Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Capability Specialist (Identified)

• Based on Gadigal Country in Glebe, Sydney, or other locations across NSW and QLD. WFH flexible options available! 
• $101k – $137K + Super + Salary Packaging 
• Join a passionate team committed to reconciliation and meaningful change, working together to create opportunities and improve the employment experience for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

This is an Identified position. The Benevolent Society considers that being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is a genuine occupational requirement under s14 of the Anti-Discrimination Act NSW 1977.    

About the role: 

Join our People & Culture team in the role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Capability Specialist! We’re looking for a passionate and committed individual to lead initiatives that strengthen attraction, retention, career development, and workplace culture for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees. 

In this role, you’ll champion our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment and Cultural Learning Strategies, build cultural capability across the organisation, and engage with communities to attract and support Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander talent. You’ll also collaborate with our Talent team to create pathways for students, trainees, and graduates, ensuring a strong and resilient workforce. 

Your work will make a real impact, tracking and evaluating programs, identifying systemic barriers, and recommending improvements to create a culturally safe and inclusive environment. If you’re driven by the opportunity to influence positive change, encourage cultural safety, and see tangible outcomes in workforce engagement and retention, then this is the role for you. Help shape a workplace where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people thrive! 

Our Organisation  

The Benevolent Society’s vision is to build a just society where all Australians can live their best life. For more than 200 years we have supported people at the margins of society: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians; children, young people, and their families; older people; carers and people with disability. We are an independent, non-religious service provider which supports people to live life their way.   

As part of The Benevolent Society's vision, we are strongly committed to reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Australia. We remain steadfast in our commitment to promoting the economic, political, and social inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  

What you get to do:  

• Coordinate the implementation of initiatives that are part of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Strategy focused on outcomes in the areas of Recruitment, Retention, Career Development and Workplace Culture to develop a strong, supported and resilient Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce. 
• Track, evaluate and report on the effectiveness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce initiatives using data and feedback to inform continuous improvement. 
• Support governance structures such as RAP working groups or Cultural Advisory committees and contribute to internal and external reporting. 
• Advocate, support and help build cultural capability of Benevolent’s workforce consistent with the Cultural Capability Framework, Cultural Learning Strategy and overarching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy and Reconciliation Action Plan. 
• Engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and organisations to support the attraction and recruitment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent. 
• Work collaboratively with the Talent Pathways Lead and wider Talent team to drive Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce pipelines in the form of students, traineeships and graduates. 
• Identify and escalate systemic barriers to employment progression, cultural safety or workforce experience and recommend policy or process improvements.  

Our Benefits    

We support people to live their best life. That includes you, our employee. A ‘best life’ is unique to everyone and can change as life changes:   

• Salary Benefits - You can package up to $15,900 pa of your pre-tax salary to pay for everyday expenses before income tax is calculated, meaning you take home even more pay!     
• Our Reconciliation Commitment – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees are entitled up to 2 days paid plus up to 10 days unpaid cultural leave, as well as the option to be a voice on reference networking groups, the opportunity for cultural and professional development that supports career pathways and your social and emotional wellbeing.  
• Motor Vehicle Packaging Options – to suit your lifestyle.       
• Work/Life Balance - Enjoy flexible work arrangements, including hybrid home/office options, and accrue an additional day off each month (a bonus of 12 days per year) as a full-time employee.   
• Recognition and Reward - Sector competitive remuneration, various recognition programs and access to long service leave after 5 years.        
• Wellness - Stay fit with a Fitness passport, utilise our Employee Assistance Program, and even purchase additional leave.   
• Professional Development - We tailor career development opportunities to all employees and volunteers for career enrichment, fulfilment, and growth.    

What you'll bring:  

To excel in this role, you should have the following skills and experience:  

• Knowledge and experience in converting Aboriginal workforce strategies into practical outcomes, with demonstrated experience in a similar role within People and Culture.  
• Experience implementing RAP initiatives. 
• Above all, we’re looking for someone with the experience and capability to transform higher-level goals into practical workforce initiatives that deliver desired outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 
• A sense of purpose and passion are vital, and because the role relies on partnering with stakeholders to achieve change, effective collaboration and project management skills will be highly important. 
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to build rapport and influence outcomes. 
• Confidence working both independently and collaboratively, with a proactive, enthusiastic, and approachable nature.  
• Recognition from within the community as a respected, culturally safe person and relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community. 
• Demonstrated respectful approach to working with community, Traditional Owners and Elders.  
• As this is an Identified role, confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage is required. 

If you identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, then we want to hear from you. The Benevolent Society recognises and values cultural knowledge and wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, we therefore strongly encourage you to apply. We are strongly committed to being an Employer of Choice, one who offers, provides, and practices cultural safety in our workplace.  

Need more information or have questions? Feel free to reach out to Sarah, Director Capability & Culture on 0481 295 110. 

If you would like to talk about our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community at Benevolent, Larissah, Talent Coordinator is on 0403 256 709 for a friendly, confidential chat.

The artwork above is by Jasmine Sarin, a proud Kamilaroi and Jerrinja woman from NSW, who grew up on the South Coast in Jerrinja and Yuin country (Nowra) and Dharawal country (Wollongong).