First Nations Engagement Officer - Identified First Nations Position

• Work directly with First Nations communities and build strong, meaningful relationships
• Help shape real projects that support communities and improve drought resilience
• Be part of a supportive team working together to make a positive difference

The role

• Full time, Fixed Term (until June 2027) – part time arrangements considered
• Level 7 - $101,421 to $110,819 p.a. (plus 17% superannuation)
• Flexible within Southern NSW - Including Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange, Wagga Wagga, Griffith, Goulburn, and surrounding regions

As the First Nations Engagement Officer, you will play a key role in ensuring First Nations perspectives, knowledge, and priorities are embedded within the Southern NSW Innovation Hub.

Working closely with communities, partners, and stakeholders, you will support co-designed programs that strengthen drought resilience and promote sustainable outcomes. This includes building strong, respectful relationships; facilitating knowledge sharing; and supporting the development of culturally appropriate processes and protocols.

You will also contribute to strategic planning, provide advice on First Nations engagement, and support the delivery of the Hub’s annual work program.

This role can be based anywhere within the Southern NSW Innovation Hub footprint. We welcome applications from candidates located across regional NSW, including Central West, Riverina, Western NSW and Southern Tablelands regions.

The successful candidate may work from an existing site or a suitable regional location within this footprint, with flexibility depending on operational needs.

About you

You are a motivated and culturally aware professional who is passionate about supporting First Nations communities and building strong, respectful relationships.

• You identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person
• You have a strong understanding of First Nations cultures, communities, and priorities
• You are confident building relationships with diverse First Nations communities, including Traditional Owner groups and organisations
• You communicate with sensitivity, respect, and cultural awareness
• You have strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities
• You are motivated to contribute to meaningful outcomes and support culturally informed approaches to research and innovation

About us

We are a university of the land and people of our regions. True to the character of regional Australia we have gumption, we have soul and we collaborate with others. We develop holistic, far-sighted people who help their communities grow and flourish.

The Wiradjuri phrase yindyamarra winhanganha means the wisdom of respectfully knowing how to live well in a world worth living in. This phrase represents who we are at Charles Sturt University – our ethos. It comes from traditional Indigenous Australian knowledge, but it also speaks to the mission of universities – to develop and spread wisdom to make the world a better place.

Harnessing technology, we thrive as a distributed yet connected community, welcoming and engaging with people across Australia and the world.

The Southern NSW Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub builds preparedness and long-term resilience to drought across southern NSW through collaborative innovation, research translation and capacity building, supporting primary producers, First Nations and rural and regional communities.

Southern NSW Innovation Hub is hosted by Charles Sturt University and is one of eight hubs funded by the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund. Find out more about the Hub here.

Visit our website to learn about our great range of employee benefits.

Charles Sturt University is committed to building a diverse workforce as shown through our Athena Swan Bronze Award, our Australian Workplace Equality Index Bronze Award and our membership of a range of diversity focused organisations including Diversity Council Australia and Pride in Diversity. We encourage applications from First Nations people, carers, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disability, neurodivergent people, and people of all age groups, genders and sexualities for all roles.

To apply

This is an identified Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander position under section 14 of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act, 1977. Please be aware you may be asked to provide confirmation of Indigenous Australian Identity.

Click the Apply button and complete your application online, submit a cover letter that tells us more about you and upload your CV.

Further information

Additional information is available in the position description or by contacting:

Job specific enquiries: Angus Dunne | Program Manager | adunne@csu.edu.au

Closing Date: 11pm, 16 July 2026