Project Officer (Identified), Aboriginal Employee Experience Team

• Aboriginal Identified opportunity
• Permanent, full-time position
• Location: Parramatta, Newcastle or Orange (primary hub), with flexibility for other regional locations depending on the successful candidate
• Hybrid working arrangements are supported
• Grade 7/8 ($113,574 - $125,720 + superannuation), salary relative to experience

Do you want your work to create real, lasting impact for Aboriginal staff across the department—while influencing how a large organisation supports its people from the inside?

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is seeking a Project Officer (Identified) to support the development and delivery of internal Aboriginal employment, workforce development and cultural safety initiatives.

This role is suited to someone who enjoys project work, including researching, analysing and writing business documents to support planning and decision making. Your strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills will be an asset in  for this internal corporate advisory work.  If you enjoy contributing to positive system change for Aboriginal staff, we’d love to hear from you.

About the Team

The Aboriginal Employee Experience (AEX) Team sits within People, Culture & Safety.
We lead work across four core pillars:

• Attraction & Recruitment
• Retention & Belonging
• Advancing Capabilities & Careers
• Cultural Safety and wellbeing practices

The team partners with corporate workforce teams, people leaders, and operational areas to build a workplace where Aboriginal people thrive, feel safe and supported, and can see strong career pathways across DCCEEW.

You will be joining a small, driven team committed to centring Aboriginal voices, evidence, and lived experience in all that we do.

About the role

As a Project Officer, you will provide project management support across Aboriginal workforce and cultural safety initiatives. The role has a strong internal corporate focus, supporting managers, leaders and staff through clear guidance, quality documentation and well‑considered advice.

As Project Officer, you will support the coordination, delivery and monitoring of projects that bring the AEX Strategy to life, including work such as:

You will be responsible for:

• Drafting high‑quality written materials including internal communications, briefs, reports, procedures and project documentation
• Providing clear, accurate and culturally informed advice to support internal decision‑making
• Supporting the planning, coordination and monitoring of projects and initiatives
• Coordinating stakeholder engagement, workshops and working groups across the Department
• Undertaking research, analysis and evaluation to identify issues, risks and improvement opportunities
• Coordinating meetings, working groups and internal consultations
• Maintaining accurate records and contributing to reporting, monitoring and evaluation activities
• Helping ensure work is culturally informed and aligned with broader workforce, HR and organisational strategies

About You

You are a strong communicator and critical thinker who can confidently analyse information, identify issues and present clear, well‑structured advice. You understand the importance of cultural safety and bring this awareness into how you write, advise and support others.

You will bring:

• Solid project coordination and organisational skills
• Strong writing skills -able to create clear, accurate and well‑reasoned written materials
• Critical analysis and problem‑solving skills
• Sound understanding of Aboriginal cultural safety and workforce considerations
• The ability to work collaboratively within a small team, within, corporate workforce environments
• The ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining quality and attention to detail

Essential Requirements

Tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline or equivalent experience.

This is an identified role under Section 14d of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 and as such Aboriginality is an essential requirement of the role. Aboriginal identified positions are developed where Aboriginal identity, cultural knowledge or connections are a genuine aspect of the role. Positions are specifically noted under the provisions of the NSW Anti-discrimination Act (1977) for Aboriginal people who meet the following criteria:

• is of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, and
• identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, and
• is accepted as such by the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

For more information read the full Role Description: Project Officer

Who we are

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) works to protect the state’s environment and heritage. It leads the way on climate change, driving the sustainable transition to a net zero economy, powered by affordable, reliable, and clean energy.

DCCEEW conserves and protects the state’s natural environment. It manages the NSW national park estate, including its rich and diverse biodiversity and Aboriginal cultural heritage for future generations.

DCCEEW also ensures sustainable management of water resources across the state, to support the environment, communities and industry.

We acknowledge the ongoing custodial responsibilities of the Aboriginal peoples of NSW to care for Country and water and are committed to establishing meaningful partnerships with Aboriginal peoples in the management of the environment.

To Apply

If excited by the information above, we look forward to receiving your application, including a copy of your resume and cover letter expressing your interest and suitability for the role.

Please note to be eligible to apply for this position you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident or hold a valid Australian working Visa for the duration of the appointment.  

Applications close Sunday 15 March 2026 at 11:55PM.

To learn more about the role please contact Aimee Smith via Aimee.Smith@dcceew.nsw.gov.au.

A recruitment pool may be created for ongoing and temporary opportunities of the same role or role type that may become available over the next 18 months.

Our goal is to build a workforce that not only represents but also understands and serves the diverse communities of New South Wales. We are committed to making our state a vibrant and inclusive place to live, work, and thrive for everyone. Our workforce represents people of all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disabilities, the LGBTQI+ community, and people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Looking for more information or assistance in applying?

• Our commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace.
• How we encourage and support people with disability
• Information and adjustments for individual needs for the recruitment process and the workplace.

If you require an adjustment for your application process, please contact our Talent Acquisition Team by emailing dcceew.ta@dpie.nsw.gov.au or contacting Gemma Battison on 02 8289 6733 (please mention reference number 547877).

If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander use our Aboriginal applicants guide to assist with applying for roles or our Aboriginal Career pathways team at AEX@dcceew.nsw.gov.au for a yarn.   

Find us on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), YouTube and LinkedIn.