Aboriginal Engagement Officer - Section 50(d)

Centrecare; Perth; On-site; AUD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging

Leave loading 17.5%

Additional 5 days leave per year

Ceremonial Leave

Training & development

Personal injury insurance

Health cover discounts

Employee Assistance Program

Maternity leave 12 weeks

Study leave 5 hours per week

Clinical and Management Supervision

Cultural Leads support

Job summary

Centrecare is seeking an Aboriginal Engagement Officer to support youth justice initiatives in East Perth. You will work with Aboriginal young people, families and communities to strengthen cultural connections, build positive relationships and address offending behaviours.

This full-time role sits within the West Australian Youth Justice partnership, offering generous not-for-profit benefits and ongoing professional development.

Qualifications

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person is required.
• Minimum Certificate III in Youth Work or Community Services.
• Diploma or tertiary qualifications encouraged.
• 1–2 years in social services sector.
• Experience collaborating with Aboriginal youth, families and communities.
• Knowledge of issues facing youth in contact with youth justice.
• Experience mentoring youth and building relationships.
• Understanding criminogenic factors in youth offending.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• National Police Certificate within 12 months.
• Working with Children Check or ability to apply.
• WA Driver's Licence and access to a vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct support to young people to improve cultural connection and wellbeing.
• Engage with the wider community and service providers to source outcomes.
• Collaborate with Department of Justice and Youth Justice services.

Skills

Aboriginal identity

Communication skills

Collaboration with Aboriginal youth

Knowledge of youth justice issues

Mentoring youth

Criminogenic factors awareness

Written and spoken communication

Working with Children checks

Police clearance / background checks

Driver's licence / vehicle

Education

Certificate III in Youth Work / Community Services

Diploma or higher qualification encouraged

Experience in social services sector

Tools

WA Driver's Licence

Working with Children Check

Job description

Aboriginal Engagement Officer - Section 50(d)

• Full-time permanent position based in East Perth
• Work in partnership with an ACCO organisation
• 5 days extra leave (5 weeks in total!) plus many more generous NFP benefits

Respect, Excellence, Celebration, Compassion, Acceptance, Professionalism

Join an organisation that makes a real difference within the community.

Being an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person is a genuine occupational requirement for this position under Section 50(d) of theEqual Opportunity Act 1984. Therefore, only applications from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people will be considered.

About Centrecare

Centrecare is a not-for-profit organisation with over 300 employees and is committed to delivering quality professional counselling, support, accommodation, mediation and training services in over 11 locations across the Perth metropolitan, Goldfields and South West regions.

Wungening Aboriginal Corporation is an Aboriginal community-controlled organisation delivering counselling, education, advocacy and support services including drug and alcohol, family violence support and accommodation, adult justice services and earlier intervention family support services.

The Service – Beyond Youth Justice

Centrecare Incorporated and Wungening Aboriginal Corporation have established a metropolitan wide partnership in delivering Youth Justice Services aimed at providing the best possible outcomes for at risk young people and the West Australian community, this partnership offers a range of significant benefits including:

• An integrated and coordinated network of quality Youth Justice Services based from Centrecare in Gosnells (the South Hub) and Wungening in East Perth (the North Hub).
• A uniform approach to service delivery in the area of rehabilitation and emotional wellbeingfor young people and their families referred to the service in the metropolitan area.
• An opportunity to be a part of developing best practice evidence-based youth justice services that are outcome focused.

The Role

This role will be based in East Perth to provide direct support to young people to improve cultural connection, build positive relationships, enhance emotional wellbeing and address offending behaviours.

You will also be actively engaging with the wider community on a regular basis, liaising with the Department of Justice, service providers providing Youth Justice Services and other services to source and secure options and outcomes for young people participating in this program.

Selection Criteria

• You will be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.
• Minimum Certificate III in Youth Work, Community Services, or similar.
• Diploma or tertiary qualifications encouraged.
• 1-2 years' experience in social services sector.
• Demonstrated experience and expertise in collaborating with Aboriginal young people, families, and communities.
• Knowledge of the issues facing young people in contact with the youth justice sector.
• Experience mentoring young people and fostering positive relationships.
• Understanding of criminogenic factors of youth offending.
• Well-developed communication skills, written and verbal.
• National Police Certificate (within 12 months validity).
• Valid Working with Children's Check or ability to apply for one.
• WA Drivers Licence and own vehicle.

If you are passionate about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement, please apply anyway. We care about your potential, your cultural knowledge, and what you can bring to our team.

• Salary packaging options up to $15,900, increases your take home pay
• Annual leave loading at 17.5%
• Additional 5 days leave per year pro rata
• Ceremonial Leave (inclusive of 5 days paid leave)
• Access to training and professional development
• Personal Injury Insurance cover to and from work
• Discounted corporate health cover provided for by Bupa and Medibank Private
• Access to confidential Employee Assistance Program
• 12 weeks paid maternity leave
• Study Leave of five hours per week after two years of service
• Clinical and Management Supervision
• Aboriginal staffprovided with cultural support through the Cultural Leads

Position Closes: 9 November 2026

Shortlisting will commence upon receipt of applications, Centrecare reserves the right to close the position early if needed. Should you have any queries, please contact Human Resources on[phone]

Children feel Valued, Heard, and Safe:

Safeguarding children and young people is everyone’s responsibility. Centrecare embeds child safety in all organisational practices with zero tolerance for child abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

We are Inclusive:

We actively promote a working environment that values diversity and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from First Nations people, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, people who identify as LGBTQIA+ and people with a disability. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at time of application.

We support the Uluru Statement from the Heart:

We are committed to walking alongside First Nations people to support a more inclusive Australia and Closing the Gap.All Centrecare employed Aboriginal staff are provided with cultural support through the Cultural Leads.

Vacancy Description - Application Package - Aboriginal Engagement Officer 50D YJS - Level 4 exp 2026.pdf (578 kB)

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