Aboriginal Fisheries Officer

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development NSW; Huskisson; On-site; AUD 91,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development NSW – Huskisson NSW is seeking a Fisheries Officer Grade 1/2 to enforce fisheries rules, educate fishers and take appropriate compliance actions to protect aquatic resources. The role requires allocation of resources, sound judgement and reporting in line with Fisheries Compliance policies.

You will develop operational plans, participate in patrols, and assist in educational programs for commercial and recreational fishing.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and communities.
• Knowledge of fisheries legislation and compliance processes.
• Strong problem-solving, prioritisation and decision-making capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Assist in conducting compliance activities and investigations.
• Prepare and present evidence and briefing notes for prosecutions when required.
• Liaise with clients, the public and external partners to provide informed advice.
• Assist in planning patrols and operations to meet compliance targets.
• Deliver education programs on fisheries compliance and conservation.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Fisheries compliance knowledge

Problem solving

Education

HSC or Equivalent

Job description

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development NSW – Huskisson NSW

Fisheries Officer– salary from $91,107 to 102,256 per annum(FTE)plus super and leave loading

Note: The three locations listed above are identified Aboriginal Fisheries Officer positions. However, there are also several Fisheries Officer vacancies currently available across NSW, and we encourage interested applicants to also explore these opportunities.

Please refer to the link below for information on all advertised vacancies and their locations. If you wish to apply for multiple locations and have your application considered for each, please indicate your location preferences on the application form.

Fisheries Officer Job in Wollstonecraft, Sydney NSW - SEEK

Fisheries Officer - Estuary, Marine and Coastal Management jobs in Wollongong & The South Coast, Tamworth & North West NSW, Riverina & Murray, Sydney - Inner West | I Work For NSW

Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the nominated contact person for these roles to obtain further information that may assist them in considering and preparing their application.

About the Role

You will be joining the Fisheries Compliance Unit within the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) Fisheries. As a Fisheries Officer your primary purpose is to ensure all fishers are complying with fisheries rules, advising and educating where appropriate, and taking compliance actions, wherever required to protect our fisheries and aquatic resources. Have a look at our latest recruitment video for more information about the role of a Fisheries Officer and for more detailed information use this link. Also have a look at some of the great work we do on the DPIRD Fisheries Facebook Page.

You will also need the skills and experience to allocate resources to meet compliance objectives, drive priorities, exercise sound judgement, prepare and present evidence, compile and review prosecution briefs, and generate reports in line with Fisheries Compliance policies.

As a Fisheries Officer Grade 1/2, you will be:

• Assist in fisheries compliance activities using a range of surveillance mechanisms and evidence collection processes in line with relevant work instructions to meet District/Operational Unit objectives
• Prepare evidence, offence reports, briefing notes and correspondence in line with the Fisheries Compliance Prosecution Work Instructions, and present evidence at court on behalf of DPI Fisheries
• Liaise effectively with clients, members of the public and external stakeholders by exercising sound judgement and providing informed advice, and escalating more complex issues to the supervisor
• Assist in the development of operational planning material and participate in routine patrol duties and planned operations to optimise compliance outputs
• Assist in the design and delivery of informative educational programs associated with commercial and recreational fishing, aquaculture and conservation programs to convey a knowledge and understanding of issues and legislation to stakeholders and clients
• Undertake routine maintenance of departmental equipment and materials to ensure they are kept in good operational condition

About You-what you need to apply

To be considered for this role, in your application you need to demonstrate and provide good clear examples how you meet the following essential criteria:

• Ability to build and manage effective stakeholderrelationships.
• Knowledge and interest in fisheries compliance.
• Problem solving and prioritisation skills.

In addition to the above it is critical that you have the following in line with the Crown Employees Fisheries Staff Award which includes:

• Current manual driver’s licence, and capability to drive a manual and four-wheel drive vehicle
• A current boat licence
• Colour vision
• Swimming ability (200m)
• HSC or Equivalent

NOTE: This is an Identified Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander Position. Applicants for this position must be of Aboriginal descent through parentage, identify as being Aboriginal and be accepted in the community as such. Aboriginality/Torres Strait Islander is a genuine occupational qualification and is authorised under section 14(d) of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977.

*PLEASE NOTE – YOU NEED ALL OF THE ABOVE CRITERIA AT THE TIME OF SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION FOR YOUR APPLICATION TO BE CONSIDERED AS IT IS A REQUIREMENT UNDER THE FISHERIES STAFF AWARD.

NOTE: This is an Identified Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander Position. Applicants for this position must be of Aboriginal descent through parentage, identify as being Aboriginal and be accepted in the community as such. Aboriginality/Torres Strait Islander is a genuine occupational qualification and is authorised under section 14(d) of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977.

As part of the recruitment process for this role, you will be required to complete a Police check, health/medical assessment and other assessments as required.

We encourage you to contact us for further information about the role and your application. Please contact hiring manager Christine Rae at *************@dpird.nsw.gov.au or 0400 839 ***. You can also view the role descriptionRole Description - Fisheries Officer Grade 1-2 - Aboriginal Fisheries Officer - Fisheries.pdf for further details.

Applications close: Sunday 18 October 2026 at 11:55pm AEST

About us – together, we are DPIRD

The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) protects, supports and develops primary industries and regional economies.

Collectively we support strong and sustainable agriculture, forestry, fishing and mining industries, and regional economies. We actively manage our natural assets: our lands and soils, minerals, waterways and oceans, vegetation and forests.

The department brings together:

• Local Land Services
• NSW Resources
• Agriculture and Biosecurity
• Fisheries and Forestry
• Regional Development and Delivery.

We have skilled and dedicated teams working in 200 locations across regional NSW. With nearly 5,000 employees, and 75 per cent of the DPIRD team living and working in regional NSW, we are embedded in the regions we serve. Learn more about the benefits of joining our diverse and talented DPIRD team.

At DPIRD, we are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds – including, but not limited to, gender, age, ethnicity, cultural heritage, disability, religion and sexual orientation.

DPIRD is a proud Disability Confident Recruiter, Family Inclusive Employer and Carer Friendly Employer

We are committed to ensuring every stage of the recruitment process is accessible and free from barriers. If you require adjustments or information in an alternative format to participate, please contact***************@dpird.nsw.gov.au or the hiring manager listed for a confidential discussion.

We also understand that work is just one part of life. Our Family Inclusive Employer and Carers + Employers Accreditations reflect our commitment to supporting employees to balance work and family responsibilities.

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