workload

The IAC meets up to six (6) times per year with a combination of face-to-face and virtual meetings, to consider and develop advice for the Minister and the department. Weekend and out-of-hours travel to enable attendance to meetings is likely. There is also an out of session workload for the IAC including the potential responsibility of representing the IAC in meetings with external stakeholders or the Minister.

Remuneration

The remuneration for members is calculated in accordance with the relevant principal

determination, the Remuneration Tribunal Determination (Remuneration and Allowances for Holders of Part-time Public Office) (as amended from time to time).

Travel expenses are calculated in accordance with Remuneration Tribunal (Official Travel) Determination (as amended from time to time).

Tenure

The successful candidates will be appointed to this statutory position on a part-time basis for a period of 3 years.

Eligibility

Applicants must be Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Selection criteria for member positions

Potential members must meet
all
of these criteria to be suitable for appointment

• Demonstrated ability to provide expert advice on Indigenous land and sea management, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and/or cultural heritage management (see the Criteria for Expertise below to understand the range of expertise being sought across the Committee).
• An understanding of the EPBC Act and an ability to adapt to new and emerging government priorities.
• Proven ability to build relationships and contribute to an agreed IAC approach.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to communicate and negotiate effectively and respectfully, both verbally and in writing, with members, the Minister and the department's staff and senior executive.
• Demonstrated ability to identify opportunities to embed cultural knowledge and community engagement principles into decision-making processes.
• Time to commit to the role, and the ability to work closely with the Chair and secretariat (provided by the department) to ensure advice is provided in a timely manner, through meetings and out of session requests as required.

Criteria for Expertise

The following skill set encompasses the range of expertise that will shape the entire committee based on the overall skills of all members

• Technical expertise on First Nations land conservation and management, sea Country and marine management, cultural heritage management and biodiversity conservation
• Expertise in understanding and applying provisions of the EPBC Act, including impact assessments.
• Experience working with First Nations community organisations and business, and expertise in better practice First Nations engagement approaches.
• Experience of the international aspects of biodiversity and conservation (i.e. Convention on Biological Diversity, CITES)
• Experience in governance, strategy and data management
• Understanding of government operations at the federal, cross-state/territory, or local level

Applicants are not required to possess all the listed expertise above. The overall composition of the Committee seeks to cover these areas, but experience across a number of the above areas would be an advantage. The selection process will focus on achieving a balance of skills, experience, gender, and geographic representation.

How to apply

To apply, please complete the online application which asks for:

• up to 500-word statement of claims
• a curriculum vitae
• contact details of 2 referees

Closing date

Applications must be submitted by 11:00 p.m. AEST on Friday 7 November 2025.