Assistant Director Family History (Affirmative Measures)

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies; Canberra; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies invites applications for the role of Assistant Director Family History (Affirmative Measures) in Canberra. You will lead the Family History Unit, guiding strategy, outreach, and collaboration with external partners to advance Indigenous family history research and access to AIATSIS materials.

The position requires strong leadership, advanced research capability, and deep cultural understanding to work effectively with

Qualifications

• Strong cultural capability and engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
• Experience researching using collection material and other relevant resources.
• Experience leading a service delivery team and supervising staff.
• Ability to communicate with influence to diverse internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Prepare business plans and strategies and manage the day-to-day operations of the unit.
• Supervise, lead and support staff in the delivery of Family History services.
• Prepare correspondence, reports, submissions, proposals, and briefing papers for senior staff.
• Manage complex and sensitive issues, staff processes, and deliver unaccredited training to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community organisations.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with external stakeholders including Link-Up organisations.
• Undertake family history outreach and promotion including delivering public presentations and improving on-line research materials.
• Work with Registered Training Organisations to review and deliver the Certificate IV in Stolen Generations Family Research and Case Management.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

People leadership

Research

Project planning

Communication

Cultural capability

Job description

Assistant Director Family History (Affirmative Measures)

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies – Canberra ACT

The Collections Services Group is responsible for the development, management, preservation and provision of access to the AIATSIS Collection at both Maraga (Canberra) and Mparntwe (Central Australia) sites. The Group manages, describes, preserves, digitises and provides access to the AIATSIS Collection.

About the Program Area

The Collection Access and Family History Unit sits within the Collections Services Group. The Unit manage services and policies for culturally appropriate access to the AIATSIS collection and Indigenous family history research.

Role Summary

The Assistant Director Family History will manage and support the team to deliver the Family History Unit’s work program as well as develop and maintain good working relationships with internal and external stakeholders and partners. This position reports to the Director Collection Access and Family History.

The key duties of the position include:

• prepare business plans and strategies and manage the day-to-day operations of the unit.
• supervise, lead and support staff in the delivery of Family History services.
• prepare correspondence, reports, submissions, proposals, and briefing papers for senior staff.
• manage complex and sensitive issues, manage staff processes, provide support, and deliver unaccredited training to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community organisations.
• develop and maintain strong working relationships with external stakeholders including Link-Up organisations.
• undertake family history outreach and promotion including delivering public presentations and improving on-line research materials.
• work with Registered Training Organisations to review and deliver the Certificate IV in Stolen Generations Family Research and Case Management.

Eligibility

Cultural capability - essential

Roles at AIATSIS require candidates to have an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and proven culturally appropriate engagement and communications skills.The nature of this role requires the candidate to consistently demonstrate the following specific cultural capabilities:

• understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business within the agency and the outcomes the agency is responsible for delivering.
• understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and the dynamics of engaging with them respectfully.
• understand the heritage, cultural and intellectual property rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities as they apply to research.
• understands the sources of knowledge resting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees, stakeholders, and networks.
• understands the impact of attitudes, beliefs, and past experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the engagement and consultation process.
• an authentic and respectful interest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, policy, and implementation matters.

AIATSIS embodies Yindyamarrain everything we do.

Skills, knowledge and personal attributes

To be successful in this role, you will have well developed stakeholder engagement skills, extensive experience undertaking research and a high level of cultural capability.

You will come with the following skills, experience and attributes:

• experience working and communicating sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as this role requires a high level of cultural competency.
• extensive experience undertaking research using collection material and other relevant resources.
• understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business within the agency and the outcomes the agency is responsible for delivering.
• previous experience leading a team within a service delivery program area and effectively and efficiently supervising staff.
• demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders on a range of complex matters.
• demonstrated ability to recognise and use initiative to solve problems in a creative manner.
• familiarity with representing an institution in a public capacity and hosting clients.
• proven ability to prioritise tasks and work to deadlines efficiently and effectively, whilst maintaining excellent attention to detail.
• significant understanding of past events impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• proven ability to communicate with influence, in writing and verbally, to advise, liaise and negotiate effectively with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders.
• hold a Working with Vulnerable People clearance (WWWP) or the ability to obtain one.
• ability to communicate comfortably and effectively with a wide range of stakeholders of all levels.

Notes

Applications close 11.30pm Thursday 15 October 2026.

The successful candidate/s will need to undergo:

• Police check
• 6 month probation
• Medical clearance (ongoing roles only)

Affirmative Measures positions

Jobs in the APS are open to all Australian citizens. There are some jobs, though, that are open only to specific members of the Australian population. This practice is known as an Affirmitive measure and is a targeted strategy to ensure the diversity of the APS workforce reflects the diversity of the Australian population.

Any job can be restricted to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people only, and it doesn't necessarily have to involve working on Indigenous issues.If a position has been advertised as an Affirmitive measure, it will be clearly marked as such.

The use of the Indigenous Affirmitive Measures provision at AIATSIS allows for targeted recruitment of Indigenous Australians into the organisation. If you are applying for an Affirmitive Measures position, you will need to indicate your Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage on our application form and provide confirmation if required.

What is Cultural Capability?

As all positions at AIATSIS are ‘Identified’ each position will have various elements of involvement with the delivery of Indigenous specific services, programs, and policies as part of AIATSIS core functions.AIATSIS therefore needs to also identify the cultural knowledge; skills and personal attributes needed to deliver the required outcomes.

Every part of how we work, who we work with and for, requires varying levels of knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, protocols and an understanding of issues that enable effective communication and ultimately effective performance in the role. To assist you in determining the required cultural capabilities of this role, you can refer to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Capability – A Framework for Commonwealth Agencies.

Getting to know the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies

We are Australia’s only national institution focused exclusively on the diverse history, cultures, and heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia. We house the world’s most important and extensive collection of cultural information and material and we provide leadership, publish and promote greater understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We create opportunities for people the world over to engage with and be transformed by the knowledge, the culture and the story of Australia’s Indigenous peoples. We are Australia’s national institution for leadership in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research.We care for a priceless collection, including films, photographs, video and audio recordings as well as the world’s largest collection of printed and other resource materials for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies. We undertake and encourage scholarly, ethical, community-based research in a variety of sectors, including health, native title, languages and education. Our publishing house, Aboriginal Studies Press, regularly publishes outstanding writing that promotes Australian Indigenous cultures. Our activities affirm and raise awareness of the richness and diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.