Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and Partnerships Officer

Ballina Shire Council; Ballina Shire; On-site; AUD 53,000 - 67,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Relocation assistance

Professional development

Inclusive culture

Safety and wellbeing focus

Relocation support

Generous award conditions

Job summary

Ballina Shire Council is seeking an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and Partnerships Officer to advance engagement with Aboriginal communities and strengthen cultural heritage outcomes. The role focuses on building partnerships and delivering strategic, policy-driven initiatives in the Ballina Shire region.

This part-time position (21 hours/week) offers flexible work arrangements and opportunities for relocation support, professional development, and a supportive workplace culture.

Qualifications

• Must be Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, and identified as such by the community.
• Experience working with Aboriginal communities on culture heritage issues.
• Proven ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and facilitate community participation.
• Experience coordinating community programs and evaluating outcomes.
• Ability to develop and implement strategic documents and policies.

Responsibilities

• Improve communication and engagement with local Aboriginal communities.
• Work collaboratively to strengthen cultural heritage outcomes and relationships with Council and community.
• Assist in strengthening Council's capacity to deliver a partnership agreement with the Aboriginal community.

Skills

Indigenous engagement

Community engagement

Relationship building

Project coordination

Policy development

Education

Ter­tiary qualifications in Indigenous studies or related discipline

Job description

Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and Partnerships Officer

Change your lifestyle and live and work in a vibrant community and great coastal environment.

Ballina Shire Council is situated on the Far North Coast of New South Wales, 20 minutes from Byron Bay and one hour from the Gold Coast. The shire is a popular tourism destination with pristine beaches, rainforest retreats and hinterland hideaways.

ABOUT US

Change your lifestyle and live and work in a vibrant community and great coastal environment.

Ballina Shire Council is situated on the Far North Coast of New South Wales, 20 minutes from Byron Bay and one hour from the Gold Coast. The shire is a popular tourism destination with pristine beaches, rainforest retreats and hinterland hideaways.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Position

Reporting to the Manager Strategic Planning, the position is responsible for improving communication and engagement with local Aboriginal communities, and working collaboratively with the community to identify opportunities to strengthen cultural heritage outcomes and relationships between Council and the community. A key aspect of this role will be to work strategically to assist in strengthening Council’s capacity to deliver a partnership agreement with the Aboriginal community.

Hours of work for this part time position are 21 hours per week. Days and working hours will be negotiated with the successful candidate.

To be successful you will bring

• Behaviour that positively demonstrates Council’s values of: creative, accessible, respect, energetic and safe.
• Evidence of (1) being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, and (2) identifying as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, and (3) being accepted as such by the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.
• Tertiary qualifications in indigenous studies, social sciences, community development or related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience working with Aboriginal communities with knowledge and awareness of cultural heritage and issues/needs relating to the Aboriginal community within the Ballina Shire.
• Demonstrated understanding of the challenges and strengths that exist within local Aboriginal communities and experience in activating and advocating for change.
• Demonstrated ability to build positive and effective working relationships with local Aboriginal communities and other stakeholders, and to facilitate positive and effective community engagement.
• Demonstrated experience with coordinating, managing and evaluating a range of community-based programs and events.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team environment to facilitate, develop and manage projects and to review, evaluate, develop and implement strategic and policy documents.

The rewards

• A part time annual salary range of $52,600 to $66,900 (plus 12% superannuation) dependent upon skills, experience and qualifications.
• Flexible work arrangements to support your lifestyle.
• Support toward the cost of relocation associated with recruitment.
• Ongoing professional development and training opportunities
• Job security and a supportive, values-driven workplace culture
• Health and wellbeing initiatives, including Fitness Passport member options
• Meaningful work that contributes to the sustainability and liveability of our region.
• An inclusive culture where all our people are valued, EEO, diversity and differences are respected.
• An absolute focus on our peoples’ safety and well being.
• Generous Award workplace conditions.

Applications close

11.30pm on Friday 27 November 2026

Specific enquiries

Tara McGready | Manager Strategic Planning | 02 6681 0***